Laura arranged the instrument, and they watched the result in silence. Harry accompanied the doctor down-stairs. "What was the temperature?" he asked. "100½," was the reply. "Do you consider that favorable?" "Yes. I will see the young lady again to-night." The tramp of four men entering her room together did not arouse Margaret. She lay in an attitude of great exhaustion as the three physicians, accompanied by Harry, came in, and was, evidently, unconscious of their presence. "I should like to arouse her if it could be done through some pleasant channel. Had she any favorite pursuits?" "Yes," said Laura, "she painted beautifully, and was full of enthusiasm about it." "Speak of it, if you please." "Margaret," said Laura, coaxingly, "you haven't painted at all to-day. And you paint so beautifully. You'll paint something for me, won't you?" There was no answer. "Margaret, dear, you tried to save mamma's life. That was very noble in you. We all thank you so much." No response. "Perhaps," very slowly and distinctly, "you think you are lying dead at the bottom of the river, and that God has forgotten your poor soul. But you are not drowned, darling. He could not take you to heaven, because you are alive. Did you fancy, perhaps, that He did not love you, and just left you? Why, He loves you dearly!" The bewildered brain was reached at last. Like one suddenly awaking from sleep, Margaret looked around upon the group gathered about her. Laura had touched the spring few hands could have reached. It was not the shock of believing herself drowned that had dethroned her reason; it was the horror of being dead and finding her religion a fable. At a signal from the eldest physician all stole quietly away, with the exception of Laura. Leaning over his patient, he said in kind, fatherly tones: "You had begun to think there wasn't any God. But there is one. He is here, now. Everything you have ever believed about Him is true. And as it is getting dark, I would say, 'Now I lay me,' and go right to sleep, if I were you." She looked at him, devouring every word; then, as he gently withdrew out of sight, and Laura did the same, Margaret joined her hands, repeated the prayer, and fell into a sweet, natural sleep. When the venerable physician rejoined the younger ones, they gathered about him with great reverence. "I should never have dared to try such an experiment," said one. "Nor I," said another. The old man smiled. "I took counsel of One who never errs," he said. "I commend Him to you in all obscure cases. The whole history of my success in my profession lies in this word of Scripture: 'The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.' Gentlemen, I think we may return to the city to-night."