surrender that they may overcome, and conquer because they have bowed the knee; in a word, to quote St. Augustine, that "the end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him."

A great field of service is opening up to women, but the world of college life is always full of danger in its very intensity-danger of exalting the intellectuai and dwarfing the spiritual; of purchasing popularity at the price of time and self-respect; of using the higher powers for less than the highest good. The purpose of their conference is, therefore, to bring leading students from representative colleges together, to consider questions of special value to their own spiritual lives, and how to attain greater power for usefulness. The invitation is also extended to young women interested in Christian work in cities, to consider principles and methods by which their sisters of all occupations may be won to Christ. Two lines of Bible study are arranged, meeting for an hour each morning, with the dual object of training them to be successful workers and leaders, intelligent, skilled, and armed for the warfare against sin, and to study the method and life of the Saviour in dealing with men and women; so as to use the searching truths of God's Word to the anxious, the doubter, or the careless.

Then there are sessions devoted to such subjects as these-Character Building during College Years, Organised Work Necessary to Christian Development, Principles Necessary to Best Result in Christian Work, Work for New Students, Systematic Giving among

College Women, The Relation of College Women to Missions, and The College Young Women's Christian Association; and in each of these is emphasised the responsibility and duty of every delegate, in view of her privileges, toward her fellow-students, her country, and the world beyond.

Practically similar in design. if not in detail, is the gathering of the men, the topics chosen being suited to their especial need and circumstance. This "Sum. mer School" is the annual rendezvous of the Intercollegiate Movement of the Y.M.C.A. While in English Universities an unhappy feeling of caste has relegated the Y.M.C.A. to a position of "town" rather than "gown," in America it feels the pulse of religious life in nearly every college in the land. Consequently, it has an inter-collegiate phase to which we are practically strangers.

"Early to bed, and early to rise," is a maxim upon which the routine of each day is based. I am not sure that it was carried out in its entirety, but I can vouch for the prevalence of the latter portion. How else, indeed, could so many sessions have been crowded in without in a measure impairing the health of body and mind? Here is a specimen of the daily round :-7 a.m., Breakfast; 8, Missionary Institute and Bible Training Classes, held simultaneously; 9, College Association Conference; 10, Bible Studies and Central Training Class; 11, Platform Meeting; 12.30 to 6, Dinner and Recreation; 6. Supper; 7, Outdoor Meetings on various topics; 8, Platform Meetings; 9.30 to 10, College Delegations. For a holiday programme this is pretty liberal! Yet, with full knowledge of what it is

to be, succeeding generations of college men spend nearly two weeks of their vacation, year by year, to learn more deeply the things of God, and how to carry them out in effective service. Nor must it be supposed that these are occasions for the glib utterance of mere platitudes that fall easily upon the ear. In most cases they involve close application of the mind and genuine study, not only at the moment when pen and pencil are busy at the work of "taking down," but for many an hour in after-days, when the contents of the note-books have to be evolved and developed.

There are now about 450 branches of this intercollegiate movement, embracing 3,500 representative students, and sundry conventions are held in different States during the course of the year. Verily, it is an inspiring sight, and one fraught with glorious possibilities for Christianity, to find the rising generation thus seeking after the things of God in their desire for the righteousness which exalteth a nation.

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It will be noticed that some hours daily are given to recreation. This Mr. Moody considers of supreme importance. "No mind can stand a perpetual strain," he declares; "it must unbend at times, or it will break ;" and this principle he applies with equal emphasis to Christian work, believing that a continual pondering over of the cases met with, and other phases of service, must tend to a morbidity under which in time the worker will break down. Proper relaxation is an integral part of his religion, and to this, under God, may, no doubt, be traceable the robust health which the evangelist has so long enjoyed.

Of the third conference at Northfield, little need here be said, in view of its likeness to those which English readers are accustomed to attend. One distinctive point, however, calls for special mentiona portion of each day is strictly reserved for private study, social intercourse, and recreation. This is very largely lacking in our British gatherings. "From early morn to dewy eve"-and almost on to early morn again, sometimes-do earnest souls tax their receptive faculties beyond their power and their notebooks, to an extent that renders the profitable dissecting of their contents in after-days a hopeless task. Ever and anon they listen to an address in which the conference is likened to the solitary place" to which the Master bade His followers "Come apart and rest awhile"; yet does their inner consciousness compare it rather to those antecedent days in which the disciples "had no leisure so much as to eat."

