who had left the town, but he traced him to a nearby village, and then followed after him.

"I must talk more with you," Harald explained. "Why did you go?"

The elder looked him in the face and smiled. Harald understood. The man seemed to know his thoughts.

"Forgive me," said Harald, "I sent you away-but, tell me, is all this true?" He said it as a child, groping for light. The young elder took him by the arm, and his heart went out to him. How could Harald know of the secret prayers that this man had breathed for him?

"My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself? That is all I can say. I have borne my testimony to you. I have preached to you the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can do no more. I can not convince any man of its truth. That power belongs to God only."

"But this word 'Mormon,' and this man Joseph Smith. They make me nearly shudder. What you have said about the doctrine is beautiful, but-"

"My friend, a bitter fountain does not bring forth sweet water. You must remember, to be evil-spoken of is an heritage of the saints. This thing is not my doing. As I explained to you, I get no pay or worldly honor; but God has put it upon us who have received of this gracious light to impart it to our neighbor. I come 'not to do mine own will.' I would have a much easier task and more pleasant time at home with my wife and baby."

Harald took the "Mormon" once more back to Akerby. Once more, they roamed the hills, and sailed on the water, talking, talking. Harald could never become quite satisfied. He read the tracts and books which the elder gave him, but they did not satisfy him like the word of mouth. Then, there was something about the young missionary that drew Harald to him, something so simple, humble, yet natural-something so different from other preachers he had known.

Harald lived those days as in a dream. The weather was unusually fair, and much of the time the two men spent out of

doors. The arousing of the world from its long, cold sleep in the dark was but a type of his own awakening; and the beauties that daily sprang into view in the physical world, had their counterpart in the loveliness which unfolded to his eager soul.

With all his studying, Harald Einersen had never really delved into the basic study divided into three great headings: first, where did I come from? second, what is the object of this life? third, where do I go when I leave this world? Perhaps the reason for his ignorance of this science of all sciences was the scarcity of text books, and the absence of teachers, and now, this young teacher had come to him with a broken speech and a simple way, and had taught him some of the first principles of this great science.

The "Mormon" missionary remained in and around Akerby for some weeks. Harald gave him the names and addresses of a number of his friends, and asked the elder to call upon them. This was gladly done; but the reports which he brought to Harald were discouraging. None of them could see any good in "Mormonism," as they persisted in calling his doctrine. Some were very indifferent, and others again insulted him openly. Harald was grieved at this, but the elder simply smiled as he told how one of Harald's best friends had opened the door and told him to get out in a hurry, if he did not wish to be helped.

"Did he actually do that?" enquired Harald. "How did you feel?"

"Oh, I simply walked out, and did not think much about it. Such things discouraged me terribly at first-came in conflict with my Americanism, you know-but now, I have become accustomed to it, and do not mind it much."

"It must be hard-but I am surprised at him."

Elder Olsen left Akerby to attend some kind of conference at Bergen, and Harald went back to the duties of the West Akerby club. Some of his friends acted strangely towards him, he thought, but he paid no attention to it. Of course, his intimate association with the "Mormon” had become somewhat known, and had created some talk; but he tried not to care. Though he tried not to care, he did care. His friends were dear to him. Their society was all he had in the social world. But above all, his political ambitions de

pended wholly on the good will of his friends. If he lost that, he himself was lost, and with him, his nicely laid plans.

But then, if all this which the "Mormon" had told him be true, what then? What then of friends, and well laid plans? Perhaps God had sent this man to him as an answer to his yearnings for light. If God had sent him, how could he resist? If "Mormonism" was the truth, how could he consistently withstand it! Truth is all powerful and can not be overcome. No one can successfully fight against truth.

But oh, it must not be true. It can not be true. He must reject it. His plans were too well matured to be overturned now. His country needed his aid. He could not desert his friends who placed the utmost confidence in him. They had promised to elect him to the Storting, and from that body, he could make his influence felt.

