I am no longer a child, my father! I will be a mother to my younger sisters, and manage your house according to my best ability. I know that this is my duty; it will also be my pleasure, if, father, you will only give me my freedom and your confidence, and be kind to me forAlma's sake!"

Now it was spoken out: that reproachful, bitter word, which had so long brooded in Hertha's breast, but a loving angel had anointed the arrow's point with a healing balsam. It pierced the heart deeply, penetratingly, but at the same time softeningly, as with a chastising look of love.

The old man said nothing: he bowed his head, and large heavy tears rolled down the deeply-furrowed cheeks.

Then another head bent down softly to his, and a young fresh cheek, wet with tears, was laid close to his. A beautiful sorrowing memory united father and daughter in one common bitter pain. Yes-blessed are they who can thus weep together!

Gentle feelings produce profoundly beneficial effects upon stern natures. It is the spring-rain which melts the ice-covering of the earth, and causes it to open to the beams of heaven.

Old Mr. Falk felt it to be so, and he raised his head, as he said in the gentlest voice which his daughter had ever heard from her father:

"Let it be as you have said. We will endeavour to begin anew with each other. I am only afraid that-I may be quite too heavy a burden to you, for I feel that some great change is about to take place in my state of health."

He was not aware that it was precisely a presentiment of this change; the sight of that palsied hand and that tremulous head, which had moved the daughter's soul to the resolve, that her youthful strength and health should be his support.

THE SON OF THE TWILIGHT.

IT was almost dusk when Hertha left her father and went down to her own room. As she approached the door, however, she involuntarily started back, perceiving a dark, almost shapeless form, lying upon the threshold, and glaring upon her with a pair of terrible eyes from beneath a thick mass of unkempt, and disordered black hair. Hertha shuddered involuntarily as she said, "Rudolph!"

He continued to stare into her face, which was lighted up by the crimson of the sunset, as well as by the conversation which she had just had with her father.

"Rudolph!" repeated she, in a voice half of anger and half of terror, "Rudolph! is it you?"

"Yes," replied he; "and you? Are you the angel of judgment?"

"I am Hertha, your grovelling in that way. been expecting to hear time."

cousin.

Stand up don't lie Stand up: be a man! I have something from you for a long

"Don't talk sternly to me. It will do no good. I am too much used to that. And now I don't care for the whole world. Trample on me, if you like. Here will I die!"

"Get up, Rudolph, and come with me into my room. I will talk with you there."

The calm determination in Hertha's voice and the words, "in my room I will talk with you," produced a great effect upon the unfortunate young man. He rose up. She opened the door of the room, and he followed her

in. She surveyed him attentively, and when she became aware of his wholly desolate, and, as it were, shipwrecked appearance, she said with heartfelt compassion:

"Poor Rudolph! Where have you been?"

"I don't exactly know. In the great woods about here." "You have need of something to eat and drink. Wait a moment."

Hertha went out, and soon returned with bread, some cold meat, and a bowl of milk.

"The fire is out in the kitchen," she said, " and I cannot now get up anything warm; but take of this-eat and drink."

"Oh, Hertha! Then you can still take some interest in me."

"Yes yes I shall always be your friend, Rudolph. But now, eat and drink. After that we will talk."

Rudolph ate and drank like some one who had neither eaten nor drunk for several days. After awhile he said, "Thank you, I have had enough."

"Let us now have some talk, Rudolph," said Hertha, with calm resolution. "Tell me what you have thought what you think of doing for the future. What do you wish for what would you like?"

"To see you!"

"And after that?"

""
"Die-What have I to live for?"

"You must not die yet, Rudolph," said Hertha, solemnly. "You must live in order to reconcile to you those friends whom you have alienated; to make amends for injuries you have done, and to become a better man." "How can I live? Where must I go to?"

"The world is large. You must go out into the world, into a foreign land; a long way from this place. People already suspect you here. People are making inquiries after you. If once you are seized you will either be executed or imprisoned as a malefactor. ( Rudolph,

you have done mischief enough already, do not make us still more unfortunate!"

“Tell me, tell me then, what shall I do?" said Rudolph, bewildered and unable to take counsel with himself. “You—you I will obey. O Hertha, you have a wonderful power over me. But, when I think of that horrible night; the flames; the houseless throng, and you looking at me like the angel of judgment and punishment —

"I shall not henceforward look at you in that way, Rudolph. I am your friend, your sister. Now listen to me, Rudolph. You must immediately go hence. Here is some money; three hundred rix-dollars; they are my own, and now they are yours. I know that you have a thorough knowledge of money. With this you must immediately go to Götheborg, and from thence to Copenhagen. You must there go to our relation Banker Falk. I have written to him, and here you have a letter to him. He will receive you; of that I am certain, and take charge of you for a time. As soon as you reach Copenhagen write to me and tell me everything that concerns you. And I will then write to you and send you more money if you require it."

"I shall not require it!" said Rudolph, "because I am grown up, and I can write and keep books for wages. I will do everything that you bid me, Hertha, if you will only promise to think of me and write to me often. I know that I did what is very wrong, that night;—a wonderful light entered my mind then-but Hertha, do not abandon me!-You are the only, only person in the whole world who has any regard for me; the only one who asks after me; who wishes me well, the only one

"No, not the only one, Rudolph,” interrupted Hertha, in whose soul at this moment the fountains of divine salvation opened their depths,-"Jesus came to this world to save sinners; go to Him Rudolph, and He will be with you; He will be your friend."

"How can I go to Him ?-You have never before talked to me about Him; do you believe in Him, Hertha?"

"I did not formerly understand Him, as I do now, Rudolph. My eyes have been closed. Alma knew Him better than I did. Look, here is a little book about Him; in which she often read, and in which she has marked many passages. Take it, read it, and do that which the Saviour commands, and He will lead you to God. The sin which you have hitherto committed, God will forgive, because you knew not what you did; your reason was clouded, poor Rudolph, and you had no guiding friend. But now you know that what you did was sin; and God has opened to you a way by which you can make atonement. I know that your heart is not wicked. If you follow Jesus it will become good, and you will never do otherwise than what is right. Wherever you happen to be, Rudolph, remember this; help the oppressed and the suffering whether they be human beings or animals. But never seek vengeance for yourself, Rudolph, leave vengeance to God who sees all things. Go, and be merciful to your fellow-creatures, as Jesus has set you the example. O Rudolph! there is a great deal which is dark and sorrowful and bitter upon earth, but He is light and He is goodness, and with Him as you will attain to light and the highest life. much to live for, much which can make life good and divine. You have hitherto lived as a poor child of darkness, Rudolph; now you must live to become a child of the light and of God!"

your guide

You have

noble and

Hertha's tears gushed forth as she thus talked with a power and an enthusiasm which even affected herself. Rudolph listened in silence with eyes riveted upon her, whilst he many times breathed deeply, as if he felt a heavy burden lifted from his breast and inspired a new breath of life. When she ceased speaking, he lifted up his head and said: