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Illustrated from Scenes it Same Name by the Thai \ (Copyright, 1814, by IS SYNOPSIS. Stanley Hargreave, millionaire, after a ' miraculous escape from the den of the gang of brilliant thieves known as the Black Hundred, lives the life of a recluse for eighteen years. Hargreave accidental ly meets Braine, leader of the Black Hun dred. Knowing Braine will try to get him. he escapes from his own home by a bal loon. Before escaping he writes a letter to the girls' school where eighteen years before he mysteriously left on the door step his baby daughter. Florence Gray. That day Hargreave also draws $1,000,000 from the bank, but it is reported that this dropped into the sea when the balloon he escaped in was punctured, Florence arrives from the girls' school. Countess Olga. Braine's companion, visits her and claims her as a relative. Two bogus de tectives call, but their plot is foiled by Norton, a newspaper man. After failing In their first attempt, the Black Hundred trap Florence. They ask her for money, but she escapes, again foiling them. Nor ton and the countess call on Florence the next day. once more safe at home. The visitors having gone. Jones removes a section of flooring and from a cavity takes a box. Pursued by members of the Black Hundred, he rushes to the water front and succeeds in dropping the box into the sea. Accomplices of Braine kid nap Florence and hurry her off to sea. She leaps overboard and is picked up in a dazed condition by fishermen. Braine, disguised as her father, takes her back to sea with him. Florence seta Are to the boat and is rescued by a ship on which Norton has been shanghaied. Concealed above the rendezvous of the Black Hun dred. a man learns of the recovery of the box from the sea by a sailor and of its subsequent return to the bottom of the sea. and he quickly communicates the facfc to Jones. A duplicate box is planted and later secured by the band, but before its contents are examined the box mys teriously disappears. Finding himself checkmated at every turn, Braine endeav ors to enmeBh the Hargreave household in the law In order to gain free access to the house. The timely discovery of the plot by Norton sets the police at the heels of the pack and results in a raid on the gang's rendezvous, which, however, proves to be barren of results. Following a teie- ! phone message Jones received from a mysterious person whom he addressed as "sir," Florence Is again lured from her home and taken out to sea. Through Norton's daring and skill as an aviator she is rescued and returns to her home in time to confront an agent of the Black Hundred. Through treachery in the Har greave household Florence is delivered In to the hands of an unscrupulous doctor, who is in the pay of the Black Hundred. From the faithful Susan Norton learns that the doctor has declared that Flor ence Is stricken with smallpox and that he is preparing to spirit her away. By act ing quickly the reporter, with the aid of Susan, succeeds in extricating the young woman from the danger after an encoun ter with members of the gang. The Black Hundred begin to fear Norton and plan to dispose of him. Again the unnoticed butler shows his hand by rescuing Nor ton and defeating Brains. CHAPTER XVIII. The Masked Ball. About this time?that is to say, abont the time the Black Hundred was stretching out its powerful secret arms toward Norton?there arrived in New York city a personage. This person age was the Princess Parlova, a fabu lously rich Polish Russian. She leased a fine house near Central park and set about to conquer social New York. This was not very difficult, for her title was perfectly genuine and she moved in the most fexclusive diplo matic. circles in Europe, which, as everybody knows, is the most brilliant in the world. When the new home was completely decorated, she gave an elaborate dinner, and that attracted the newspapers. They began to talk about her highness, printed portraits of her, and devoted a page occasion ally in the Sunday editions. She be came something of a rage. One morn lug it was announced that the Princess Parlova would give a masked ball to J formally open her home to society; and it was this notice that first bnvught the Princess Parlova under Bruine's eyes. He was at the Perigoff apartment at the time. "Well, well!" he mused aloud. "What is it?" asked Olga. turning away from the piano and ending one of Ci>cpln's mazurkas brokenly. "Here iB the Princess Parlova in town." "Ar-d who is she?" "Shs is the real thing, Olga; a real princess with vast estates in Poland with which the greedy Slav next door has been very gentle." "I haven't paid much attention to the social news lately. What about her?" "She 15 giving a masked ball to for mally op*m her house on the West side. And it's going to cost a pretty penny." "Well, you're not telling me this to make me want to know the princess," said Olga. petulantly. "Vn Prut T'm "nintr tn erirrr\ vam n letter of iixtroduction to her