“It seems to me, my boy, that is being too hard upon yourself--and on me. I cannot relieve all the distress in the world. I relieve what I find out about. And so I must help you. And don't you see that I wish to keep you near me, so that I can watch after your welfare? And perhaps--who knows--you can help me. The harvest is plenty, you have heard, and the laborers are few. There are many ways in which you could be of service in my church.” “Ah, sir!” cried Samuel, overwhelmed with gratitude--“if you put it that way--” “I put it that way most certainly,” said Dr. Vince. “You have seen a new light--you wish to live a new life. Stay here and live it in Lockmanville--there is no place in the world where it could be more needed.” All this while the little girl had been sitting in silence drinking in the conversation. Now suddenly she rose and came to Samuel, putting her hand in his. “Please stay,” she said. And Samuel answered, “Very well--I'll stay.” So then they fell to discussing his future, and what Dr. Vince was going to do for him. The good doctor was inwardly more perplexed about it than he cared to let Samuel know. “I'll ask Mr. Wygant,” he said--“perhaps he can find you a place in one of his factories.” “Mr. Wygant?” echoed Samuel. “You mean Miss Gladys's father?” “Yes,” said the doctor. “Do you know Miss Gladys?” “I have met her two or three times,” said the boy. “They are parishioners of mine,” remarked the other. And Samuel gave a start. “Why!” he exclaimed. “Then you--you must be the rector of St. Matthew's.” “Yes,” was the reply. “Didn't you know that?” The boy was a little awed. He had seen the great brownstone temple upon the hill--a structure far more splendid than anything he had ever dreamed of. “Have you never attended?” asked the doctor. “I went to the mission once,” said Samuel--referring to the little chapel in the poor quarters of the town. “A friend of mine goes there--Sophie Stedman. She works in Mr. Wygant's cotton mill.” “I should be glad to have you come to the church,” said the other. “I'd like to very much,” replied the boy. “I didn't know exactly if I ought to, you know.” “I am sorry you got that impression,” said Dr. Vince. “The church holds out its arms to everyone.” “Well,” began Samuel apologetically, “I knew that all the rich people went to St. Matthew's---” “The church does not belong to the rich people,” put in the doctor very gravely; “the church belongs to the Lord.” And so Samuel, overflowing with gratitude and happiness, joined St. Matthew's forthwith; and all the while in the deeps of his soul a voice was whispering to him that it was Miss Gladys' church also! And he would see his divinity again! CHAPTER XVI Samuel went back in great excitement to the Stedmans', to tell them of his good fortune. And the family sat about in a circle and listened to the recital in open-eyed amazement. It was a wonderful thing to have an adventurer like Samuel in one's house!