vant--it was just before we heard of the sore
disturbance in his house--and I have wondered if she had aught to do
with it.'

Faith sat very still, as if thinking. At last she said:

'If Nattee has powers beyond what you and I have, she will not use them
for evil; at least not evil to those whom she loves.'

'That comforts me but little,' said Lois. 'If she has powers beyond
what she ought to have, I dread her, though I have done her no evil;
nay, though I could almost say she bore me a kindly feeling. But such
powers are only given by the Evil One; and the proof thereof is, that,
as you imply, Nattee would use them on those who offend her.'

'And why should she not?' asked Faith, lifting her eyes, and flashing
heavy fire out of them at the question.

'Because,' said Lois, not seeing Faith's glance, 'we are told to pray
for them that despitefully use us, and to do good to them that
persecute us. But poor Nattee is not a christened woman. I would that
Mr. Nolan would baptize her; it would, maybe, take her out of the power
of Satan's temptations.'

'Are you never tempted?' asked Faith, half scornfully; 'and yet I doubt
not you were well baptized!'

'True,' said Lois, sadly; 'I often do very wrong, but, perhaps, I might
have done worse, if the holy form had not been observed.'

They were again silent for a time.

'Lois,' said Faith, 'I did not mean any offence. But do you never feel
as if you would give up all that future life, of which the parsons
talk, and which seems so vague and so distant, for a few years of real,
vivid blessedness to begin to-morrow--this hour, this minute? Oh! I
could think of happiness for which I would willingly give up all those
misty chances of heaven----'

'Faith, Faith!' cried Lois, in terror, holding her hand before her
cousin's mouth, and looking around in fright. 'Hush! you know not who
may be listening; you are putting yourself in his power.'

But Faith pushed her hand away, and said, 'Lois, I believe in him no
more than I believe in heaven. Both may exist, but they are so far away
that I defy them. Why, all this ado about Mr. Tappau's house--promise
me never to tell living creature, and I will tell you a secret.'

'No!' said Lois, terrified. 'I dread all secrets. I will hear none. I
will do all that I can for you, cousin Faith, in any way; but just at
this time, I strive to keep my life and thoughts within the strictest
bounds of godly simplicity, and I dread pledging myself