Martin's mind as regarded his future hopes, and he told Buchanan that, wonderful as seemed God's mercy, he felt he could now trust to be pardoned through his Saviour-pardoned for all his sins-sins he had never taken account of, he said, till he had stood, as it were, face to face with God,-sins of omission, as well as sins of commission. Buchanan warmly grasped the dying man's hand when he made that confession of his shortcomings and of his hopes, bidding him use the little time that was left to him in glorifying God for so great and unexpected a redemption.

"Your husband is saved-thank God for it, Kate," said Buchanan, as the latter came in just after this conversation.

Kate echoed his words "Saved! did you say?" and looked up with a brighter look than she had worn since her trouble.

"His soul is in safety, I meant, Kate," said Buchanan. "He has found peace and rest in his Saviour, but his earthly troubles will soon now be over."

Kate, for all reply, burst into tears. She had misunderstood Buchanan's words, thinking he spoke of her husband's bodily state, and great was her disappointment.

That evening Robert Buchanan himself closed Harry Martin's eyes in death, after which he led poor Kate, and two of her sobbing children, to their home-a home which her husband's feet would

never more cross, and which, under the circumstances in which she was left, could not much longer be hers.

Bessie remained with her cousin that night, and indeed was much with her till after the funeral, which Buchanan undertook to manage. This latter was as simple as possible, so much so that Kate took upon herself to find fault with Buchanan for allowing things to be conducted just, she said, as meanly as if her husband had been a pauper. Gently and tenderly Robert Buchanan answered her, saying he feared she would need every penny she could get together for her future requirements, and that therefore he had thought it better not to spend on the dead that which was so needed for the living;-a remark which Kate, amid her tears, met by saying it wouldn't have made much difference in the end, she should have thought, to have had a mourning coach or two, and proper hatbands for the bearers.

Talking the matter over with his wife, Buchanan confided to Bessie that Harry Martin had literally died a pauper, and that the funeral, such as it was, he intended to pay for, for otherwise there was no option but of giving him a parish burial.

"But what will become of Kate and the children ?" asked Bessie.

"Kate

"God only knows," returned Buchanan. must realize all she can on her furniture and effects, and take one room somewhere until she can turn round, and we must set to work and try and get her

children, or some of them, into one or other of the orphanages and charities about. It's a terrible business, for, with poor Martin's earnings, common prudence would have left them all provided for; and I do hope this business may serve as an example to some of his companions, who are living equally reckless lives;-spending every penny they earn."

That week Bessie Buchanan quietly withdrew some pounds from the Savings' Bank, and, taking it to her cousin, gave it to her for the current expenses.

"Oh, Bessie!" said Kate, sobbing as she gratefully accepted the gift, "I wish I'd followed your example and had a book of my own-and poor Martin too! I never thought to be left like this!"

THE END.

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