answers. "Be good," "Mine de rules an' do 'bout right."
"Pray to de Lord," etc., etc.

Elsie shook her head gravely. "All that you must do, and more besides.
What does Jesus say? 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.' We must believe _in_ Jesus--believe all that the Bible
tells us about Him, that He was very God and very man, that He came down
from heaven, was born a little babe and laid in a manger, that He grew up
to be a man, went about doing good, and at last suffered and died the
cruel death of the cross; and all to save poor lost sinners.

"But even that is not enough: the devils believe so much; they know it is
all true. But beside this, we must believe _on_ Christ Jesus. He offers to
be our Saviour. 'Come unto Me ... and I will give you rest.' 'Him that
cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out,' And you must come, you must
take the eternal life He offers you; you must rest on Him and Him only.

"Suppose you were out on the bayou yonder, and the boat should upset and
float beyond your reach, or be swept away from you by the wind and waves,
and you couldn't swim; but just as you are sinking, you find a plank
floating near; you catch hold of it, you find it strong and large enough
to bear your weight, and you throw yourself upon it and cling to it for
life. Just so you must cast yourself on Jesus, and cling to Him with all
your strength: and He will save you; for He is able and willing 'to save
to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.'

"He will wash away your sins in His own precious blood, and dress you in
the beautiful robe of His perfect righteousness; that is, set His goodness
to your account, so that you will be saved just as if you had been as good
and holy as He was. Then you will love Him and try to do right to please
Him; not to buy heaven; you cannot do that, for 'all our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags,' and we cannot be saved unless we trust only in Jesus
and His righteousness."

Something in the faces before her caused Elsie to turn her head. Her
father stood with grave, quiet air, but a few feet from her.

"Papa," she said, in an undertone, and blushing slightly, "I did not know
you were here. Will you not speak to them? you can do it so much better
than I."

She sat down, and stepping to her side he made a brief and simply worded
address on the necessity of repentance and faith in