“William——­” Philip did not hear the last name, it was spoken in such a low voice.

“Never mind; I’ll call you William if it’s all the same to you.”  And he went into the house with the man, and at once made him feel at home by means of that simple and yet powerful spirit of brotherhood which was ready to level all false distinctions, and which possibly saw in prophetic vision the coming event in his own career when all distinctions of title and name would be as worthless as dust in the scales of eternity.

Mrs. Strong at once set food upon the table, and then she and Philip with true delicacy busied themselves in another room so as not to watch the hungry man while he ate.  When he had satisfied his hunger Philip showed him the little room where the Brother Man had stayed one night.

“You may make it your own as long as you will,” Philip said.  “You may look upon it as simply a part of what has been given us to be used for the Father’s children.”

The man seemed dazed by the result of his encounter with the preacher.  He murmured something about thanks.  He was evidently very much worn, and the excitement of the evening had given place to an appearance of dejection that alarmed Philip.  After a few words he went out and left the man, who said that he felt very drowsy.

“I believe he is going to have a fever or something,” Mr. Strong said to his wife as he joined her in the other room.  He related his meeting with the man, making very light of the attack and indeed excusing it on the ground of his desperate condition.

“What shall we do with him, Philip?”

“We must keep him here until he finds work.  I believe this is one of the cases that call for personal care.  We cannot send him away; his entire future depends on our treatment of him.  But I don’t like his looks; I fear he is going to be a sick man.”

His fear was realized.  The next morning he found his lodger in the clutch of fever.  Before night he was delirious.  The doctor came and pronounced him dangerously ill.  And Philip, with the burden of his work weighing heavier on him every moment, took up this additional load and prayed his Lord to give him strength to carry it and save another soul.

It was at the time of this event in Mr. Strong’s life that another occurred which had its special bearing upon the crisis of all his life.

The church was dear to his thought, loved by him with a love that only very few of the members understood.  In spite of his apparent failure to rouse them to a conception of their duty as he saw it, he was confident that the spirit of God would accomplish the miracle which he could not do.  Then there were those in Calvary Church who sympathized heartily with him and were ready to follow his leadership.  He was not without fellowship, and it gave him courage.  Add to that the knowledge that he had gained a place in the affection of the working-people, and that was