"No; a thousand times no!" replied Ray. "But God will open the way when it is right for me to go. Perhaps, for my neglect of duty, he wishes me to wait awhile. I shall work on, abiding his own time. You can have the money as well as not."
"I will accept it as a loan," George replied. "I have so regarded all the money you have given me, Ray, and you shall have it, principal and interest, as soon as I can save it."
"Perhaps it will be along by the time I am ready for the academy, then," replied Ray, with a good-natured laugh. "Just as though every cent of the money didn't belong to you."
He was to go to the academy, however, and even sooner than he thought. Already had God opened the way.
The next Friday evening Ray was in his accustomed place in the prayer room. His voice had the old, positive ring in it, as he arose and testified for Jesus. The subject for the evening had been based upon the words: "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." Taking up the thought of this verse, Ray said:
"I can testify to-night that these words are true. The result of my recent trying experience is this—I never knew Jesus as I know him now. I never loved him as I love him now. I never realized what it was to hold near and intimate relationship with him as I realize now. Because I did not, in the hour of my great temptation, wholly deny his name, he has drawn closer to me, and our relations have become so sweet and tender, that I can hear him say, not only: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed thee,' but he adds, 'I have called thee by thy name.'"
CHAPTER XVIII.
CLINTON ACADEMY.
At the close of the service, Mr. Carleton came around where Ray was talking with Edward Lawton and his sister Daisy, and remarked, as he laid his hand on the boy's shoulder:
"We were glad to hear your testimony to-night, Ray. We cannot help believing with you, that the Master is strangely but surely leading you along 'the way of holiness.' God grant it may be so. But come—you are to go home with me to-night."