highness." "Oh!" "And you are going to ask her to invite two particular friends of yours to this wonderful ball of hers." "Indeed," ironically. "That sounds all very ea&y." "Easier than you think, my child." "I will no? have you call me child!" "Well, thyi, Olga." "That's better. Now, how will it be easier than 1 think?" "Simply this, the Princess Parlova is an oath bound member, but has not been active for years." "Oho!" Olj/a was all animation now. "Go on!" i<nr ;n 1 ?: * U M 1 _ r IOU win go U' uer wuu <1 ieii.cr 01 introduction?no! Better than that, you will makf? a formal call and show her this ring. You know the ring," he said, passing tne talisman to the count ess. "Show this to her and she will obey you in everything. She will have no alternative." JAPAN NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD Eastern Empire Has Through the Centuries Retained Keen Sense of Its Individuality. Japanese history has been the rec ord of a practically uninterrupted ra cial life. The islands which consti tute the empire of Japan have not only never been conquered, they have ever been invaded, writes Hamilton Mabie in the Outlook. e emperor now reigning is the M MAC GRATH i trie Photo Drama of the ihouser Film Company Harold MacGrath) Very good, replied Olga. Ana then the program >is to insist that she invite Florence and that fool of a re porter to this ball. Then what?" "You can leave that to me." "Haven't all these failures been a warning?" "No, my dear. I was born optimis tic; but there's a jinx somewhere in one of my pockets. Time after time I've had everything just where I wanted it, and then?poof! It's pure bald luck on their side, but sooner or later the wheel will turn. And any chance that offers I am bound to accept. Somehow or other we may be able to trap Florence and Norton. I want both of them. If I can get then snug ly away, Jones will be forced to draw In Hargreave." "Is there such a man?" "You saw him that night at the restaurant." "I have often thought that perhaps | I just dreamed it." She turned again | to the piano and began humming idly. "Stop that and listen to me," said Braine, not in quite the best of tem pers. "I'm in no mood for whims." "Music does not sooth your soul, then?" cynically. "If I had one it might. You will i call on the Princess Parlova tomor row afternoon. It depends upon you what my plans will be. I think you'll have little trouble in getting into the presence of her highness, and once there she will not be able to resist you." 'Til go." And go she did. The footman in green livery hesitated for a moment, but the title on the visiting card was quite sufficient. He bowed the count ess into the reception room and wep? in search of his distinguished mis tress. The Princess Parlova was a hand some woman verging upon middle age. She was.a patrician; Olga's keen eye discerned that instantly. She came into the reception room with that dig nified serenity which would have im pressed any one as genuine. She held the card in her fingers aDd smiled in quiringly toward her guest. "I confess," she began, "that I re call neither your face nor your name. I am sorry. Where have I had the honor.of meeting you before?" "You have never met me before, your highness," answered Olga sweetly. "You came on a charity errand, ; then ?" "That depends, your highness. Will 1 you be so good as to glance at this?" Olga asked, holding out her palm upon which the talisman lay. The princess shrank back, paling. "Where did you get that?" she panted. v'From the head," was the answer. "And you have followed me from , Russia?" whispered the princess, her terror -rowing. , "Oh, no. The Black Hundred is as strongly organized here as in St. Pe- ! tersburg. But we always keep track ( j of old members, especially when they ' stand so high in the world as your- ' | eelf?' , "But I was deceived and betrayed!" exclaimed the princess. "They urged . "Invite Them In; That Is All You Have to Do." me to join on the ground that the organization was to attempt to bring about the freedom of Poland." Olga shrugged. "You were rich, highness. The Black Hundred ne-eded money." "And you need it nose?" eagerly, believing that she saw a loophole. "How much? Oh, I will give a hun dred thousand rubles on your prom ise to leave me alone. Tell me!" "I am sorry, your highness, but I have no authority to accept such an offer. Indeed, my errand is far from being expensive. All the Black Hun dred desires is four invitations to this ball which you are soon to gi?e. That should not cause you any alarm. We shall not interfere with your uo journ in America in any way what soever nrovideri thpco iniritotinnc nro issued." "You would rob my gue^ta?" horri fied. I22d of his dynasty; the development of the life of the people, whatever its limitations and defects, has been uninterrupted by disturbance from without. It has been deeply influenced by Asiatic ideals and conventions; but the foreign ideals and manners which have found acceptance by the Jap* anese have made their way by persua sion, not