(6 THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE."

19

"Spare me, sister!-spare me the implied accusation! I am grateful for all you have so kindly done. I appreciate fully all that you have done; but, as a father,—as a man, permit me for once to act from my own free will and judgment in the case of a son whose welfare is certainly as dear to me as it can possibly be to you. The time will come when you will confess that I am right, depend upon it."

"Never, brother-never! I feel that my nephew, my child, my son, is on the road to destruction. The imps of darkness clap their hands as their prey approaches. Oh, God! that I should have lived to see the day!"

"Good heavens! Is it possible that such sentiments can be called forth by so common an event as that of a youth travelling in search of recreation?"

"Not that, brother, not that, but the times in which we live-his character-his-his companion!" "Oh! sister, sister! Leonard, I appeal to you. What are your sentiments respecting Romanism? Have you given your aunt, or any one else, the. remotest cause for suspicion on that score?"

"I am not aware that I have, father," replied the youth, astonished at the sudden appeal. He continued

:

"On the contrary, I have learned to detest the false religion; and I detest it heartily. I have never heard a word in its favour either from my aunt or my tutor; and I have sometimes been puzzled to reconcile some of your opinions with those which you permit me to hold."

20

THE DANGER OF HUMAN LEARNING.

"There!-now are you satisfied?" exclaimed Mr. Devigne, turning to his sister.

"Donald would have said as much," was the sad reply of the bereaved mother.

66

6

Mr. Devigne hastily withdrew, leaving Mrs. Malcolm with Leonard. The lady dried her tears, and taking his hand, thus addressed her nephew :— Leonard, your trial is now come to pass: you are led into temptation; let us pray that you be not delivered unto evil. Remember, oh! treasure in your heart all good doctrine,-all that you learned up to the time when you left my hands to be exposed to temptation in a public school, and then to return home to be given over to a teacher whose only care is to expand your mind,' careless of Gospel truth. To expand your mind,' and shake the foundations of faith; supplying its place with a phantom of belief, unreal, most deceptive! How pernicious is human learning!-how deceitful! It begins with pointing to God and Revelation; and when it has dazzled your eyes with its fair intentions, see how it leads you astray into the wilderness of doubt. Stumbling here, and stumbling there, asking your bewildered mind- Is not this a contradiction?' till at length, what is your mind but a well furnished mansion, without the tenant, Faith, to bless Him who furnished it so well? Is not this your condition, dear Leonard? Are you as simple-hearted as you used to be? Whence this brooding sadness that dims your features at times? Of what are you discontented? Why do you not confide in me, and let me share your trouble? You are silent. I

cannot do the good I would do, nor prevent the evil I would avert! I submit to the will of

"How is it that your departure desolates my heart? How is it that I tremble as at some coming peril ? .

"Oh! strengthen your mind,-fence in your heart against the attack! Midian is before you; you cannot turn aside. Put on the breast-plate of faith;-give battle, since you cannot avoid the unequal, desperate conflict!

"The enemy is fettered here; but when you leave these Protestant shores, remember that you tread over fearful mines and pitfalls. May the God who protected your fathers, driven into exile for their faith, protect and bring you back as true a Protestant as I hope you leave me!"

Mrs. Malcolm ceased for a moment; and thus resumed :

"Your tutor goes with you. Better be alone than in the company of the wicked!"

"Wicked! aunt. I know not what you mean. I am bewildered. From my father's words it seems that you think me inclined to popery; and now you warn me against Mr. Bainbridge, and dangers which I cannot imagine likely to assail my faith, firmly Protestant as it is, if you will take my word." "Leonard, I take your word; but I tell you again, beware of your tutor."

"May I ask, madam, why he must beware of his tutor?" said the voice of one just entering the apartment. It was Mr. Bainbridge.

Silence ensued; the tutor and pupil gazing fixedly at the venerable lady.

For an instant disconcerted, she recovered her self-possession, and returned the glance of the former with her large, bright, and steady eye, kindled into resentment, whilst she muttered in the under tone of passion :

You, sir, can answer that question better than I." Mr. Bainbridge sighed, and turned his eyes upwards to the ceiling.

Mrs. Malcolm followed up the attack, apparently conscious of having disconcerted the enemy.

cr

May I ask, sir, the cause of your unexpected intrusion?"

Mr. Bainbridge composed his features into their mildest expression, drew a chair, and seated himself right opposite the lady. He looked her blandly in the face, and said :—

"I must beg your pardon for intruding, dear Mrs. Malcolm; but as I was just about to start on a farewell visit to my relatives, I hoped you would excuse the interruption, when you knew my object. I have lately been informed that a popish priest has been visiting the neighbourhood, striving to gain what they call' converts.' I have not seen the person myself; but have no reason to doubt the truth of the report. Popery is lurking in the very confines of the church."

"You are right, sir, you are right. Perhaps I am mistaken in you," exclaimed Mrs. Malcolm, too easily flattered by a sentiment which coincided with her dominant idea.

MAKES AN IMPRESSION.

23

"Yes," continued Mr. Bainbridge; "Yes, Mrs. Malcolm, popery displays her seducing arts, enticing from the bosom of the church the guideless, the unstable, the infirm of our Protestant homes."

These were almost Mrs. Malcolm's own words. She exclaimed:

"Ah! too true, too true; go on, sir; I fear I have wronged you."

Wronged me, madam !”

"Go on, Mr. Bainbridge. At last I have found some one to agree with me on this momentous peril. Go on, sir."

"Yes; the emissaries of Rome are abroad-the terrible Jesuits creep and crawl, meditating destruction. And mark here the last trick of the serpents! They scatter abroad the pestilence of calumny against the true defenders of our Protestant faith. All who strive by all means to meet them in their own ground, with their own weapons, that is, with learning, meekness, and good address, are reported by these execrable Jesuits, to be-what? Jesuits in disguise! Yes, madam, I have been pointed out by these enemies of our faith, as a Jesuit in disguise! . .

"But what is the calumny of men against the testimony of conscience? Why should we eschew good through fear of misrepresentation? Does not the Apostle enjoin us to make ourselves all things to all men, with the hope of winning them to God? I need not remind you, Mrs. Malcolm, of the scripture text."

"Tis in the first epistle to the Corinthians,