Here are some of the benefits of the better way adopted at Northfield. (a) Time is found to digest what has been heard ere more is received. (b) Rough notes, hurriedly taken, can be sufficiently revised by memory's aid to render them intelligible and helpful for subsequent use. (c) Mental and physical energies are so far recuperated between the sessions as to render each one the more enjoyable. Thus it does not become necessary for the jaded auditor to "stay at home this evening," at the risk of seeming in a measure to be wanting in sympathy or enthusiasm ; or, even worse. of finding that the meeting thus missed has been 66 a particularly good one," or,

perhaps, "the best of the whole convention." as is not infrequently the case. (d) These leisure hours in the afternoon are attractive to young people, whose attendance is secured in large numbers, when they would fight shy of gatherings which occupy the entire day. And this very feature (e) affords both leisure and opportunity for personal work among them and others regarding the things that pertain unto eternal life.

The arrival of Mr. Moody from Chicago to attend the conference was celebrated by one of those genial little incidents which are common to Northfield, and which add so much to its enjoyment. Between twenty and thirty of the young people procured a hay-waggon, drawn by a superb team of oxen, and, having elegantly decorated the "turn-out" and amply covered the floor of the waggon with straw, created no small stir and amusement by proceeding to meet the train by which Mr. Moody was to arrive, some three miles away. Their exuberant spirits showed that a long series of meetings in no wise had a depressing effect upon them, but that the religion of Jesus Christ inspires pleasures second to none that the worldling enjoys. As the train drew up, a song of welcome burst forth which caused many a passenger to open eyes and windows to see whence it came. The train men are evidently familiar with such little tokens of the esteem in which the evangelist is held by those who know him and his work. These "straw-rides." and "corn-roasts," "picnics," etc., form a pleasant feature of the recreation hours.

A splendid view of the seminary buildings is obtained from the railway, as they stand on the opposite hill-slope among the trees, with the Connecticut River flowing between. These are at present six in number, adorning the height which surveys the beautiful valley, and consist of three dormitory buildings. recitation hall, library, and sanatorium, each combining the solid and the picturesque, and forming a pleasing feature of the country-side, seen for many miles around.

Before next summer another addition will be made in the shape of a capacious auditorium. Hitherto the conferences have been held in the "recitation hall," which, with adjoining class-rooms, is the seat of learning of the young women who are completing their education there. But for a meeting-place it is not well adapted, and accordingly a suitable and substantial edifice will be erected before the conventions meet again.

Across, and lower down the river, lies Mount Hermon, likewise beautiful for situation, where the "boys" dwell together in unity. This is four miles away, but "quite near enough, you'd better believe"-so Mr. Moody good-humouredly observes. Equally substantial, and no less ornamental, is a group of buildings there, admirably provided with all domestic appliances, in the use of which the boys are thoroughly expert. Out of doors there is land to be cultivated, cattle to be tended, and, in short, the management of all is in their hands. In vacation time, those who so desire may spend their time in field-labour, the remuneration for which goes toward their education during the other months of the year. They come

in the Gospel are greatly needed, and the scattered population affords an interesting sphere for personal work. Thus they are kept busy on Sunday and weekday, but with that variety of work which itself constitutes repose alike to body and to mind.

The seminary is now in its fourteenth year of opera. tion, Mount Hermon being two years its junior. "Small means, but high aims," may be said to be the qualifications for admission of the students of either sex, and the results that have been attained have more than justified the highest expectations. The teachers are efficient and godly men and women, who see in their pupils such great possibilities of future usefulness as to nerve their highest endeavour to "show themselves workmen approved of God" in the training that they impart. Thus year by year there go forth numbers of these young people whose hearts the Lord has touched, to take the Gospel wherever an opening occurs, in slum or church, in mission or foreign field.

service in the homes of the poor in later days, as paving the way for the application of religious ministrations. There are no restrictions as to nationality. The fact that all nations need the Gospel is in itself reason sufficient for admitting any suitable candidate, that he may learn to declare in his own tongue the wonderful works of God.

A hundred dollars (£20) per annum suffice to cover all expenses of each student, the course of study occupying three years-truly a noble work to accomplish with so small a sum.

This is but an imperfect sketch of a work as remarkable in conception as it is effective in operation. Its ulterior object is "to reach those who do not want to be reached," as Mr. Moody puts it. Says he: "It is easy enough to take the Gospel to those who want it. But we need trained men and women to take it to those who do not desire it." It is just this work that these training institutes qualify them to perform.

But it was not Mildred; it was Garth, with some papers.