by arms. Japan differs radically from the other countries of the East in its pos session of a sensitive national con sciousness and of a thorough and min v*AA L| i "Positively no! Here is a list of four names. Invite them; that is all you have to do. Not so much as a 3ilver spoon will be found missing. This is on my word of honor, and I never break that word, if you please." "Give me the Jist," said the princess, wearily. ".Who gave you thit ring?" "The head." "In Russia?" "No; here in America." Olga dipped Into her handbag and produced a slip Df paper. This she handed to the princess. "Here is the list, highness." "YVQO IS JP lorence nargreavc; "A friend of mine," evasively. "Does she belong to tie organiza tion." "No." "Then you have some ulterior pur pose in having me invite her?" "I have," answered Olga sharply; "but that does not concern your high ness in the least." The princess bit her lips. "I see your name here also; a man named Braine, and another, Norton." "Say at once that you do not care to execute the wishes?the commands ?of the order," said Olga coldly. "I will do as you wish. And I beg you now to excuse me. But if any thing happens to any of my personal friend 6?" "Well?" haughtily from Olga. "Well, I will put the matter In the hands of the police." "But 60 long as your personal friends are not concerned?" "I shall then of necessity remain deaf and blind. It ia one of the pen alties I must pay for my folly. I wish you good-day." "And also good riddance," mur mured Olga under her breath as she rose and started for the hallway. Thus it was that when Norton went to the office the next afternoon he They Agreed Upon Two Modest Ones. found a broad white envelope on his desk. Indifferently he opened the Bame and hiB eyes bulged. "Princess Parlova requests" and so forth and so on. Then he shrugged. The chief had probably asked for the invitation and he would have to write up the doings, a phase of reportorial work eminently distasteful to him. He went up to the city desk. "Can't you find some one else to do this stuff?" he growled to tbe city editor. The city editor glanced at the card and crested envelope. "Good Lord, man! Nobody in this office had any thing to do with that. What luck! Our Miss Hayes tried all manner of schemes, but was rebuffed on all sides. How the deuce did you chance to get one?" "Search me," said the bewildered Norton. "If I were you I'd sit tight and take It all in," advised the editor. "It's going to be the biggest splurge of its kind we've had in years. We've been working every wire we know to get Miss Hayes inside, but it was no go. This princess is not onto the game pet. In this country you get into so ;iety or you don't through the Sun Jays." . "Hanged if I know who wished this thing on me." , "Take it philosophically," said the jditor sarcastically. "The princess svon't bite you. She may even have seen your picture?" "Get out!" grumbled Norton, turn ng away. He would go out and see Florence. Dn the way out to Riverdale he came ;o the conclusion that the list of the jrincess fell short and some friend of lis who was helping the woman out suggested his name. It was the only vay he could account for it. But when he learned that Florence lad an invitation exactly like his own tnd that she received it that morning ie became suspicious. "Jones, what do you think of it?" ie questioned. "I think it was very kind of the 3ountess Perigoff suggesting your lame and that of Florence," said the jutler urbanely. "Olga?" cried Florence, disappoint idly. "It is the only logical deduction I ran make." declared Jones. "They are joth practically Russians." "And what would you advise?" isked Norton. "Why, go and enjoy yoyrselves. forewarned Is forearmed. The thing s, be very careful not to acquaint tny one with the character of your lisguise, least of all the Countess ferigoff. Besides," Jones added smil ng, "perhaps I may go myself." "Goody! I've read about masked jails and have always been crazy to jte so ial and political organization n this respect it stands in striking contrast to other oriental countries. 3o far as the feeling of radical unity ind the consciousness of sharply de ined national aims and interests are :oncerned, India and China aave been nere geographical terms, conveying 10 such group of ideas, convictions, md mental habits as the word Italy, France ana England convey. Japan, on the other hand, has as teen a sense of its individuality, so as ,o speak, as any western nation; and gn to one," said Florence with eager ness "Suppt/se we go at once and pick out some costumes?" suggested Nor ton. "Just as soon as I can get my hat on," replied Florence, happy as a lark. "But mind," warned Jones; "be sure that you see the costumer alone and that no one else is about" "I'll take particular care," agreed Norton. "We've got to do some hus tling to find something suitable. For a big affair like this the town wili be ransacked. All aboard! There's room for two in that car of mine; and we can have a spin besides. Hang