'  It 's  no  use,  my  poor  fellow  !  "  she  broke  out,  at  last,  "  it "
of  no  use,  this  you  've  been  trying  to  do.     You  were  a  bra'   ■
fellow,  —  you  had  the  right  on  your  side  ;  but  it 's  all  in  vai  j,
and  out  of  the  question,  for  you  to  struggle.     You  are  in  tiie
devQ's  hands  ;  —  he  is  the  strongest,  and  you  must  give  up  !  "

Give  up !  and  had  not  human  weakness  and  physical  ago*iy
whispered  that,  before  ?  Tom  started  ;  for  the  bitter  wom*n,
with  her  wild  eyes  and  melancholy  voice,  seemed  to  him  an
embodiment  of  the  temptation  with  which  he  had  been  wrest,
ling.
"  0  Lord !  O  Lord !  "  he  groaned,  "  how  can  I  give  up  ?  "

"  There 's  no  use  calling  on  the  Lord,  —  he  never  hears,"
said  the  woman,  steadily ;  "  there  is  n't  any  God,  I  believe  ;  or,
if  there  is,  he 's  taken  sides  against  us.  AU  goes  against  us,
heaven  and  earth.  Everything  is  pushing  us  into  hell.  Why
should  n't  we  go  ?  "

Tom  closed  his  eyes,  and  shuddered  at  the  dark,  atlieistio
words.
