“Carry me to Matilda!” gasped the monk.

“Wretch!” answered Lucifer.  “For what did you stipulate but rescue from the Inquisition?  Learn that when you signed, the steps in the corridor were the steps of those who were bringing you a pardon.  But now you are mine beyond reprieve, to all eternity, and alive you quit not these mountains.”

Darting his talons into the monk’s shaven crown, he sprang with him from the rock.  From a dreadful height he flung him headlong, and the torrent bore away with it the shattered corpse of Ambrosio.

* * * * *

ELIZA LYNN LINTON

Joshua Davidson

Mrs. Lynn Linton, daughter of a vicar of Crosthwaite, was born at Keswick, England, Feb. 10, 1822.  At the age of three-and-twenty she embarked on a literary career, and as a journalist, magazine contributor, and novelist wrote vigorously for over fifty years.  Before her marriage, in 1858, to W.J.  Linton, the eminent wood-engraver, who was also a poet, she had served on the staff of the “Morning Chronicle,” as Paris correspondent.  Later, she contributed to “All the Year Round,” and to the “Saturday Review.”  After nine years of married life, the Lintons parted amicably.  In 1872 Mrs. Lynn Linton published “The True History of Joshua Davidson,” a powerfully simple story that has had much influence on working-class thought.  “Christopher Kirkland,” a later story, is largely autobiographical.  Mrs. Linton died in London on July 14, 1898.  She was a trenchant critic of what she regarded as tendencies towards degeneration in modern women.

I.—­A Cornish Christ

Joshua Davidson was the only son of a village carpenter, born in the small hamlet of Trevalga, on the North Cornwall coast, in the year 1835.  There was nothing very remarkable about Joshua’s childhood.  He was always a quiet, thoughtful boy, and from his earliest years noticeably pious.  He had a habit of asking why, and of reasoning out a principle, from quite a little lad, which displeased people, so that he did not get all the credit from the schoolmaster and the clergyman to which his diligence and good conduct entitled him.

He was never well looked on by the vicar since a famous scene that took place in the church one Sunday.  After catechism was over, Joshua stood out before the rest, just in his rough country clothes as he was, and said very respectfully to the vicar, “Mr. Grand, if you please I would like to ask you a few questions.”

“Certainly, my lad.  What have you to say?” said Mr. Grand rather shortly.

“If we say, sir, that Jesus Christ was God,” said Joshua, “surely all that He said and did must be real right?  There cannot be a better way than His?”

“Surely not, my lad,” Mr. Grand made answer.

“And His apostles and disciples, they showed the way, too?” said Joshua.