“Rupert,” said she, with a smile that had something of sadness in it, “the world is ’Ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.’  ’Darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the people.’  ‘And as with the people, so with the priest.’  ’The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.’  Is there any wonder that you have not heard these doctrines before?  Though you may read about them in the Bible, the world has been without their living presence for many hundreds of years.  But a new time has come to the world.  The gospel in its fulness and purity has been restored.  We read here that John, on the Isle of Patmos, saw that in the latter days an angel would ’fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth.’  That angel has come, Rupert, that gospel has been restored; and what I have been telling you are the teachings of that gospel.  Man is again endowed with power from on high to preach the gospel and administer its ordinances to those who believe.”

Rupert listened with deepest interest.  He became as a disciple at her feet.  They talked far into the night, and when Mr. and Mrs. Janson came home they found them bending low over the fire reading from the “good old book.”  Their heads were close together, the dark-brown one and the one of soft, silken tresses.

X.

  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
  the faith.”—­II Tim. 4:7.

Rupert was now continually thinking of the great questions of life.  Never before had he been so stirred in his feelings; never before had he contemplated life in the light which now came to him.  His heart was full of love, gratitude, and praise which swelled within him, and seemed to take possession of his whole being.

The winter passed, and Rupert closed his school.  He came to the conclusion that school teaching was not his forte, though the people were satisfied with his work.  He longed to be out digging ditches.  He liked it far better, and conjectured that in this world his mission was to make the physical deserts to blossom as the rose.

During the summer, Chamogo valley did undergo a change.  One side of the valley was brought under irrigation, and a number of farms were sold at a good profit.  Mr. Janson did right by Rupert, and together they worked and prospered.

And that which now filled Rupert’s cup of happiness was the fact that he had rendered obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and had received the promised gifts and blessings following.  The light that leadeth into all truth was his.  With Signe and her co-religionists, he could now see eye to eye, all having the same glorious hope for the future.