It is, however, as an illustration of the power of the Gospel, in the heart of one who was brought up in heathenism, that the narrative possesses its supreme interest. In this case from the time when the great decision was made, after long resistance, to yield to Christ and trust in Him, there was no going back. We read of many trials, sorrows, testings, but the onward and upward course is steadily maintained. The religious devotee, when converted, always makes a better disciple than the person who has been entirely indifferent to the concerns of the soul; and so it was in the case of "Everlasting Pearl." She clung strongly to the vow that she had taken when she became a vegetarian, and on this account she long withstood the claims of the Gospel; but when at last she heard the call of Christ, then she turned to Him in full surrender and whole-hearted obedience, and became a burning and a shining light amongst her relatives and neighbours. The reader will observe the record of not a few dreams and visions in the story; but instead of these tending to discredit its truthfulness, they will only confirm it to those who know the life of the people of this class in China. The statement is constantly being made that the Gospel spreads more through the life and testimony of the converts themselves than by the work of the missionaries. The way in which this woman was brought to Christ, and the way in which she led others to Him, illustrates this fact; but truth is many-sided, and here we also see how large a ministry there still is for the missionaries to exercise, and how much they are needed to help the people in the midst of their struggles, perplexities, and sorrows, by their counsel, kind sympathy, and their prayers. I have only to add that the account of the early years is given just as it has been told by the woman herself, and the account of the later days is a simple narrative of the facts as they have come under the observation of the writer. WALTER B. SLOAN. CONTENTS CHAP. I. BIRTH AND INFANCY. II. FOOTBINDING III. CHILDHOOD DAYS IV. ENGAGEMENT V. MARRIAGE--PART I VI. MARRIAGE--PART II VII. DARK DAYS VIII. MISERABLE COMFORTERS IX. BROKEN CISTERNS X. WAYS NOT KNOWN XI. THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE XII. THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT XIII. THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER XIV. LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS XV. SAVED TO SERVE XVI. PERSECUTION AND TRIAL XVII. LABOUR AND FRUIT XVIII. FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT XIX. PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE XX. DAYS OF SHADOW XXI. THE SHADOW DEEPENS XXII. ENTERING THE VALLEY XXIII. ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST XXIV. CONCLUSION ILLUSTRATIONS EVERLASTING PEARL . . . . . _Frontispiece_ A PRECIOUS BUNDLE PLAITING SILK BRAID A SOURCE OF GREAT DELIGHT WRITING THE ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENT ADORNED AS A BRIDE THE OUT-STATION OF KUCHENG ANOTHER JEWEL FOR CHRIST EVERLASTING PEARL CHAPTER I