The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-05
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fContfnued.)
 The words were faint. but very cls- tinct. They sounded as if they were spoken long way off through tnegaphone.
 And, as he listened to them, the at mosphere of the room seemed to pc come hot and stfing, and the aalS S ness was heavy, like a sheet or ieau His heart beat furiously and there was ., a singing in his ears. He gave a e.s of fear. and, rushing to the wlhuo|' w,s threw 1t open. and breathed in the co'u' fresh air
 T am going mad" he cried. as ne ciasped his hands and looked up al tns starllt sky. @I must be calm; muss pray. o. God, be merciful to me- sinner!"
 The awful thought that his brain was giving way possessed him- shivered as though stricken with ss his whole body covered, as thougn ne awaited some terrible blow. was ! possible that God was going to pun ish him with madness? was all lhis religious enthusiasm only the mama of a disordered brain? The laws VI nature were memorable; no repentance, no stonement. could prevaH agains. them. Years of excess urain out ootn bodily and mental strength. Tn potn the natural and spiritual world there is written the same remorseless oe- cree.
 'The wages of sin is death,
 All around him Gaunt saw the dark ness and the lights of a great city, the city he was going to save from run. M truth. They were to be reused rom their carnai sleep-rich. middle -class, and poor alike. He had been chosen as the bearer of the message. great work lay before him. work wnlcn would occupy his whole life; Gou G.s. na. chosen him, unworthy instrui.len1s .s.1s though he was. God would elvs e"rs, mind body and strength to do the worA. And then--weil. then the law ol h4 '". might run its course.
 ''It is the heart that moves me. ne muttered to himself. mot the prain, which is all too poor and weak TOT the task. My words are not the Words of one who thinks. but or one "ho feels that they are true.
 This thought gave him some snlali comfort, and he chung to 1t in his az onv of fear. But he could not forget that the old madness had returned to him. For years he had thrust aside all thought of George Crawshay ana his oath. He had ascribed his former fears at Gauht Royal to his way ol living. But now. after years oh clean, manly, and wholesome nle' 'i9 Is old terror had returned to him. " had been subdued, but 1t had not been . T must pray" he said to himself. otbis Ia hut the scourge to Wnip me into the battle. I must find strenstn in prayer. must thrust every.nihs ont of my mind save the work tnat ! have set myself to do. 9 God' give "ie strength to do Thy will.
 He cfoasa the window. lit the candle, ana onenira the Bible. readf the story oV the conversion of Saul of Tareus. The narrative appea2ed to give nim some comfort. If this scourge oI Christianity had been moulded into one of the great champions of the faltn. surely there was hope for man "ho had merely lived a life of sin.
 He shut the book and prayed TOT strength. At times his burning thoughts found vent in spoken words: 0utaide the door Mrs. Hill crouched ana listened to what she believed to De the rawlings of a madnlan. Then urea and cold she. crept back to her ped and thanked Heaven that the rent was paid
 At last. when the man had exhausted himself in fervent prayer. he opened the Word of God at random. He often did this. as though seeking chance Inspiration. The "Sortes Virgilianes" appealed to him as form or gulaance.
 The following was the text that
 SThe wages of sin is death D
 He closed the book gently, blew out the candle, and once more lay down 10 sleep.
 ''Death let 1t be-" he said quietly, .Fbut not until my work is done"
 And .thrusting everything else out of his mind, he pondered over the de. tails Of his great scheme until he fell asIaeD