The religion of Christ has two elements in it—a destructive element and a constructive element. The destructive element is what we figuratively call “the blood of Christ.” It not only pardons or washes away the past sins, but it takes out of the soul lying, drinking, lust, laziness, deceit, fraud of any kind, and with the constructive element it puts into the soul honor, truth, industry, integrity or wholeness. It creates in the soul the desire to walk in companionship with Christ. The recognition of sins forgiven and the conscious presence of God is what in emotional natures makes some shout, some weep, some tremble as with an ague, but regeneration in all souls brings unspeakable joy. It not only energizes for action, but it puts into the soul the power of endurance before unknown. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH One cold night in November, 1908, the writer had charge of the Gospel Mission service. In the testimony meeting a fine looking young man arose and said about this: “I am a graduate of a college in Maine, also of a medical department of a college of this city. I have had a good practice and a good home. I have lost all of these from hard drink. Last spring I was converted in a street meeting held by this Mission at the post-office corner. Soon after that I obtained a situation in a large department store in this city, where I did good work, but I lost my temper at the inefficiency of a driver. I learned then and there that only proprietors have the right to lose their tempers, and I lost my place. I have had a hard time since. God only knows the suffering of a man without money, friends, or even acquaintances in a great city.” And with a wail, like a cry of anguish, he said, “But I've kept the faith! I've kept the faith!” After the close of the meeting, a worker said, “I fear that man has had no food to-day.” I went to him and said, “Son, when did you eat last?” He answered, “Yesterday morning.” I slipped into his hand a dollar bill and my card, and said, “Come and see me to-morrow morning.” We had no difficulty in getting him back into the department store where his quick and clear penmanship, his great executive ability, have been most highly appreciated for nearly five years. CHAPTER IV AN ELEMENT OF HUMOR IN RESCUE WORK Unless one can see the humor in rescue work, the tragedy of it all would break the heart, ruin one's health, and keep one's mind all the time on the sorrowful stories that we hear daily. A part of successful rescue work is the ability to bring each sorrowful case to God, lay it on His altar, and leave it behind us when we leave the Mission. AUNT MARY