h. He
was at once painfully conscious that he had been completely entrapped,
and that resistance was perfectly useless, for two strong men grasped
him, one on either side. But his presence of mind did not desert him,
and he now had learnt where to look, in secret prayer, for that "very
present help in trouble" which never fails those who seek it aright.
Thus fortified, he attempted no resistance, but patiently awaited the
event.

In a few minutes the handkerchief was withdrawn from his eyes, and he
found himself in the presence of about a dozen men, all of whose faces
were blackened. On a large stone in the centre of the vault was placed
the bull's-eye lantern which his companion had recently lighted, and
which, by pouring its light fully on himself, prevented him from clearly
seeing the movements of his captors. What was to come next? He was not
long left in doubt.

"Saint Foster," said Levi Sharples, who stood just behind the lantern,
and spoke in a sneering, snuffling voice, "we don't wish you any harm;
but we have brought your saintship before our right worshipful court,
that you may answer to the charge brought against you, of having
deserted your old principles and companions, and inflicted much
inconvenience and discredit on the cause of free-thought and good
fellowship in Crossbourne. What say you to this charge, Saint Foster?"

Their poor victim had by this time thoroughly recovered his self-
possession, and being now set at liberty--for his enemies knew that he
could not escape them--answered quietly, and in a clear, unfaltering
voice, "I must ask first by what authority this court is constituted;
and by whose authority you are now questioning me?"

"By the authority of `might,' which on the present occasion makes
`right,' Saint Foster," was the reply.

"Be it so," said Foster. "I can only reply that I have been following
out my own honest convictions in the course I have lately taken. What
right has any man to object to this?"

"A good deal of right, Saint Foster, since your following out your
present honest convictions is a great hindrance to those who used to
agree with you in your former honest convictions."

"I am not responsible for that," was Foster's reply.

"Perhaps not," continued Sharples; "nevertheless, we are met on the
present agreeable occasion to see if we cannot induce you to give up
those present honest convictions of yours, and join your old friends
again."

"That I neith