a mourner. Sometimes, when she retired to her room at night, she would throw herself into a chair, and sit for hours meditating on her lost condition, as she thought on the awful futurity, and the destruction. which awaited her; whilst the recollection of the peace and joy she once experienced, made the present more melancholy, and the future more dark.

On one occasion she remained in the sitting-room after the other members of the family had retired to rest, and drawing her chair to the table, she buried her face in her hands, and was soon absorbed in sad reflections, whilst hour after hour passed away without her heeding them, and the morning at last dawned, and found her in the same position, until she was roused by hearing one of her brothers coming down stairs; she raised her head, and started to see that it was daylight.

It was not, however, to be expected that her relations and friends would not observe that some hidden grief weighed down her spirit. Her sister soon discovered the cause of this sorrow, and tried to apply a healing balm. Finding her efforts useless, she induced all her Christian friends, in succession, to visit her; but, though they reasoned and prayed with her, they afforded her no comfort.

One day a Presbyterian minister conversed with her a long time, and then prayed, but when he left

the house she was as wretched as before. After he was gone her sister and herself sat in silence for some time, till Sarah broke it by saying, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." She added no more, but laid stress on the words "all sin." A gleam of light entered Bessie's soul as these words were uttered, and the Spirit of God brought them home with power. She had often read them, but they never struck her as they did then, and she exclaimed, "If it be written, the blood of Jesus. Christ cleanseth from all sin,' mine can be included, and He can cleanse me even from my sins." She fell on her knees, and thanked God for the promise of forgiveness even to such a backslider as she had been. Her sister did the same, and they mingled their thanksgivings and tears of joy together at the throne of grace.

From that time Bessie never lost her peace and joy in believing, but went on steadily increasing in the knowledge of heavenly things, till her short life ended, and her joy became full by seeing Him whom her soul loved, face to face.

She now undertook with fresh zeal those labours in which she had been previously engaged, and was most indefatigable in her exertions. One day she heard that a poor woman was dying in a miserable hovel at a little distance, without any one near to

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point her to Christ, or to tell her of the realities of the world to come. Bessie started off to see her; but, in making her way across the country, she found a wall had been recently built which seemed to forbid her progress. If she turned back, she feared the other way would be too long for her to walk, yet she did not like to abandon her undertaking; she, therefore, climbed to the top, but, to her dismay, saw it was deeper on the other side. Nothing, however, daunted, she sprang off; but, from her dress catching in a stone at the top, she was checked in her leap. She fell on her head, and her forehead was cut by a stone which lay on the ground.

Stunned and bewildered, it was some minutes before she was sufficiently recovered to think what she should do. She then recollected that there was an aged Christian who lived near. She went to her cottage, and received from her much care and attention. When Bessie was thoroughly revived, the poor woman inquired the cause of her getting into such trouble, and, when she heard the object she had in view, she said, "Now, Miss, just listen to the advice of an old Christian. This poor woman is dying without the least knowledge of the Gospel, and you were going to set it before her. Satan, thinking he was going to lose a victim, threw you

off the wall; depend upon it, it was Satan threw you off, in the hope of preventing your going there; but God would not allow you to be hurt as much as he wished, but only just enough to try your love for poor sinners. Therefore, now, don't let the devil gain the victory, but make an effort again, being sure that God has purposes of mercy for that poor soul."

Bessie followed this advice, thinking it might have been a message from God to her, which she should not despise. She found the poor woman in great poverty, weak in body, and dark and benighted as to spiritual things. She sat long with her, and laid the Gospel plainly before her. She received it, and died a few days afterwards, in a most happy frame of mind, rejoicing in a Saviour's love.

Though Bessie had thus won a jewel for her "crown of rejoicing," it was not without suffering. The effort she had made was too great; she walked home with difficulty, and was seriously ill for several days afterwards; but she did not care for a little personal suffering to herself, when she considered that she had been the means, under God's blessing, of saving an immortal soul from eternal perdition.

A little while afterwards she nearly involved herself in trouble of another kind.

A poor woman, who lived at a retired village in

a distant part of the county of Carlow, had left the Roman Catholics, and become a Protestant. The priest had stirred up the husband against his wife, and persuaded him not to live with "a heretic," but to separate from her, and go to another part of the country, which he did, leaving his wife and children ignorant of what had become of him. The neighbours, intimidated by the priest, were afraid to give her any help, and the whole family were threatened with starvation, when some kind Protestants relieved their distress, and tried to raise a subscription for them.

The Presbyterian minister of the church Bessie was in the habit of attending, called on her, and interested her so much in the case, that she volunteered to become a collector for this destitute family.

One of the ladies at whose house she had called in the course of the day, was in the evening dining with some friends, and recounted the pitiable story she had heard in the morning. A young barrister was present, who was a most determined character, and possessed much influence, from being related by marriage to Mr. Daniel O'Connell. He fired up at the story, and declared he would bring an action for defamation of character against Miss A- and Mr. J. N, the minister. The lady tried to excuse Bessie, telling him that she had only repeated what she had heard. But it was useless; nothing would