such a man
as Levi Sharples. The Lord had been merciful to me, and why not to him?
There hadn't been much to choose between us in badness in bygone days;
and should I be right in repelling the poor man if I could be in any way
the means of bringing him into the narrow way? Well, you know the rest.
We met the next night; and, mercifully for me, Jim Barnes, as I find
from him, overheard the appointment to meet at Cricketty Hall; and
wonderfully and graciously has the Lord kept me _in_ my trouble, and
delivered me out of it."

"But how do you suppose that Sharples got hold of that money?" asked
Bradly.

"Oh," replied the other, "I can easily understand all about that. You
may depend upon it the whole matter has gone on somewhat in this way:--
My old mates have been scheming how to be revenged on me ever since I
left them, and showed my colours on the side of Temperance and Religion.
They've known Levi's whereabouts, and were aware how thick we used to
be; so they've set him upon drawing me into the snare. I don't doubt
that they subscribed that three pound ten between them, that Levi might
be able to throw dust in my eyes with it, and throw me off my guard."

"Just so, just so; I see it all!" cried Bradly. "Eh! Haven't they been
nicely outwitted? Why, they've lost their money, they've lost the bird
out of the cage, and they've clapped their own man in prison. Mark my
words, William, we shan't have much more trouble from them for many a
long day; but if they attempt to give us any, I shall bring them out the
little jar of ointment they left behind them, and bid them tell us what
complaints it's good for. Ah! Well, there's just a few words out of
the good old book as'll crown it all. Here they are in the Twenty-
seventh Psalm: `The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up
my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against
me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this
will I be confident.'"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

DOCTOR PROSSER AT CROSSBOURNE.

Dr and Mrs Prosser came to pay their spring visit to the Maltbys about
ten days after William Foster's happy escape out of the hands of his
enemies. The doctor was exceedingly glad of this opportunity of having
a little quiet conversation with his old college friend the vica