"Oh, that will do; I will look them over this evening. Call on your way down in the morning; I may not be out." Garth looked at him, but said nothing; John Caryl would not brook health inquiries. "And, Garrickson-if Miss Mildred is with your mother, send her home at once: she is a naughty girl to be out a night like this. She has been with Old Pack; I made her take the carriage, and she dismissed it." He might scold. Garth knew he was secretly proud of his girl's timbre.

"Very well, sir." He went up the avenue with a slightly beating heart. Was he to find Missie in the parlour as of old? He did not think so-already. No. she was not there. Mrs. Garrickson was in consternation at the idea.

"Out?-is Mildred out to-night? She's no business-she'll be lost! it's snowing! it's not fit for a dog."

"Nevertheless the dog must come.-Laddie! Laddie! come along. You'd better get a little ready, mother; she'll be cold and wet; I might find her in a fix. Where's the lantern? Now, don't be frightened; I may meet her on the road."

"Just get your gaiters and grey muffler, and the cape of your ulster."

Garth got them, and a warm tam-o'-shanter, which Mildred had made for him years ago, when they were fashionable, and, unknown to his mother, the brandyflask; and with the lantern and Laddie, set off. But neither in the field nor in the road did he meet Miss Mildred.

It was a wild night; even Laddie was half-cowed,

and trotted along in evident disgust, starting and pricking his ears occasionally, as if uneasy as his

master.

At the top of the road Garth paused; he did not know where Miss Caryl had left the carriage --for all he knew, she was still with Daddie. He knocked at one of the cottage doors.

"Is Miss Caryl here. Mrs. Bardsley?"

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"Miss Caryl? Nay! Aye, my certy! be Miss Caryl out to-night?"

"I am afraid so."

"Aye, she be, mother, I see her mysel'," observed one of the listening youngsters.

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Where, my lad?"

"Just hereby."

"And which way did she go?"

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Thatten," with a jerk towards the lane.

"It'il be to blind Lucy belike, Mester Garrickson," from the mother.

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To blind Lucy! no doubt; I'll go and see. Thank you, my lad," and Garth went on.

But Mildred was not there.

"Aye no! she went, it's nigh upon two hours; she 'll be whoam long, sin'," Mary assured him. Coom in an rest ye." Garth was distinguished company, here. "No, thanks. Is Tom in?"

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No, he isna; so it's a good job she didna waate; I wanted her. "T were getten dark; he 'd ha' set her a piece 'spes'lly as she were goin' t' short road." "Which way? Back by the road?"

"No; by t' range-t' Queen's land-aye! What if she's teken oop?

Garth did not think that likely; he said good-night. On he went, pondering perplexedly. How could it be? She must have got home long since had she gone this short way. On, until he came to the range-a high stone wall with markers' huts on either hand, where the local volunteers practised-and it occurred to him that possibly she was sheltering here. He mounted the stile behind the range, passed round it, and called; no answer, all was still and deserted, the huts fastened, the wall screening off the wind and snow. No, it could not be; she could not have reached this. There the Queen's land lay-a broad level road leading straight down to their own gate-and from the windward side the snow had drifted, leaving a dark track the whole way along under the sheltering wall. Had she come here, she had got safely home. No, she had not come here. He looked to the left, where in daylight he would have seen the wide meadows-and -how was it? To the end of life he never could explain it a conviction seized him that she was therebetween here and the hamlet.

"We'll go back, lad," he announced with decision. Laddie did not like it, but followed obediently, and back they went on and on, the wind behind, the snow a little less, he thought.

At length he came to the open gate-open! why

had he not seen that? Of course she would not know the ground had been turned up, and had taken the old short cut. Garth strode through and shouted.

"Bark, lad! bark! bark!" and the welkin rang, so that Mary and Lucy heard in their snug little cottage. "Now, hush-hark! listen," and they listened. No answer: all was still but the wind and the driving

snow.

"Find her, Laddie! What is it, man?" Laddie was running about excitedly, his nose on the ground, or snuffing the air, and barking in sharp little yaps. "Come along," striking out into the field; and Laddie ran before, rushing this way and that-he understood his work now. They almost traversed the field,

shouting, barking, and pausing to listen; and Garth was beginning to feel an icy chill about his heart. Two hours! and the cold-and the pond! when it occurred to him that she might hear his voice but fail to recognise it-he was so hoarse now-and fear to reply, and he broke into a sudden shrill whistle as he had not whistled for many a day.

What a whistle! It seemed to cut through the mist like a fife, and before he was through the familiar little air a second time, a faint call came back to him at last.

Laddie went wild, gave vent to a roaring volley of barks, and rushed off out of sight. Garth followed fast, guided by his voice, and when he overtook the