From these words of Mr. Wilton you will conclude that Ansel has at length found rest in Christ. In another brief chapter I will tell you of his experience, and then bid you adieu. CHAPTER XVI. A DAY OF JOY AND GLADNESS. The reader has already learned that after Ansel had confessed himself an anxious inquirer and professed himself willing to obey Christ, he remained three or four weeks still in darkness. Others found peace in believing, but he felt no joyful confidence that Christ had received him and forgiven his sins. He sometimes felt almost discouraged, and sometimes was tempted to complain of God for not treating him as favorably as others, or to feel chagrined because others were rejoicing, while he found no light. But he fought against these evil thoughts and insinuations of Satan, and did not flag in his private devotions or cease to confess himself, always and everywhere, an anxious inquirer, still in darkness, but desiring to find the grace of God. If ever he was tempted to push away all concern about salvation and return by force to his former careless state, the words of Christ would come to his mind: "Will ye also go away?" and Peter's answer, "Lord, to whom shall we go? for thou hast the words of eternal life." The alternative, salvation by Christ or the loss of his soul, stared him in the face. "I can but perish if I go; I am resolved to try; For if I stay away, I know, I must for ever die." Great interest was felt for him and much prayer was offered in his behalf, but he seemed to make no progress toward a better state. Mr. Wilton had talked with him, but had failed to discover what it was that hindered his humble acceptance of the grace of Christ. After long and anxious musing upon Ansel's character and surroundings and the previous conversations which he had had with him, Mr. Wilton determined to probe him more fully. For this reason he invited Ansel to his study, where the following conversation transpired: "Good-morning, my young friend; how do you find yourself to-day?" "I am feeling, I think, very much as when I was here a week ago." "Are you becoming discouraged and almost ready to give up all effort to follow Christ?" "I do sometimes feel very much discouraged, but I am not ready to give up my interest in religion." "Have you no more enjoyment in reading the Scriptures and in your prayer in secret than you had a week ago?" "I think that I am trying to do right in doing these things, and I enjoy them better than I should if I felt that I was doing something wrong, but I do not feel as I think a Christian ought to feel." "Are your thoughts and feelings and opinions about Christ and salvation the same as they were six weeks ago?" "I think they are very different." "I am glad to hear that; but can you tell how they are different?"