work!" Florence laughed, and even Jones permitted a smile (which was not grim this time) to stir his lips. A happy person is generally un oDservanu two nappy persons to gether are totally unobservant of what passes around them. In plainer terms this lack is called love. And being frankly in love with each other, neither Norton nor Florence observed that a taxicab followed them into town. Jones, not being in love, was keenly observant; but the taxicab took up the trail two blocks &way, so the matter wholly escaped Jones' eye. The two went Into several icos turners', but eventually discovered a shop on a side street that had been overlooked by those invited to the masquerade. They had a merry time rummaging among the camphory smelling boxes. There were dominoes of all colors, and at length they agTeed upon two modest ones that were evenly matched in color and design. Florence ordered them to be sent home. Then the two of them Ballied up to the Ritz-Catrleton and had tea. The man from the taxicab entered the cosfeumer's, displayed a detective's shield and demanded that the pro prietor show him the costumes se lected by the two young people who had just left. The man obeyed won deringly. "I want a pair exactly like these," said the detective. "How much?" "Two dollars each, rental; seven apiece if you wish to buy them." "IH buy them." The detective paid the bill, nodded curtly, and returned to his taxicab. "Now, I wonder," mused the cos turner, "what the dickens those inno cent looking young people are up to?" He never found out. On the night of the ball Norton dined with Florence for the first time; and for once in his life he experienced that petty disturbance of collective thought called embarrassment. To talk over war plans with Jones was one thing, but to have Jones serve soup was altogether another. All through dinner Jones replied to ques tions with no more and no less than "Yes, sir," and "No, sir." Norton was beginning to learn that this strange man could put on a dozen kinds of armor and always retain his individ uality. And tonight there seemed something vaguely familiar about the impassive face of the butler, as " _ * * ?? *1 ? l? f llO ii ne naa seen n sumcnucic m >.uv past, but could not tell when or where. As he and Florence were leaving for the automobile which was to take them to the princess', the truth came home to him with the shock of a douche of ice cold water. Under his breath he murmured: "You're a wonderful man, Jones; and I take my hat off to you with the deepest admira tion. Hang me!" "What are you mumbling about?" asked the happy girl at his side. "Was I mumbling? Perhaps I was going over my catechism. I haven't been out in society in so long that Tve forgotten how to act" "I believe that We've been in here for five minutes and you haven't told me that you love me." "Good heavens!" And his arms went around her so tightly that she begged for Quarter. "How strong you are!" The splendor of the rooms, ttye daz Tlinor orrav nf ipwpls thf> kaleidoSCQDiC colors, the perfume of the banked flowers and the music all combined to put Florence into a pleasurable kind of trance. And it was only when the first waltz began that she became herself and surrendered to the arms of the man she loved. And they were waltzing over a vol cano. She knew and he knew it. From what direction would the blow come? Well, they were prepared for all manner of tricks. In an alcove off the ballroom sat Braine and Olga, both dressed exactly like Newton and Florence. Another man and woman entered presently and Braine spoke to them for a mo ment, as if giving instructions, which was Indeed the case. The band crashed into another dance, and the masqueraders began swirling hither and thither and yon. A gay cavalier suddenly stopped in front of Florence. "Enchantress, may Iiiave the pleas ure of this dance?" Jim touched Florence's hand. But she turned laughingly toward the stranger. What difference did it make? The man would never know who she was nor would she know him, It was a lark, that was all; and despite Jim's warning touch she was up and away like the mischievous sprite that she was. Jim remained in his chair, twisting his fingers and wondering whether to laugh or grow angry. After all, he could not blame her. To him an affair like this was an ancient story; to her it was the door of fairyland swung open. Let her en joy herself. Florence was having a splendid Hmo Hor noplnor was flsikiric nil sorts of questions and she was replying in kind, when out of the crowd came Norton (as she supposed), who touched in point of thoroughness of organiza tion stands beside Germany. The im mense significance of this fact has not yet been recognized in the West. Protested War With England. One hundred years ago Massachu setts sent a circular letter to the other New England states inviting them to send delegates to a convention in Hartford to protest against the contin uance of the war with England. The presence of the British and the de moralization of the shipping had long .tit1 '< *. h'. y ' her arm. The cavalier stopped, bowed and made off. Norton whispered: "I have made an important discovery. We muw be off at onco. Come with me.1, Florence, without the least suspicion in the world, followed him up ths broad staircase. What with t^e many sounds it was not to be wondered at that the difference in the Quality of voices did not strike Florence's ear as odd. The result of her tonfidence was that upon reaching tJie upper halls, opposite the dressing woms, she was suddenly thrust into a room and made prisoner. When the light was turned up she recognized vfth horror the woman who had helped to kidnap ilCi auu tarvc uci a tt j vu v.0 - Washington weeks ago. Sh6 pould not have cried out for help i! she had tried. Meantime Jim got up avid began to wander about in search o1 Florence. Braine played a clever game that night. He and the Russiau, still dom inoed like Norton and l^orence, or dered the Hargreave auto, by num ber, entered it and were driven up to the porte cochere of the Hargreave house. The two alighted, the chauf feur sent the car toward the garage, and Braine and his companion ran lightly down the path to the street where the cab which had followed picked them up. It grew more and more evident to Jim that something untoward had taken place. He could not find Flor ence anywhere, in the alcoves, in the side rooms, the supper or card room. Later, to his utter amazement, he was informed that the Hargreave auto had some time since been called and its owner taken home. Some one had taken his place! His first sensation was impotent fury against Jones, who had permitted them to play with fire. He flung out of the mansion unceremoniously, com mandeered a cab, and flew out to Riv-. erdale. And when Jones came to the door he was staggering with sleep. I "What's the matter with you?" de manded Jim roughly. "Where's Flor ence?" "Isn't she with you?" cried Jones, making an effort to dispel the drowsi ness. "What time is it?" suddenly. "Midnight! Where is she?"" "Midnight? I've been drugged!" Without a word Jones staggered off to the kitchens, Jim at his heels. . There was always hot water, and within five minutes Jones had drunk two cups of raw strong coffee. \ "Drugged!" he murmured. "Some one in the house! I'll attend to that later. Now the chauffeur!" But the chauffeur swore on his oath that he had left Jim and Florence on the steps of the porte cochere. "Get in!" said Jones to Norton, now fully alive. He could not get it out of his head that some one in the house had drugged him. The events which followed were to both Jones and Norton something like a series of nightmares. In the new home of the Princess Parlova a bomb exploded and fire followed the explo sion. From pleasure to terror is only a step. The wildest confusion Imag Princess Parlova Attired for the Bali. inable ensued. Most of the guests were of the opinion that some an archist had attempted to blow up the house of the rich Pole. Jones "and Norton arrived just as the smoke be gan to pour out from the windows. A crowd had already collected. Then Jim overheard a woman mas' querader say: "The fool made the tinmVi fAn efrnns She is in the room ! on the second floor. The game is up I if 6he suffocates " The voice j trailed off and the woman became lost ; in the crowd. But it was enough for , the reporter, who pushed his way , roughly through the excited mas queraders and entered the house. The rescue was one .of the most exciting to be found in the newspaper files of the day. So Braine in his effort to scare ev erybody from the house had over reached himself once more. (TO BE CONTINUED.) John Ruskln. John Ruskin did not commit sul T 4- io Aiuta f A Vl o 4 frrvm n combination of domestic difficulties, ill health and overwork Ruskin became afflicted with the nervous troubles that versed close upon insanity at times, tut he kept the balance and died at last naturally. weighed heavily on the people of New England. While the loyalty and patriotism of the citizens were never in question, there was a certain ele ment, made up principally of the po litical opponents of President Madi son, who were confirmed in their hos tility to the war. It was said at the time that their opposition went so far as to contemplate secession or ob struction to the government in prose cuting the war, but this was stoutly denied by those responsible for Uw Hartford convention. I'm but a cog In life's vast wheel That dally makes the some old trip. ! Yet what a joy It is to feel That but for me the wheel might slip! 'Tis something after all, to jog Along, and be a first class cog. THE PIQUANT PEPPER. . The sweet red and green pepper are in such high favor as flavor, rel ish and any number o4 other methods or combi nations in serving that tc la 011 rtAf. yi aiso iucui to ou^vi fluous. There Is almost no limit to the possibilities of the pepper. The addi tion of one chopped pep per to a dish of bash makes a common dish quite another affair. A spoonful of chopped pepper added to bean soup gives it an added flavor. A most attractive and tasty salad may be made of stewed, strained and seasoned tomatoes which; is stiffened with gelatin. Line the mold with rounds of green pepper and pour in the tomato carefully. Peppers scalded and chopped then sprinkled over lettuce make a good salad with French dressing. Stuffed peppers are at their beet. Take large, well-shaped peppers foT stuffing. Cut off the tips and carefully remove the seeds and'veins, parboil for five minutes and they are ready for any kind of stuffing desired. A mixture of chopped ham and rice or potato with left-over meat finely chopped, or sausage, in fact, almost any tasty combination of meat and vegetable is good baked in a pepper shell. Creamed codfish, creamed potatoes, creamed celery are all good served in peppers. A good pepper relish la prepared by using chopped cucumber, onion and green tomato with equal parts of chopped red pepper, salted and covered with boiling vinegar. II liked quite hot add grated horseradish. Use chopped pepper in croquettes and notice how much more tasty they are. To Can Green or Red Peppers.?Be gin at the stem and cut the peppers round and round in thin strips. Cover with boiling water and let stand five minutes, remove them and plunge Into ice water, drain after ten minutes and pack solidly into jars. Boil a quart of vinegar.with two cupfuls of sugar for ten minutes, then pour this over the peppers. This will cover a peck of peppers if well packed in the jars. Keep in a cool place. DIFFERENT WAYS WITH FISH. The delightful fish pudding' which our Norwegian cooks make is a little tedious to prepare, but is most toothsome to eat. Take boned and flaked haddock, put it into a bowl or wooden mortar and pound it until it ia so fine that the fiber is all broken, then salt and white pepper is added, a little finely grated onion and a dash of mace. Then add butter, fish stock and thin cream until it is of the con sidtency of thin batter, it la tnen put to steam two and a half hours In a well buttered mold. Serve with drawn buttar sauce. Boiled Fish.?Crop the cleaned fish into boiling salted water with a table spoonful of vinegkr, a few whole black peppers and cover the kettle tightly. Do not cook until the fish falls from 'the bones, but until the end of the tail cracks easily when broken. Serve with drawn butter sauce. Baked Salmon.?Clean a four-pound salmon and fill with the following dressing: half a cupful of finely chopped apple, a cupful of bread crumbs, a little chopped parsley, daion, salt and pepper and a beaten egg. Wrap in oiled paper and baste the pa per often while baking to keep it moist. Serve with lemon and parsley. Cod en Casserole.?Prepare inch thick slices of fish, wipe dry with a soft cloth: Dot the bottom of the cas serole with butter and lay in the slices of fish. Dust lightly with flour, salt and pepper, dot with butter and re peat as before. When all the fiBh is used pour over it half a cupful of wa ter or fish stock, a third of a cupful lemon juice and a bit of the rind. Add finely chopped parsley and a little onion Put on the cover and bake un til tender. Fried Fish.?Cut the slices about three-auarters of an inch thick, wipe them dry with a cloth, sift a little flour over each slice, dust with pepper and salt and fry in plenty of butter until a delicate brown. Serve with brown drawn butter sauce. Horse radish, whipped cream, salt and vine gar makes a good 6auce to serve with any flsh, To Check Nose Bleed. A physician gives the following In structions for checking nose bleed: Grasp the nostrils with the thumb and Index finger. Apply the pressure as close to the bony part of the nose as possible. Drop the head gently for ward. Breathe through the mouth. The pressure may roach the bleeding vessel. If not, the nose will fill with blood, which will clot in a few min utes. After the clot has had time to form ften to fifteen minutes), eradu illy release the pressure. Leave the slot undisturbed for an hour or more. The Path of Duty. We all love to pluck the fairest fruit and to gather the sweetest flow ers, but put this down as a truth worthy to be graven on a pillar of brass, that more enjoyable fruit grows by the wayside of the path of duty, than in all the wilderness of willful inclination. Never in Doubt. "Does your wife ever doubt what you say when you get home late?" asked the Wise Guy. "Never," replied Lhe Grouch. "She knows I am lying." Mbnotonal SUWSOKE Lesson (By E. O. SELLERS, Acting Director of Sunday School Course.) LESSON FOR DECEMBER 20. THE ASCENSION. LESSON TEXT-Luke 24:50-53: Acts 1:1 11. GOLDEN TEXT?He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight Acts 1:9. ^ We have now reached the final les son of the present course In the life of Christ, next Sunday being devoted to the review. The lesson committee have selected the continuous account of tuls final earthly act of our Lord as given us by St. Luke, for the Book of Acts is a continuance of the Gos pel of Luke CActs 1:1). Inasmuch as this Is really bnt one account w,e will consider only that found in the Acts. I. The Proof of the Resurrection, w. 1 -3. This book of "The Acts" is a continuation of what Jesus "began to do" and gives us the record of how he continued this work by means of those "whom he had chosen" ( . 