WE must pass over five years of Reuben Roy's life—years marked by steady toil and earnest purpose. The toil was not unrewarded, nor the purpose vain. It is by no means the rule in this life that merit meets with its just recompense. There are good men and true, who toil all their lives with unwearying industry, and yet, and apparently through no fault of their own, never win more than a bare subsistence. And there are cunning, base, guileful souls who by crooked ways seem with ease to gain success. It is not by its outward results that the worth of a man's life can be estimated. Yet the Divine justice will not fail. God will surely crown the victor who, fighting the good fight of faith, overcomes the world and its manifold temptations, though it may be that in this life his brows will wear no crown save such as his Master wore—a crown of thorns. Yet is it better to share the shame and want and suffering of the Son of man, than the triumph of those who gain the whole world, it may be at the cost of the life that is life indeed. But with Reuben Roy it was otherwise. He had not to withstand the temptations of failure and poverty, but those that attend success. His fellow-workers wondered to see how quickly he rose from one responsible position to another. Some few grumbled and sneered, and various attempts were made to explain the marvel, none perhaps perceiving that with Reuben, as with Joseph of old, the "Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper." Grand secret of a blessed life, whether or not it be crowned with outward prosperity! The years had passed happily with others besides Reuben Roy. They were the happiest years Kate Barnaby had ever known, for she had spent them all at peaceful, pretty Ashworth. To such a length had the projected visit of a week or two been spun out! Kate was now like one of the family at Reuben's home, for his mother had not failed to make good his promise that she would love the poor friendless, ill-trained girl, who appealed so powerfully to her motherly sympathies. And Kate, rather to the astonishment of the good country-woman, had proved so eager to learn, and so quick to imitate her "ways," that it was quite a pleasure to Mrs. Roy to initiate her into the mysteries of household management. Kate developed such skill in the laundry work that Mrs. Roy felt that it would be no charity, but a positive gain to herself, if she could persuade Kate to share her home and her toil for the future.