idea of having committed a sin which you never
committed.'

'Then you will still maintain,' said Peter, 'that I never committed the
sin against the Holy Spirit?'

'I will,' said Winifred; 'you never committed it. How should a child
seven years old commit a sin like that?'

'Have I not read my own condemnation?' said Peter. 'Did not the first
words which I read in the Holy Scripture condemn me? "He who committeth
the sin against the Holy Ghost shall never enter into the kingdom of
God."'

'You never committed it,' said Winifred.

'But the words! the words! the words!' said Peter.

'The words are true words,' said Winifred, sobbing; 'but they were not
meant for you, but for those who have broken their profession, who,
having embraced the cross, have receded from their Master.'

'And what sayst thou to the effect which the words produced upon me?'
said Peter. 'Did they not cause me to run wild through Wales for years,
like Merddin Wyllt of yore; thinkest thou that I opened the book at that
particular passage by chance?'

'No,' said Winifred, 'not by chance; it was the hand of God directed you,
doubtless for some wise purpose. You had become satisfied with yourself.
The Lord wished to rouse thee from thy state of carnal security, and
therefore directed your eyes to that fearful passage.'

'Does the Lord then carry out His designs by means of guile?' said Peter
with a groan. 'Is not the Lord true? Would the Lord impress upon me
that I had committed a sin of which I am guiltless? Hush, Winifred!
hush! thou knowest that I have committed the sin.'

'Thou hast not committed it,' said Winifred, sobbing yet more violently.
'Were they my last words, I would persist that thou hast not committed
it, though, perhaps, thou wouldst, but for this chastening; it was not to
convince thee that thou hast committed the sin, but rather to prevent
thee from committing it, that the Lord brought that passage before thy
eyes. He is not to blame, if thou art wilfully blind to the truth and
wisdom of His ways.'

'I see thou wouldst comfort me,' said Peter, 'as thou hast often before
attempted to do. I would fain ask the young man his opinion.'

'I have not yet heard the whole of your history,' said I.

'My story is nearly told,' said Peter; 'a few words will complete it. My
wife endeavoured to console and reassure me, using the arguments which
you have just heard her use, and many others, but in vain. Peace nor
comfort ca