iligent in their studies were able to read fluently those portions of
the word of God already translated for them, as well as a number of
beautiful hymns. Oowikapun had never heard of such things, and was so
amazed and confounded that he could hardly believe that he was in his
right mind, especially when Memotas, to try and give him some idea of
the syllabic characters in which his little book was printed, made
little sentences with a piece of coal on birch bark, and then handed
them to his wife and children, who easily read out what had been
written. That birch bark could talk, as he expressed it, was a mystery
indeed.

When the time came for Oowikapun to return to his home Memotas went with
him quite a distance. He had become very much interested in him, and
being a happy Christian himself, he was anxious that this man, who had
come to him and been benefited physically, should hear about his soul's
need, and the great Physician who could heal all its diseases. Lovingly
and faithfully he talked to him and urged him to accept of this great
salvation. Then he asked him to kneel down with him, and there, alone
with him and God, Memotas prayed earnestly that this dark pagan brother
might yet come into the light of the blessed Gospel. Then he kissed
him, and they parted, not to meet again for years.

Happy would it have been for Oowikapun if he had responded to Memotas's
entreaties and become a Christian, but the heart is hard and blinded as
well as deceitful, and the devil is cunning. So long, sad years passed
by ere Oowikapun, after trying, as we shall see, other ways to find
peace and soul comfort, humbled himself at the cross, and found peace in
believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Oowikapun returned to his little lodge, rekindled the fire, and tried to
enter upon his hunting life where he had left off when wounded by the
wolf. He stretched the furs already secured, and then early next
morning visited his traps and spent the rest of the day hunting for
deer. His success was not very great; the fact is, what he had heard
and witnessed during the days of his sojourn in the wigwam of Memotas
had given him so much food for thought that he was not concentrating his
mind on his work in a manner that would bring success. He would
sometimes get into a reverie so absorbing that he would stop in the
trail and strive to think over and over again what he had heard about
the good book and its teachings. Very suddenly on