man, thou unclean spirit."

"And of course he came out of him," exclaimed Sophy. "For Jesus can do
anything--yes, anything. Think of the most difficult thing in the
world--Jesus could do it, as easy as I can do this." And she stooped
and touched her lips to little Will's brow. The children paused to
think about it, and so did the mother.

"Come out of him, thou unclean spirit."

Was it true? Had the unclean spirit obeyed the voice of Jesus then, and
was that voice less powerful now? Surely not. To her He seemed far
away, and yet He was near. It came upon her, as it had never come
before, how if ever her husband was saved it must be through God's power
and grace. If ever her husband was to be saved from the love of strong
drink, it must be through a Divine power that should cleanse him and
keep him and dwell in him for ever. Even the power of the Holy Ghost,
which could convert his heart, and make him "a new creature in Christ
Jesus."

"Sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind," spelt out little Will,
slowly; and Sophy repeated, "clothed, and in his right mind."

The mother's soul went up in an agony of prayer for her husband, that he
might be saved from suffering and shame, and be found "in his right
mind", "sitting at the feet of Jesus."

"Surely He can do it! Surely He will do it! Oh, if I were not so
faithless--so unworthy!"

Still the reading went on, and she listened to the twenty-eighth verse:
"For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole."

"Lord, give me that poor woman's faith, that I may trust and be blessed
as she was," she entreated, covering her face, that her children might
not wonder at seeing her so moved. She seemed to see the Saviour now.
She cast herself at His feet, "fearing and trembling." Surely He would
say to her, as to that other, "Go in peace!"

And still they read on, how Jesus went to the ruler's house, and how,
having put the unbelieving people out, He took the maiden's hand, and
cried, "I say unto thee, Arise. And straightway the damsel arose."

"Of course she arose," said Sophy. "It made no matter that she was
dead; because, you know, it was Jesus who said it. Think of all these
wonderful things!"

"Wonderful indeed! Oh, for faith! Lord, I believe; help Thou mine
unbelief!" prayed the poor mother--her face still covered. Sophy
thought she slept, and sent her little brothers out for a while, cold as
it was, that she might be quiet; and