rnation, and the
Resurrection, till the very words are hateful to me. I am afraid I shock
you, but just put yourself in my place and imagine how you would feel.
It is not even as if I had to debate the various questions; I have
merely to sit and listen to a never-ending dispute."

"You sadden me; but it is quite natural that you should be weary of such
debates. I want you to realize, though, that in the stormy atmosphere of
your father's lecture hall, in the din and strife of controversy, it
is impossible that you should gain any true idea of Christ's real
character. Put aside all thought of the dogmas you have been wearied
with, and study the life of the Man."

Then the lesson began. It proved a treat to both teacher and pupil. When
Charles Osmond had left, Erica still worked on.

"I should like, at any rate, to spell out his riddle," she thought to
herself, turning back to the passage he had shown her. And letter by
letter, and word by word, she made out "For the love of Christ--"

The verb baffled her, however, and she lay on the sofa, chafing at her
helplessness till, at length, Tom happened to come in, and brought her
the English Testament she needed. Ah! There it was! "For the love of
Christ constraineth us."

Was THAT what had made him come? Why, that was the alleged reason for
half the persecutions they met with! Did the love of Christ constrain
Charles Osmond to be their friend, and at the same time constrain the
clergy of X______ not many years before to incite the people to stone
her father, and offer him every sort of insult? Was it possible that the
love of Christ constrained Mr. Osmond to endure contempt and censure on
their behalf, and constrained Mr. Randolph to hire a band of roughs to
interrupt her father's speeches?

"He is a grand exception to the general rule," she said to herself. "If
there were many Christians like him, I should begin to think there must
be something more in Christianity than we thought. Well, if only to
please him I must try to study the New Testament over again, and as
thoroughly as I can. No, not to please him, though, but for the sake of
being quite honest. I would much rather be working at that new book of
Tyndall's."

CHAPTER XV. An Interval

How can man love but what he yearns to help? R. Browning

During the year of Erica's illness, Brian began to realize his true
position toward her better than he had hitherto done.

He saw quite well that any intrus