Then he told me that he was under sentence of death and that he was so troubled that he cried to God to forgive his sins and pardon his crime, and that God had forgiven him and that he was now prepared to die. He said that when the Lord forgave him he was so happy that the officers put an extra guard over him, thinking that he had suddenly lost his mind. I exhorted him to maintain his faith in God and never doubt His saving power; to walk softly before God; to keep humble and meek and pray much. Truly there is pardon for every sinner who, in the depths of his soul, repents of his sin. God's love and power are so great that He will save to the uttermost all that come unto Him, not willing that any should perish. Reader, perhaps you have not the opportunity to know these souls as I know them, and so to help you understand them I give in other chapters many extracts in their own words, taken here and there from the thousands of letters I have received. I believe this will help you to understand that hundreds, shut out from the companionship of their fellow beings, are as easily moved by kindness, as capable of gratitude, as easily won to repentance, as willing to give up sin, as thousands of those outside, who perhaps have never been tempted as they were tempted and have never fallen as they have fallen. In quoting from these letters few changes have been made, except in spelling, capitalization and punctuation. Some young souls are making, for a stated time, This, their maiden effort, on the sea of crime. Oh, Christians, teach them early what to me is plain; Crime ever _has_ and ever _will_ result in lasting pain. Do not be _too_ lenient, nor _too_ soon forgive, Lest all _vice_ should flourish and no _virtue_ live. Society demands it, the _guilty_ should atone-- But take care you punish those, and those _alone_! Keep them in your prison till by _virtue_ shown They will know what _is_ and what is _not_ their own. But let all be careful lest by _word_ or _act_ Those who should _reform_ them from their _good_ subtract. Rule them wisely, gently--by some _humane_ plan, All their faults to conquer as best becomes a Man. When your work is finished and their habits changed, Give them honest labor, by the State arranged; Show them honest labor _can_ a living gain, While the _social outcast_ harvests _want_ and _shame_! Treat them fairly, kindly; teach them all the true Will be friendly with them while _the right_ they do. Both principle and policy declare this course is wise; Then why longer act the fool and wisdom's voice despise? Crime never _can_ nor _will_ decrease until in _Wisdom's School_ Men learn the noted lesson, "Right _through_ Law should Rule." --_H. P. McKnight._ [Illustration: PRISONERS MARCHING.] CHAPTER IV. A Brief Pen Picture of Prison Life.