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The Call of the IMerlands ; By Charles NatiHe looT ' With Illustrations a nuui raoragrapna at scenes || 8 I in the Play II b 11 11" (Copyright, 1913. by W. J. Watt ft Co.) ' * a] SYNOP8I8. al a On Mlaery creek, at the foot of a rock from which he has fallen. Sally Miller DC node George Lescott. a landscape paint- , n. er, unconscious, and after reviving hitn. ?*' goes for assistance Samson South and/ HI Sally, taking Lescott to Samson's home/ are met by 8plcer South, head of the family, who tells them that Jesse Purvy af has been shot and that Samson is sus- >,< pected of the crime. Samson denies it. The shooting of Jesse Purvy breaks the truce in the Hollman-South feud. g, CHAPTER IV?Continued. He sauntered down the road, but, whpn flA hoH r\n sanil y\nf wla</vn hft VMV T.O.WM, . turned sharply Into the woods, ahd began climbing. His steps carried him to the rift in the ridge where the white oak stood sentinel over the watch 81 tower of rock. As he came over the edge from one side his bare feet mak- 81 lng no sound, he saw Sally sitting there, with her hands resting on the ' moss and her eyes deeply troubled She was gazing fixedly ahead and her lipe were trembling. At once Samson's face grew black. Some one had b( been making Sally unhappy. Then he saw beyond her a standing figure, 111 which the tree trunk had hitherto con- re cealed. It was the looee-knitted figure aG of young Tamarack Spicer. vc "In course," Spicer was saying, "we a don't 'low Samson shot Jesse Purvy, but them Hollmans '11 'spicion him, an' r0 I heered just now thet them dawgs W1 was trackin' straight up hyar from the mouth of Misery. They'll git hyar against sundown." ou / Samson leaped violently forward. With one hand he roughly seized hie * ' cousin's shoulder and wheeled him about. "Shet up!" he commanded. "What m d n fool stuff hev ye been tellln' My?" 'For an Instant the two clansmen stood fronting each other. Samson's face was set and wrathful. Tamarack's * sras surly W>d snarling. "Hain't I got ; a license tektell Sally the nawar* he no license." re- ^ P ^Didn't I tell ye ter shet up?" S 1 son clenched Ms fists, and took a ? forward. "Ef ye opens yore mo again, I'm a-goln' ter . smash hit N git!" .Tamarack Splcer's face blacker and his teeth showed. His right hi swept to his left arm-pit. Outwar F he seemed weaponless, but Sam I knew that concealed beneath I hickory shirt was a holster, w f mountain fashion. "What air ye a-rea^hln* *t Tam'rack?" he inquired, his lips tw Ing in amusement. "Thet's my business." "Well, git hit out?or git out yes afore I throws ye offen the clift." _ Sally showed no symptoms of ala Her confidence in her hero was at lute. The boy -lifted his hand, i pointed off down the p?ath. Sic and with 'incoherent muttering, Spl ft took himself away. Then only f Sally rise. She came over, and lali hand on Samson's shoulder. In 1 blue eyes, the tears were welling. "Samson," she whispered, "et thej atter ye, come ter my house. I 1 hide ye out. Why didn't ye tell S? ' Jesse Jurvey'd done been shot?" "Hit tain't nothin' ter fret abc Sally," he assured her. He epc awkwardly, for he had been trained regard emotion as unmanly. "T1 hain't no danger." She gazed searchingly into his ey and then, with a short sob, threw 1 arms around him, and buried h?r f< on his shoulder. "Ef anything happens ter ye, 8s son." she said, brokenly, "hit'll J kill me. I couldn't live wlthouten / Samson. I jest couldn't do bit!" The boy took her in his arms, a pressed her close. His eyes were g lng off over her bent head, and his 1 twitched. He drew his features li a scowl, because that was the only pression with which he could sa guard his feelings. His voice v husky. "I reckon, Sally," he said, "I could live wlthouten you, neither." The party of men who had atari at morning from Jesse Purdy's st< had spent a hard day. The roads 1 lowed creek-beds, crossing and i crnMlnar wotomum i*? '--ul? 41 O ?>?W. ?? O au H taouiuu LI gave the bloodhounds a hundred b fling difficulties. Often, their not lost the trail, which had at first be i so surely taken. Often, they circl e- and whined, and halted in perplexi but each time they came to a pol where, at the end, one of them agt raised bis muzzle skyward, and ga voice. Toward evening, they were workl up Misery along a course less broki The party halted for a moment's re and, as the bottle was passed, the m from Lexington, who had brought t dogs and stayed to cqfcduct the chai put a question: "What do yon call tUs creek?" ^ -Hit's Misery." r' "Does anybody live on Misery that -op?that you might suspect T" The Hollmans laughed. "This creek is settled with Souths llcker'n hops." The Lexington man looked up. He new what the name or South meant > a Hollman. "Is there any special South, who light have a particular grudge?" "The Souths don't need no partl'lar rudge. but thar's young Samson outh. He's a wildcat." MHe lives this way?" "These dogs air a-makln' a bee-line sr his house." Jim Hollman was peaking. Then he added: "I've done sen told that Samson denies doln' the liootin', an' claims he kin prove an libi." The Lexington man lighted his pipe, ad poured a drink of red whieky