ng for men it would be if such were indeed the case, if
their memories could be cleansed and disinfected at the same time their
hearts were purified! Then the most disgraced and ashamed might live good
and happy lives again. Men would be redeemed from their sins in fact, and
not merely in name. The figurative promises of the Gospel would become
literally true. But this is idle dreaming. I will not keep you," and,
checking himself abruptly, he sat down.

The moment he did so, Mr. Lewis rose and pronounced the benediction,
dismissing the meeting without the usual closing hymn. He was afraid that
something might be said by Deacon Tuttle or Deacon Miller, who were good
men, but not very subtile in their spiritual insight, which would still
further alienate the unfortunate young man. His own intention of finding
opportunity for a little private talk with him after the meeting was,
however, disappointed by the promptness with which Bayley left the room.
He did not seem to notice the sympathetic faces and out-stretched hands
around him. There was a set smile on his face, and his eyes seemed to
look through people without seeing them. There was a buzz of conversation
as the people began to talk together of the decided novelty in the line
of conference-meeting exhortations to which they had just listened. The
tone of almost all was sympathetic, though many were shocked and pained,
and others declared that they did not understand what he had meant. Many
insisted that he must be a little out of his head, calling attention to
the fact that he looked so pale. None of these good hearts were half so
much offended by anything heretical in the utterances of the young man as
they were stirred with sympathy for his evident discouragement. Mr. Lewis
was perhaps the only one who had received a very distinct impression of
the line of thought underlying his words, and he came walking down the
aisle with his head bent and a very grave face, not joining any of the
groups which were engaged in talk. Henry Burr was standing near the door,
his hat in his hand, watching Madeline out of the corners of his eyes, as
she closed the melodeon and adjusted her shawl.

"Good-evening, Henry," said Mr. Lewis, pausing beside the young man. "Do
you know whether anything unpleasant has happened to George lately to
account for what he said to-night?"

"I do not, sir," replied Henry.

"I had a fancy that he might have been slighted by some one, or given the
co