°

A Triumph Song. | 65

an earnest expression, but the closest scrutiny failed to
penetrate their secret, or lift the veil of mystery. I may
not ask, ‘Why have you come?’ or, ‘Is all well?’ . Iam as
Indian-like as they, so far as my impassive countenance 1s
concerned, but I am burning with anxious curiosity all the
time, because I remembered how many have been the vicissi-
tudes of the Mission to these Kitkatlas.

“Six winters ago a half-drowned crew came here from the
same place, and sat in like manner on the same chairs. Their
tale was woeful and laconic. I cannot forget it. Our Native
teacher was spokesman then. This was his lamentation :—
‘They have burnt the church, they have torn up the Bibles,
they have blasphemed the Saviour. Only the ashes remain,
and a great victory for the devil.’ Then they relapsed into
a gloomy silence. My turn then came. ‘No, never,’ said I,
‘the war is only just begun. Jesus Christ will win. You
are not burnt. The devil has laughed before. God will
laugh at him, and you will laugh. Be strong.’

“For more than a year no teacher was suffered to land
among the Kitkatlas. No public service could be held. The
most strenuous efforts were made to stamp out the work of
grace, but the hotter the persecution, the purer the life. I
cannot say how many dated their change of mind from that
Saturday night which was turned into a brief day by the
flames they kindled in the witnessing House of God. If
every church in the land were burnt, with similar spiritual
results, the loss would be gain.

“While the latest news rings and thrills within me—
before I enter upon any other pursuit, if I can command the
leisure—I will write it down, and send it at once, if the
already overdue mail steamer does not arrive to-day.

“Luke, a Christian of a year’s standing, is the chosen
spokesman. How his face was transformed as he related
his beautiful message! Mrs. Ridley had come in to hear
it. We both listened to the answer of a prayer of eight
years’ duration. We had long wrestled for it. Now we

have it. I have for years past expressed to the Committee,
G

a - =

ee Nea

PE haat ae

es