ast out of your heart. They
are foes which you must fight and conquer by the help of Him who is mighty
to save, or they will cost you the loss of your soul. Any sin unrepented
of and unforsaken will drag you down to eternal death; for the Bible says,
'Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.'"

"Papa," she said, "you are the only person God commands me to obey, and
I'm willing to do that."

"No, it seems not, when my command is that you obey some one else. My
little girl, you need something that I cannot give you; and that is a
change of heart. Go to Jesus for it, daughter; ask Him to wash away all
your sins in His precious blood and to create in you a clean heart and
renew a right spirit within you. He is able and willing to do it, for He
says, 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' We will kneel
down and ask Him now."

"Papa, I do love you so, I love you dearly, and I _will_ try to be a
better girl," Lulu said, clasping her arms tightly about his neck, as,
having laid her in her bed, he bent down to kiss her good-night.

"I hope so, my darling," he said; "nothing could make me happier than to
know you to be a truly good child, trying to live right that you may
please the dear Saviour who died that you might live."

Max, lying in his bed, was just saying to himself, "I wonder what keeps
papa so long," when he heard his step on the stairs.

"Are you awake, Max?" the captain asked, as he opened the door and came
in.

"Yes, sir," was the cheerful response; "it's early, you know, papa, and
I'm not at all sleepy."

"That is well, for I want a little talk with you," said his father,
sitting down on the side of the bed and taking Max's hand in his.

The talk was on the sin of profanity. Max was told to repeat the third
commandment, then his father called his attention to the words, "The Lord
will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain."

"It is a dreadful and dangerous sin, my son," he said; "a most foolish
sin, too, for there is absolutely nothing to be gained by it; and the
meanest of sins, for what can be meaner than to abuse Him to whom we owe
our being and every blessing we enjoy?"

"Yes, papa, and I--I've done it a good many times. Do you think God will
ever forgive me?" Max asked in trembling tones.

"'He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy.' 'I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy
transgressions, for mine own sa