approached: Leonard rose, but remained kneeling, weeping, tearing his hair, whilst his eyes seemed still to behold the horrible death just witnessed. He cried, gasping for breath,—

"Oh, what a death! I am his murderer! His curse is upon me! I am doomed !"

What would have desolated every other heart, found the Jesuit cool and calculating. He raised Leonard from the ground, pressed his hand to his breast, exclaiming,—

"How I feel for you, my son!

a murderer?”

66

Oh, and are you

No, no; I did not kill him, he fell on his own sword; but I am the cause,-my crimes are the

cause.

66

..

"God be blessed! your hands are not stained with blood." He kissed them fervently. Oh, my friend, my son, can you not see the hand of God in this terrible meeting? Has it not been appointed to lead you to your good God, who has saved you from the death of time and eternity, and yet has spared you the crime of murder? . . . . Oh, has he not yearned to possess you-you, whom he has adorned with so many gifts -for Himself,-yes, for Himself! ...

"You have hitherto plunged into vice, broken His commandments, committed every crime,—and yet, from the fangs of death, see how He has snatched you-saved you, and, above all, touched your heart with the fire of repentance,-the greatest blessing given to sinners! . . . .

THE PREY IS CLUTCHED.

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"Ever eager to pervert all the good gifts of God, the Evil One strives to pervert the grace now given to you: he strives to change your salutary remorse into despair. But, my brother, can a mind and heart like yours despair of God's love and mercy, conscious as you are of the numberless favours which he has lavished upon you this last the greatest? All hitherto lavished in vain, still your God courts you-invites-entices you to Himself. What more can even God do to prove how He loves and desires you for Himself?".

Father Fraser paused, contemplating the effect of his moving appeal, and continued :

"Are you not disgusted with your life of sin? Have you found aught to satisfy your boundless heart? What could fill that abyss, which He alone who made it can fill?

Your

"Then seek and you shall find. .. God will pardon the past, and make your coming life a time of meritorious deeds,-such as will console you and millions by you, here and hereafter. Come with me."

Leonard went with the Jesuit. They reached the Novitiate. The Jesuit led him to the chapel. They knelt together. The Jesuit prayed aloud: Leonard's tears flowed fast and full: it was a fervent prayer of thanksgiving. Then he kissed the floor thrice, and rising, led the youth into the garden.

And now—his features glowing with animation, radiant with a "heavenly" smile-the Jesuit poured

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THE PARALLEL, AND "I AM READY."

forth the balm of conscience. Numerous anecdotes he related to the point; all illustrative of "sudden graces vouchsafed to hardened sinners. How eloquently he expatiated on the "call" of De Rancé, the founder of La Trappe! "In a manner," said he," you remind me of the blessed William Elphinston. He was a young nobleman of Scotch extraction, and a relative of King James. Born in heresy, he continued to live in it; but, enlightened with divine light, he began to see his errors, came to France, and, aided by a good Father of the Society, who was also a Scotchman, and still more by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, he finally came to a knowledge of the truth, abjured his heresy, and became a Catholic. He then went to Rome, and thence to Naples, where he died prematurely, but not before he was admitted into the holy Society of Jesus, at his earnest entreaties.”*

The Jesuit concluded. How gratifying it was to see the youth's consolation effected-to see him so resigned, so calm, after that tempest!

He did not say, exactly, "What shall I do to be saved?" but he said, "I will repent, reform, and make amends for the past. Aid me, guide me,-do with me as God shall direct: I am ready."

Instantly the Jesuit knelt and gave thanks. Then, rising, he assured him, in the name of God, that his offering was accepted, and that grace would be given him to accomplish the holy desires of his heart.

* Foundations of the Society of Jesus in Naples, lib. v. cap. 7.

THE SECRET OF CONSOLATION.

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How can we explain the causes of that calm, that hopeful rest! How are the words of man enabled to arrest grief-soothe the agony of the heart— change despair into hope? Is it not, that the secret of imparting consolation is the humouring of the ruling passions of the heart, since we cannot uproot them? And what humouring, what flattery, can compete with that which proves to us so clearly, incontestably, that even our follies, and even our crimes, may cease to be evil if they are made to lead us to good? To good!—that undefinable object of all our aspirations, to which we must be impelled by some blind Instinct; for Reason is bewildered, when she sees the good of one heart the evil of another. And all, nevertheless, can justify themselves,-can 'give a reason for the hope that is in them!"

...

This irresistible flattery was brought to bear on Leonard Devigne: this changed his anguish into joy, this transformed his "noon-day devil" into an "angel of light."

But why did Leonard not mention his father's death and its ruinous consequences? Why did he not impart that affliction to the Jesuit? He did not, however; and thus the Jesuit lost another field for his consoling powers. It would have been more candid, however, if Leonard had disclosed the fact of his utter dereliction..

But, then, his aunt!-yes, his aunt still offered to be his mother.

In the garden the Jesuit continued to entertain his pupil till the bell rang for dinner.

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HELEN'S PRESENTIMENT.

Stepping aside, he repeated devoutly to himself the "Angelus," and then led his convert to the Refectory.

The devout demeanour of the novices, sitting around: their downcast eyes-but still with cheerful, happy, contented looks-conspired to enhance that serenity which soothed his mind.

The Reader read a chapter from the work entitled, "The Difference between Temporal and Eternal." If its serious, awful thoughts, found associations in the convert's mind, the sensation produced was but a mingled pleasure-pain, which makes us pensive, not unhappy.

After dinner, Father Fraser left the Novitiate : the Master of the Novices took charge of Leonard. The Jesuit's first visit was to a friend of the Society, at court; who readily promised protection to Leonard, in the matter of the duel. Reassured on that score, he wrote to the English Provincial, to report progress; and then returned to the Novitiate in the afternoon, to prepare Leonard for his "Spiritual Retreat," which began on the following day.

Having made all arrangements, and promising to return early in the morning, he proceeded to Mr. Brenton's.

His narrative of facts edified the father, interested the mother, but dismayed the daughter. Helen felt a presentiment.

"He is now in his Retreat," said the Jesuit; "it will last a week; and may the grace of God confirm his faith and repentance, so that he may come forth