th a savage blow, did not
quite see his way to dash his great fist into a mild, manly face with
shut eyes! It was such an unusual way of receiving his onset that he
hesitated and lowered his fist. Suddenly the missionary drew out a
pocket-Bible, and, pointing upwards with it, said, in loud solemn tones,
"A great white throne will be set up among the stars above us. The
Saviour who died for sinners will sit upon it, and the dead that are in
their graves shall hear His voice and live. _We_ shall be there!"

At this the people were silenced, apparently under a spell--some gazing
upwards as if to see the throne; others staring into the missionary's
face in wonder.

"And I and you and you," he continued, pointing to one and another,
"shall be there: `We must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.'
I am not an enemy, or a spy, but a servant of the Lord Jesus, who will
be your judge at the last day. He is now the Saviour of the ruined and
lost, and in His name I offer you mercy through the blood He shed for
you upon the Cross. In His blessed Book it is written, `Whosoever
believeth on Him shall be saved.' I hope to come again before long to
see you, friends. Now, landlord, open that door and let me out."

The landlord, who seemed to be thoroughly taken aback, unlocked the door
with a trembling hand, and the missionary passed out. But that was not
the end of this remarkable visit. It was only the beginning of a grand
work for Christ which afterwards took place in and around that thieves'
den. On this, however, we may not do more than touch here. Smitten in
conscience, that landlord hurried out after the missionary and actually
begged of him to repeat his visit. Then he returned to the den and
found his people recovering somewhat from their surprise.

But, touched though the landlord was, he had by no means changed his
character.

"Now, then," he demanded, going up to David Laidlaw, "are _you_ a
missionary too?"

"Na, freen', I am not; but I 'maist wush that I was, for it's a graund
wark t' carry help t' the destitute."

"Well, guv'nor," cried one fellow with a crushed nose and a huge black
eye, "if that's wot you're a-'ankerin' arter you can go a-'ead 'ere an'
'elp us to yer 'eart's content, for we're all destitoot in this 'ere
den. So, come along, table down all the cash you've got about you."

"I'll dae that wi' pleasure," said David, rising promptly, and turning
all his pockets inside out. "Ye