"I see, I see," said Brown, the others remaining silent, but interested; "you are right, but I never looked at the matter in that way before." "Now, then, ladies and gentlemen," said Durant: "I maintain as before stated, that faith is the first principle of the gospel leading to salvation, but it will not bring us to the top of the glorious gospel ladder without the other principles." "Well, suppose we accept this as the first round in the gospel ladder, where will we find the second?" "To explain this question involves, perhaps, some little time, and as it must be near the 'witching hour' of midnight, I would not care to be responsible for extending the sitting beyond, or even up to, that time. To give this information is, in some measure, my errand among you, and if desired I shall be pleased to meet with you again. Before leaving I hope to be able to address the citizens publicly, and will do so if a suitable place can be obtained." Both the doctor and the lawyer were disposed to remonstrate against adjournment, and there seemed to be none who were not willing to remain and hearken unto that which to them was somewhat in the nature of an awakening, notwithstanding, as stated, it was growing late, and the exercises had been purely colloquial. It might be mentioned that only the more important parts of the conversation have been produced here--for the reproduction of everything in the nature of mere colloquy, the auxiliary questions, answers and suggestions, would make this a large book instead of a small one. Besides, the full conversation would be no more interesting for the particular object to which this book is devoted than would the matter reported. The visitors took their departure with evident regret, albeit their interest in the occasion was more attributable to unsatisfied curiosity than to concurrence in all that the stranger had said. "He can talk Bible by the yard," said one. "Yes, and show what it means better than a regular minister," said another. "He said he had a mission among us," chimed in a third; "I wonder what it can be?" The parting on the veranda was one in which friendly feelings prevailed all around, and the meeting on the morrow, when the second of the grand fundamental principles of the gospel was to be explained, seemed uppermost in every mind. CHAPTER V. FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE FIRST PRINCIPLES. The audience had increased in numbers when the time for the continuance of the gospel exposition arrived. Rev. Fitzallen was not present; he had an engagement elsewhere, was the word he left; but his absence was compensated for by the presence of two or three others. But little time was spent in formality, and a beginning was effected by our legal friend saying: