The Trapper's Son Part 8

"I suppose I could not help it," said Michael. "Let me see the paper."

Mr Martin went to his room, and returned with the doc.u.ment he spoke of.

"I have preserved it," he said, "for I am pleased with the gracious terras in which it is couched."

Old Michael read the paper with intense interest.

"Yes!" he exclaimed. "I can no longer doubt the fact. Had I not kept away from those who knew of this, I might long ago have been enjoying the comforts and pleasures of the home I abandoned, and have again become a member of civilised society."

"Then, my friend, if an earthly sovereign can be so merciful and gracious, do you suppose that the King of Heaven, who has so wonderfully manifested his love to man, is less merciful and gracious in forgiving those who sin against Him?" said Mr Martin, feeling the importance of not allowing so practical an ill.u.s.tration of the great truth to pa.s.s unemployed. "Here is G.o.d's proclamation to sinful, rebellious man," he added, lifting his Bible before the eyes of the old trapper. "He declares in this--not once, but over and over again--that He forgives, freely and fully all who come to Him; that their sins and iniquities are blotted out and remembered no more; that 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool;' that His pardon is a free gift, without money and without price! You have seen the Queen's proclamation, and you believe it, and you know that you may return to your home with perfect safety, provided you take back your grandson, and restore him to his long-bereaved parents. That they will forgive and welcome you I know; for they belong to Christ's flock, and I am well acquainted with them. Now, my friend, let me entreat you to believe G.o.d's proclamation, to trust to the gracious plan He has designed, whereby you can obtain free pardon, perfect reconciliation, and life eternal."

"But can He ever pardon such a wretch as I am? Oh! tell me, sir, what shall I do to be saved?"

"I'll answer, as Paul answered the jailor at Philippi, who was, we have reason to believe, a cruel and bad man, or he was very unlike others in his occupation in those days: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' Paul, who certainly knew what G.o.d requires, did not tell him to go and do anything, he was simply to believe with a living faith. That, my friend, is all you have to do; and, be a.s.sured, the peace of G.o.d, which pa.s.seth all understanding, will be yours; and however you may bewail the effects of your sins, still you will know that they are all put out of G.o.d's remembrance; for He sees you not as you are, but clothed with the righteousness of Christ, with the white spotless robes of the Lamb."

Many days pa.s.sed by, and at length the old trapper could say with confidence, as he clasped the hand of the missionary, "I rejoice in the blood of my risen Saviour."

Young Laurence had long before been able to say the same.

They together soon afterwards set out for Canada. Mr Martin had not wrongly estimated the character of his Christian friends. While they rejoiced at the return of their long-lost son, they truly heaped coals of fire on the head of the old man by their kindness and attention. A few years afterwards he died, in perfect peace, in their midst.

Laurence's thoughts had ever been fixed on the far-off fort and its beloved inmates. He made rapid progress in his studies, and with the entire concurrence of his parents, at an early age he returned to act as a Catechist under Mr Martin. He was soon placed in a more important position, when Jeanie Ramsay became the devoted sharer of his labours in making known the unspeakable goodness of Christ to the red men of the woods and prairies.