2). Fol lowing his resurrection he gave them commandments "through the Holy Spirit," viz. in the power of the Holy Spirit. A like honor rests upon every believer to hear and to obey the commands of Jesus given in lhw power auu ucuiuuBuauuu ui Holy Spirit. The all-sufflclent proof (see also I Cor. 15:4-8) was that Jesus . had been seen for a period of 40 days. This Is the "many Infallible proofs." During thtt time they not alone saw the risen Lord, but con versed with him, ate with him, and bad communion with him. During these days of communion he gave them his commands as to the "things concern ing the kingdom of God." This en tailed a burden that these commands be proclaimed In ever widening cir cles to the utmost bounds of the earth. Additional Experience. II. The Promise of the Father, w. 4-8. The disciples Were not to be-, gin the proclamation of their message until they were fully equipped, until they had received that all essential preparation, the enduement of the Holy Spirit. 6ere, again, the Scrip tures are to be fulfilled (iBa. 14:3; Joel 2:8, also Luke 24:49). That ten days' delay was not time lost, for time v spent In preparation is never time lost. We must not suppose these men as not regenerate (John. 13:10; 15:3), but as lacking an equipment necessary for the successful execution of their important task. We as be lievers cannot call him Lord except by the power of the Spirit (I Cor. 12:3), but we do not all have that in filling of the Spirit which alone will en able us to render effective service. This is an additional experience, but one open tp all who will honestly and Intelligently seek it (see Acts 8:12, and other references). This experi ence is (a) commanded, "charged not to depart till, etc.," (b) to be-preceded by "repentance," and #c) to carry with it authority, v. 7 R. V. It does not mean, either, temporal power nor is it the prerogative of a visible church and confined to an elect few. This kingdom is a spiritual one. The pro gram of Jesus is Spirit-filled men to be his witnesses, and to begin "at Je rusalem." A true reception of the Holy Spirit means world-wide mission ary endeavor. Presumptive Ignorance. III. The^ Present'Place of Jeaus. > w. 9-11. Even yet the diBciples failed tp grasp the idea of a spiritual king dom as evidenced by verse six. In a most emphatic way he tells them that it is not for them to know the "timaa and seasons which the Father hath set within his own power" (au thority, v. 7, R. V.). Their power is not to.be earthly, but spiritual (v. 8). It is the height of presumptive ignor ance for any one to set the date of our Lord's return (Deut. 29:29). Jesus has given us explicit Informa-1 tion on this question (Matt. 24:36), and his parables all warn us to "watch." While Jesus talked with his disciples concerning tne recep tion of this new power and the place where they were to begin to exercise it, his feet were parted from the earth and a cloud received him from their sight as he ascended "into heaven" (Luke 24:51; I Pet. 3:22; see also Gen. 5:24 and Heb. 9:28 R. V.). His parting benediction was an adjuration to a life of service not in their weak-, ness, but in the blessed enduement; of power. Yonder into heaven he had' gone to prepare a place for us (John; 14:2, Heb. 9:24.) There he ever llv eth to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25)^ His presence there makes us eter nally secure (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25). His presence in, the heavenlies is the guarantee that we, too, shall one dayi be "with him" (John 12:26, Rev. 2:21). Gazing thus into the heavens, "look ing unto Jesus," two men in white raiment stood by and asked them the reason for their upward looking. There is a time for gazing upward and a time to be going about the execu tion of the Master's commands (see ch. 7:55). Did they expect another in terview? If so the answer to their question is suggested in the words of * the heavenly messengers, "this Jesus, which was received up froir you into heaven, chall so come in like manner as ye behold him going Into heaven" (R. V.). For nearly two thousand years the church has been waiting for another interview with her risen Lord. We are looking for another Jesus, but " this same Jesus" just as he went, personally, visibly, and in "great glory." What a mockery to say that (R. V.). What a mockery to say that he came in 1874 or any other year, or that in 1914 he came with spiritual power, the manifestation of which is yet to be seen. Or on the other hand, if we honestly face his parables, what need that we "watch" if his coming be not till after the millennium? This promise is the great hope of the church (Titus 2:13); for that return, we are not only tq be ready, but earn estly looking (Rev. 22:30).