He then recalled the memorable ride.
"Ah! I remember, and you left like a lot of cowards, without paying the fortune-teller."
"I am your payment. Your words came true of three of us; three spades have dug their graves. The other one I saw a few days ago; he is anxious to be saved from the fortune you foretold, and is attending religious meetings. As I parted with him I said, 'Sam, don't forget the five of spades.'"
"And what about yourself?"
"When you saw me, I had been to a sister's. I was right down miserable. Mother had just died. Calling me to her bedside, she had said: 'William, kiss your mother, and I leave you this Scripture: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him"' (Rev. 1:7). When you quoted those very words, it seemed as if my dear mother rose up and frowned upon the cards. That text followed me. I drank, and drank, and drank again; but continually I heard, 'Every eye shall see him.' At last I went to California, for the gold-diggings. As soon as I landed, having nothing to do, I stopped to hear some singing; the singers formed a little procession, and I followed to a hall, When the young man got up to speak, he gave out as his text, 'Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.' It was more than I could stand; that night I bowed my knees in submission, saw Jesus as my Saviour, and with my tongue confessed him."
He was soon going back to the diggings; but that one interview was good payment for the fortune-teller.
This is the story of five spades which dug their way through a hardened conscience and there found the open door to a closed heart.
It was God's way and therefore wonderfully good.
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