“‘No man liveth unto himself,’” said Yusuf slowly.  “Whether we will it or not, we are each of us ever exerting some influence for good or for ill upon those with whom we come in contact.  No one can be neutral.  Acts often speak in thunder-tones, when mere words are heard but in whispers.”

“I fear me, Yusuf,” said the Meccan, with a half-smile, “that Amzi has neither thundered in action, nor even whispered in words.  So little good has he done, that he almost hates to think of your great influence theory.”

Yusuf smiled and slipped his arm about the Meccan’s shoulder.  “Amzi, the name of ‘benevolent’ belies your words,” he said.  “Think you that your home duties faithfully performed, your pure and upright life, pass for naught?”

“You would stand aghast, Yusuf,” returned Amzi, “if I told you the amount of time that I have squandered, simply in dreaming, smoking, and taking my ease.”

“Time is a precious gift,” replied Yusuf, “it flows on and on as a great river towards the sea, and never returns.  It appears to me, every day, more clearly as the talent given to all men to be used rightly.  I, as well as you, have let precious hours pass, and, in doing so, we have both done wrong.  Yet I pray that we may every day see, more and more, the necessity of well occupying the hours,—­’redeeming the time, because the days are evil.’”

“Would that I had your decision of purpose, your firmness of will!” said Amzi, wistfully.  “Yusuf, it would be impossible for me to spend all my time as you do,—­visiting, relieving, studying, speaking ever the word in season, and ever working for others.  I should miss my kaif.”

“Even if you know it was in the cause of the Lord?” asked Yusuf, with gentle reproof.  “Yet, Amzi, you have done as much as I, considering your opportunities.  The great thing is to do faithfully whatever comes to one’s hand, whether that be great or small.  Know you not that it was said to him who had received only two talents, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.’  As bright crowns await the humble home-workers as the great movers of earth, provided all be done ’as unto the Lord.’”

“But,” returned Amzi, impatiently, “my ‘good works,’ as you call them, have not been done ‘as unto the Lord.’  My charities have been done simply because the sight of misery caused me to feel unhappy.  I felt pity for the wretched, and in relieving them set my own mind at ease, and gave satisfaction to myself.  I feel that it is right to do certain things, and so I do them under a sense of moral obligation.”

“Then,” said Yusuf, “has this acting under a sense of moral obligation brought you perfect satisfaction, perfect rest?”

“Frankly, it has not.”