ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses' (Matt.
6:15). Can you forgive them?"

"Yes, by God's help, I forgive them. I do," said Robert.

"Should you not also make confession to Jake Newby for fighting him?"
asked Mary. "And then give him that chickenhouse if he still demands
it. 'Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head'
(Romans 12:20). And to break the power of the grudge, why not obey
Matt. 5:23, 24: 'Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and
there remember that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there
thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy
brother, and then come and offer thy gift.'"

"Well, Jake is not a brother, Mary," said Robert, "but the Scriptures
point out the best way to recover. I feel so ashamed, Mary, after
standing up for a holy life and then failing this way. But I feel that
following the Word of truth will be the quickest way to recovery. It
is my ambition to be an example of God's keeping power. I wish to so
live that holiness may be established as truth in this community. I
want my life to tell for Jesus."

Robert decided that the sooner he went the better it would be; so
he drove to Jake's house at once. Jake was greatly surprised to see
Robert drive up and greeted him very surlily.

"Jake, I have come over to ask your forgiveness for striking and
fighting you this afternoon. I did wrong. Pardon me. I am sorry I gave
way, Jake. And say, Jake, if you want that chickenhouse, just come
and get it. It is too small for the number of chickens Mary intends
to raise, anyway. You can have it, Jake, freely, gladly. What's a
chickenhouse between friends?

"The Lord made me feel very guilty over this affair, Jake," continued
Robert. "At first I thought I would give up entirely, but Jake,
I cannot do that. The Lord has done too much for me and my wife,
and--well, others are counting on me. I want to make everything right;
so you will feel perfectly free to visit me any time you wish. Praise
God! I feel better, Jake. Will you forgive me?" And Robert stretched
out his hand toward Jake. Jake took it, and there, in that happy
twilight hour, a grudge and a sin were laid in a grave of oblivion,
never to be resurrected.

CHAPTER NINE

THE GOOD RESULTS OF AN HONEST CONFESSION

The confession of Robert Davis to