"It means that you belong to the Great King; that He has set His own mark upon you; that He has washed away your sins with His own Blood; that you are forgiven; that His angels will be about your path; that you have but to cry out and the King Himself will hear you and deliver you." "And must everyone who starts on his journey wear this sign?" "No one can even start on this journey without it. The gate will not open unless this sign be worn." "Sir, give me the key," cried Amer, "that I may at once begin my journey." "Nay," said the stranger, "man cannot give you the key, neither can man open the gate. It must be done by the King Himself, I am but His ambassador." "Must I wait, then?" asked Amer, sadly. * Eph. 1, 7. S. John 14, 6. "Nay, not a moment," said the stranger, "the King is even waiting to let you through the gate and has been waiting for years. Aye, He is rejoicing to-day in the Radiant City because He sees you coming to Him. 'There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.'" "But," asked Amer, perplexed, "I do not see the King and how am I to open the gate?" "The King sees you," answered the stranger, "and that is what signifies. All you have to do is to obey the words above the gate, 'Come unto Me.' You will find as you enter the porch, the gate will fly open and the King Himself will mark you for His own. You have simply to take Him at His word." Then with great joy Amer went forward, and as he passed through the portal, the gate opened, the King's mark was placed upon his brow, and he found himself on the other side in a blaze of light and glory. So wonderful was the change from the dark city he had left behind, and such a peace stole into his heart, that he could only fall on his knees and worship and praise the invisible King, Who had taken away his burden and his misery. "I will thank Thee, O Lord my God," he cried, "with all my heart: and will praise Thy name for evermore. For great is Thy mercy toward me: and Thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell." CHAPTER IV. DONNING THE ARMOUR. It was as if in a dream that Amer rose up again and looked about him. A very large expanse of country lay around him; hills and valleys, rivers and lakes, trees under which to rest, and far, far away, almost too far for eye to see, a haze of golden glory fascinated his eyes. "The City!" he cried under his breath.