Of all the pictures which memory paints on the heart none is so indelible as that of the hour of evening prayer when, at mother’s knee, we paid our first vows to God and pledged our lives to purity and truth. This picture has become the saving beam of light which has shot across the dark career of many who after a night’s revelry, and alone with conscience, refuse to drink further of sin’s deadly potion, but look back upon that early scene of innocence, and resolve to make it again a real experience. Although Remorse is the remaining guest of a night of sin, there is also the confident token of an angel of hope ever ready in the chamber of repentant despair. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. _Ecc. 11:9._ [Illustration: COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY FRED’K L. CHAPMAN & CO. THE REMAINING GUEST.] [Illustration] AS CONSCIENCE PAINTS HIM. There are days in everybody’s life when he sits alone with Conscience. The world and its undeserved blame or praise is shut out of that silent chamber. With his truthful guest the man of rags and the man of millions, the woman of toil and the woman of ease, must hold weekly if not daily and hourly communion. At these times the picture of the real self is thrown upon the vivid background of years. Now the false-hearted or boastful or proud will see and hear admonitions that would not be brooked from preacher or friend. True character divested of conventional habiliments of conduct through which the eyes of men can not peer, will stand bleak, ragged and forlorn. “Paint me as I am,” cried Cromwell, in righteous rage when the artist began to paint out of his portrait a slight disfigurement of his face. This he did though he knew that his portrait would go down through generations and thus perpetuate his ungainly visage. Who of us can say to conscience, “Paint me as I am though the world sees and the future sees me, let not my real self be hidden!” Their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another. _Romans 2:15._ [Illustration: COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY FRED’K L. CHAPMAN & CO. AS CONSCIENCE PAINTS HIM.] [Illustration] COVERING HIS SINS. Here is a picture of universal application, though all do not indulge the same sin as the man here shown――endeavoring to cover his greed by showing to the world the monument of a college professorship endowed by his gifts or money. The world may be deceived in part, but what of his own conscience? He can not hide from himself his true nature and he forgets that God is ever at his side, judging not the act but the motive, never mistaken in His estimate, rejoicing at the good, sorrowing for the bad, but all-seeing and ever-seeing.