he time while he was still on
earth, but unable to exercise control, might be an even more perilous
period than that which would follow his death. Mrs. Hsi herself fell
ill, and so seriously that her life was at one time despaired of. She
was barely able to stand the fatigue of the public funeral to which
hundreds gathered, yielding to their grief and sobbing as children who
had lost a parent. She herself was bowed with sorrow, for they had been
truly one in God's service, but strength was sent to her through a dream
in which she saw her husband, in glory beyond her imagining, and with
him the boy who had been their only son and had died in childhood. When
she desired to join them he rebuked her, saying: "Nay, but you must
return"; and obedient, she turned her back on the heavenly glory and
faced "the need of a world" of sin.

Mrs. Hsi was now to realise to the full the unfortunate position of a
childless widow. According to the custom of the country, the nearest
male relative on her husband's side should have been her protector, but
this duty devolved on a nephew who was an opium smoker, gambler, and
unregenerate heathen, and what should have been protection took the form
of persecution.

Elder Si, her brother-in-law, took over the control of the opium refuges
and the preparation of the medicine used. Days of prayer and fasting
always preceded the compounding of the drugs which were prepared in
Pastor Hsi's own home, and sent out in the form of pills. It was in
connection with the medicine that Mrs. Hsi's first difficulties
occurred. Large quantities of the various ingredients were stored at
Middle Eden, and the said nephew claimed possession of this stock,
declaring his intention of defending his rights by stabbing any one who
dared to touch it.

The time came when the drugs were required, and arrangements were
quietly made for the removal of the material to the home of Elder Si.
Before touching the goods, Mrs. Hsi called the young man to her, and
addressing him by name told him to fetch his knife, as she intended to
carry out her husband's wishes and supply the Refuges with the necessary
medicine without delay. Abashed, and half-ashamed by her self-confidence
and dignity, he muttered excuses and left her presence with an apology.

Nevertheless, it required all her wits and most of her time to prevent
this ne'er-do-weel from robbing her of all she possessed. Opium he would
eat, his gambling habits were strong, and