_The last essential to success in life is Religious Hopefulness_.--(_a_) Our industry, our purpose, our principles may be all they ought to be, yet the "race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong." But when we find the race going from us and the battle going against us, if we have trust in God and the hopefulness that comes from religion, we will find heart to try again: we will not be utterly cast down. Christian faith keeps men in good heart amid many discouragements. (_b_) Even if a man or woman become rich or clever and have life pleasant around them, they cannot feel at the close of life that they have succeeded if the future is dark before them. When Cardinal Wolsey, who had been the favorite of the king and had long held the government of England in his hand, fell from power, he said, "If I had served my God as truly as I served my king He would not have forsaken me in my gray hairs." The world is a poor comforter at the last. No man or woman has become successful until their essential happiness is placed beyond the reach of all outward fluctuation and change. Faith in Christ, the faith that penetrates the future and brings down from heaven a bright and blessed hopefulness, which casts its illumination over the present scene and reveals the grand object of existence, is essential to true success. We cannot sum up the teachings of this chapter better than in the words of a poem of which we should try to catch the spirit: they express the very philosophy of success in life: Courage, brother! do not stumble, Though thy path be dark as night; There's a star to guide the humble;-- Trust in God, and do the right. Let the road be rough and dreary, And its end far out of sight, Foot it bravely! strong or weary, Trust in God, and do the right. Perish policy and cunning, Perish all that fears the light! Whether losing, whether winning, Trust in God, and do the right. Trust no party, sect, or faction; Trust no leaders in the fight; But in every word and action Trust in God, and do the right. Trust no lovely forms of passion,-- Fiends may look like angels bright: Trust no custom, school, or fashion-- Trust in God, and do the right. Simple rule, and safest guiding, Inward peace and inward might, Star upon our path abiding,-- Trust in God, and do the right. Some will hate thee, some will love thee, Some will flatter, some will slight: Cease from man, and look above thee,-- Trust in God, and do the right. NORMAN M'LEOD. That is the way to succeed in life. CHAPTER III. PERSONAL INFLUENCE.