Then Harald tried to convince himself that he could go on with his plans, do it all, and still accept this new truth, if it proved to be such; but he could not deceive himself. He knew that if it came to an issue, his surroundings would compel him, he would have to choose and that thought, as it came forcibly to him, made him sweat at every pore. The supreme struggle was at hand. He felt it coming, and tried to ward it off, but on it came, relentlessly on. His efforts were the puny exertions of a child. He tried to set his heart against this disturber of his peace, but his heart rebelled. He tried to close his eyes against the new outlook; but, time and again, his soul hungered for a sight of the new regions of beauty. The new force was already shaking to its foundation his latest and grandest castle.

Then arose another champion against the still, small voicedeep within his bosom-a voice which had to contend with so many foes already. This warrior was bold, and strong, and might turn the tide of battle. Harald thought he could hear his voice saying: "You fool, to thus throw your life away! Here you have patiently worked your way up from poverty and ignorance to a high level; and through it all, Thora Bernhard has been true to you. She has had faith in you, that you would overcome the differences between you, that you would place yourself on her level. She has been your star of hope through all your struggles-and the north

star is still in the heavens. And now, when you have attained to this, you would deliberately lower yourself again; or, if not that, fix a gulf between yourself and her that it will be impossible to span! Now, which will you choose? Contempt, degredation in the eyes of your friends, the loss of honor and respect, living all your life in common poverty; or the respect of your countrymen, a seat in the Storting, perhaps something higher, and, with it all, the love of Thora?

And Harald Einersen bowed his face in his hands and groaned, "O God, I don't know!"

He was on a sea; the night was dark; the thick fog hung low; not a star could be seen; the wind blew hither and thither; no pilot was on board; his ship was drifting, he knew not where; any moment, she might strike a hidden rock and go downfather was getting old; he was losing his strength, and could not swing his ax as formerly; his brothers were men; Hulda was a beautiful maiden; there were other children-and Harald was adrift, knowing not where his harbor would be.

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

It was the still, small voice that spoke, and Harald could not answer it.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The elder had quoted these words to him many times. They had not touched his heart until now. The advice had been given with perfect assurance. No other preacher had ever told him to prove his doctrine by asking God. Here, then, was a glimmer of hope. He would try it; put it to the test. Why had he not thought of it before! He had depended on his own strength and wisdom. He now saw that they were pitiably lacking. Yes, he would ask God for wisdom, and leave the matter in his hands.

SPEAKERS' CONTEST.

"SACRIFICE," THE ORATION THAT WON THE SILVER CUP.

[The third annual Speakers' Contest of the Salt Lake Stake, Y. M. M. I. A. was a feature of this season's conference of the young people, and was held in the Assembly Hall, on Saturday evening, May 31, 1902. President Joseph F. Smith presided, and Superintendent Richard R. Lyman made the presentation speech. There were four contestants: Brigham Clegg, who spoke on "Sacrifice;" W. A. Howard, "The Reign of Law;" Carl A. Badger, "Faith and Works;" and Mark C. Brown, "Liberty and Gospel Light." The silver cup was awarded to the first named; and the second prize, four bound volumes of the ERA, to the second. The judges on thought and composition were: Edward H. Anderson, Henry W. Naisbitt and David McKenzie; on delivery: J. T. Kingsbury, John Henry Smith and B. H. Roberts.

Brigham Clegg, the prize-winner, son of Henry and Ann Clegg, was born in Heber City, Utah, December 28, 1876, is a returned missionary, and a student of the Latter-day Saints' University.-EDITORS.]

SACRIFICE.

BY BRIGHAM CLEGG.

"Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." What is this sacrifice of which the Psalmist sings? Is it the struggles of life which secure gold, power and false pride? Is it the shedding of the blood of beasts, or the burning of incense upon an altar? Is it the loss of life on the battlefield? Nay; the sacrifice which demands our love, our courage, and our hearts' devotion, is more than all these. It is