84 LAST AND WORST.

able and high-minded youth. I feel greatly disappointed
that the first temptation has caused you to fall. I fear
you are too much governed by your associates. If you
were always to choose good ones, you might do well ;
but there is no security for a person who cannot stand
alone,—who does not possess in his own heart those
principles and that strength which will lead him to act
rightly, independently of all outward circumstances,
and to resist in the hour of temptation. Each of us
must bear his own burden, and give his own account
to the Judge of all. Strive and pray, I entreat you,
for that grace and light from above—that firm religious
conscientiousness and love to your Creator—which can
alone give you the victory over sudden temptation.”
Frank Henley seemed deeply impressed by Mr.
Harding’s advice, and much distressed at his own mis-
conduct ; but Philip Graham exhibited no emotion!

And here we must take leave of Mr. Harding’s little
community. The diversity of character which we have
seen in it may be found in larger and older communities
all the world over—and each of them answers to some
representation or image, which we find in the Sacred
Scriptures. There are those who fear God and desire
to please and obey him. Their habitual thought is,
“ Thou God seest me ;” and so convinced are they that
to love God and keep his commandments is their
reasonable duty, that they would suffer any reproach or