But now the preacher stood in their midst, and with a voice of power, and eyes that once seen were never to be forgotten, addressed the crowd.
We will not here write details of that wonderful service, the words of which burned into the very souls of some of the hearers, and by the power of the Holy Spirit changed the lives of many. The subject was the parable of the ten virgins. Five were wise, and five were foolish. Vividly were they described; powerfully the utter folly of those who had lamps, but had no oil in them, was depicted, as having a name to live, yet Satan-bound, Satan-deluded, Satan-possessed. Then the contrast was drawn—the peace and joy of the wise virgins, united to Jesus, and so, with well-filled, clearly-burning lamps, ready when he calls to go into the marriage feast with him.
No mere description can rightly convey the power of that sermon, for every word seemed freighted with the power of the Holy Ghost convicting and converting. Truly the arrows of the Lord pierced sharply that day into the hearts of his enemies, and chain-bound ones groaning under the fetters of the Evil One were freed, and left the meeting, like the Ethiopian of old, "going on their way rejoicing."
And what of Nora? Not even the uncle sitting beside her knew of the conflict in her heart; no spoken words told of the surrender of heart and life into her Saviour's keeping. Yet the Lord of glory knew of it.
And when the long-waiting, patient Emmanuel entered into that young heart by the door which was flung open for his admittance, and took possession, a new song of praise rang through the courts of heaven, and angels, amid the many songs of joy which they sang that day over ransomed souls, did not leave out a special one for the young orphan girl who had passed from death unto life under the preaching of God's own Word at the field-meeting in the lonely Highland glen.
And when Nora lay down to rest that night, there played on her lips a smile of God's own peace, and on her brow, it may be, the angel-host could see the shadow of a crown more beautiful far than any earthly one of gold and rubies. And when, ere many days elapsed, Ronald received a letter from his dearly-beloved sister, telling the glad news of her new-found peace in Jesus, his lips also gave praise to God for the answer to many prayers, both of those who were still on earth and of those who had passed within the veil, yet whose prayers had been laid upon the golden altar, to be answered when the great Answerer of prayer saw fit.
And as Ronald read her account of the words which had pierced her heart, and the description of the preacher of them, he wondered if it could be the same person who, in his Master's name, had enlisted him as a recruit in the army of the Lord of hosts, bound for the great crusade against Satan. In some things the description agreed, in others not; and as he never met on earth again the mysterious stranger, he never knew if indeed it was William Burns who had spoken to him beside the Wishing-Well.
[CHAPTER XI.]
HOME LIFE.
"Every day and every hour,
Every gift and every power,
Consecrate to Him alone
Who hath claimed you for His own."