ine one; it was a grand
protest against intolerance, a plea for justice. The speaker had
not hesitated for an instant to raise his voice in behalf of a very
unpopular cause, and his generous words, even when read through the
medium of an indifferent newspaper report, awoke a strange thrill in
Erica's heart. The utter disregard of self, the nobility of the whole
speech struck her immensely. The man who had dared to stand up for the
first time in Parliament and speak thus, must be one in a thousand.
Presently came the most daring and disinterested touch of all.

"The honorable member for Rilchester made what I can not but regard as
a most misleading and unnecessary remark with reference to the recent
occurrence in Hyde Park, and to Mr. Raeburn. I listened to it with pain,
for, if there can be degrees in the absolute evil of injustice and lack
of charity, it seems to me that the highest degree is reached in that
uncharitableness which tries to blacken the character of an opponent.
Since the subject has been introduced, the House will, I hope, bear
with me if for the sake of justice I for a moment allude to a personal
matter. Some years ago I myself was an atheist, and I can only say that,
speaking now from the directly opposite standpoint, I can still look
back and thank Mr. Raeburn most heartily for the good service he did me.
He was the first man who ever showed me, by words and example combined,
that life is only noble when lived for the race. The statement made by
the honorable member for Rilchester seems to me as incorrect as it was
uncalled for. Surely this assembly will best prove its high character
not by loud religious protestations, not by supporting a narrow,
Pharisaical measure, but by impartiality, by perfect justice, by the
manifestation in deed and word of that broad-hearted charity, that
universal brotherliness, which alone deserves the name of Christianity."

The manifestation of the speaker's generosity and universal
brotherliness came like a light to Erica's darkness. It did not end her
struggle, but it did end her despair. A faint, indefinable hope rose in
her heart.

Mr. Farrant's maiden speech made a considerable stir; it met with some
praise and much blame. Erica learned from one of the papers that he
was Mr. Donovan Farrant, and at once felt convinced that he was the
"Donovan" whom both Charles Osmond and Brian had mentioned to her. She
seemed to know a good deal about him. Probably they had never