ith the
man. I hear that he has been seen actually in your house, that you are
even intimate with his family."

"Roberts, I didn't think our beliefs were so very different. In fact,
I used to think we were nearer to each other on these points than most
men. Surely we both own the universal Fatherhood of God?"

"Of course, of course," said Mr. Roberts, quickly.

"And owning that, we cannot help owning the universal brotherhood
of men. Why should you then cut yourself off from your brother, Luke
Raeburn?"

"He's no brother of mine!" said Mr. Roberts, in a tone of disgust.

Charles Osmond smiled.

"We do not choose our brothers, we have no voice in the growth of the
family. There they are."

"But the man says there is no God."

"Excuse me, he has never said that. What he says is, that the word God
conveys no meaning to him. If you think that the best way to show your
belief in the All-Father and your love to all His children lies in
refusing so much as to touch those who don't know Him, you are of course
justified in shunning every atheist or agnostic in the world. But I do
not think that the best way. It was not Christ's way. Therefore, I hail
every possible opportunity of meeting Mr. Raeburn or his colleagues, try
to find all the points we have in common, try as far as possible to meet
them on their own ground."

"And the result will be that people will call you an atheist yourself!"
broke in Mr. Roberts.

"That would not greatly matter," said Charles Osmond. "It would be a
mere sting for the moment. It is not what men call us that we have to
consider, but how we are fulfilling the work God has given us to do."

"'Pon my life, it makes me feel sick to hear you talk like this about
that miserable Raeburn!" exclaimed Mr. Roberts, hotly. "I tell you,
Osmond, that you are ruining your reputation, losing all chance of
preferment, just because of this mistaken zeal. It makes me furious
to think that such a man as you should suffer for such a creature as
Raeburn."

"Have you forgotten that such creatures as you and I and Luke Raeburn
had such a Saviour as Jesus Christ? Come, Roberts, in your heart you
know you agree with me. If one is indeed our Father, then indeed we are
all brethren."

"I do not hold with you!" retorted Mr. Roberts, the more angrily because
he had really hoped to convince his friend. "I wouldn't sit in the same
room with the fellow if you offered me the richest living in England. I
wouldn't