into flask cup. "He'd be apt to say that," he comlented, "These dogs haven't any rejudice in the matter. I'll stake my fa on their telling the truth/' An hour later, the group baited tain. The master of hounds mopped s forehead. "Are we still going toward Samson auth's house?" he Inquired. "We're about a quarter from hit >w, an' we hain't never varied from le straight road." "Will they be apt to give us ouble?" s Jim Hollman smiled. "I hain't never heered of no South Lbmittln' ter arrest by a Hollman." The trailers examined their firems, and loosened their holster-flaps, he dogs went forward at a trot. CHAPTER V. From time to time that day, neigh>rs had ridden up to Splcer South's lie, and drawn rein for gossip. These en brought bulletins as to the progss of the hounds, and near eundown, i a postscript to their information, a >lley of gunshot signals sounded from mountain top. No word was spoken, it in common accord the kinsmen se from their chairs, and drifted toird their leaning rifles. "They're a-comin' hyar," said the ?ad of the house, curtly. "Samson ight ter be home. Whar's Tam'rack?" No one had noticed his absence un1 that moment, nor was he to be und. A few minutes later, damson's ;ure swung into sight, and his uncle st him at the fence. "Samson, I've done asked ye all the lestions I'm a-goln' ter ask ye," be Id, "but them dawgs ie makln* ter is house. They've Jest been sighted mile below." Samson nodded. "Now"?Spicer South's free harded?"I owns down th&r ter the road > man kin cross that fence witbouten choose ter fire him leave. Bf ye pits ter go indoors an* J*ay. 7? Bat, ef ye sees fit ter face hit o am_ love ter prove ter these hyar me ltep us youths don't break our word uth dqne agreed ter this truce. I'd 11 ow invite 'em in, an' let them damn < sniff round the feet of every a led my hou8e?an" then, when t and Plumb teetotally damn satisfie ,dly like ter tell 'em all ter go tei Bon Thet's the way I feels, but I'm i the ter do Jest what ye says." orn Lescott did not overhear th? versation in full, but he saw tt ter man's face work with suppresses j8t* sion, and he caught Samson's 1 reply. "When them folks gets hyar, elf Spicer, I'm a-goln' ter be a-* i r rm: ye, "They Have Followed Their t Here." ind az- right out thar in front. I'm j ips willin' ter invite 'em In." Tbet ito two men turned toward the bouts ex- Already the other clansmen ba ife- appeared noiselessly through tl e ras or around the angles of the wail Fifteen minutes later, Lescott, i n't ing at the fence, saw a strange. < cade round the bend of the road, ted eral travel-stained men were ie >re mules, and holding two tawny ^n 'ol- patient dogs in leash. In their re- ber, the artist recognized his he ?at two nights ago. af- They baited at a distance, as tea their faces the artist read dlsmu) en while the dogs were yelping cou? ed ly and tugging at their cords, ) ty. Samson South?who should, by Int prejudiced convictions, be hldinj iln in some secret stronghold?sat a e top step of the stile, smoking his and regarded them with a lack-1 Tiff ahsaneo a# ?O mvbvuvv VI rnvvi vov. ouuu m tan m. caption was uncanny. After a st, pered conference, the Lexington an came forward alone.. Old Splcer ? he had been looking; on from the se. and was now strolling out to mee envoy, unarmed. And the envoy, as he came, hel hands unnecessarily far away t^oi ides, and walked'with an ostantBlous how of peace. ' "Bvenla*. stranger.** helled the Aid man. "Come right In." "Mr. South," began the dog-owner, with some embarrassment, "I hare been employed to furnish a pair of bloodhounds to the family of Jesse Purvy, who has been shot." "I heerd tell thet Purvy was Bbot," Bald the head of the Souths In an affable tone, which betrayed no deeper note of Interest than neighborhood gossip might have elicited. * "I have no personal interest In the matter," went on the stranger, hastily, as one bent on making his attitude clear, "except to supply the dogs and manage them. I do not in any way-direct their course; I merely follow." "Ye can't hardly fo'ce a dawg." Old Spicer sagely nodded his head as he made the remark. "A dawg jest natcher'Iy follers his own nose." . "Exactly?and they have followed their noses here." The Lexington man found the embarrassment of his position growing as the colloquy proceeded. "I want to ask you whether, if these dogs want to cross your fence. I have your permission to let them?" The master of the house crossed the stile, the low sun shining on his shgek of arav hair, and ntnnil hofnm *??? hunter. He epoke so that his voice carried to the waiting group in the road. "Ye're plumb welcome ter turn them dawgs loose, an' let 'em ramble, stranger. Nobody hain't a-goln' ter hurt 'em. I sees some fellers out thar with ye thet mustn't cross my fence. Ef they does"?the voice rang menacingly?"hit'll mean that they're a-bustin' the truoe?an* they won't never "go out ag'in. But you air safe in hyar. I gives yer my hand on thet. Ye're welcome, an' yore dawgs is welcome. I hain't got nothln' 'galast dawgs thet comee on four legs, but I shore bars the two-legged kind." There was a murmur of astonishment from the road. Disregarding->11. Spicer South turned his face toward the house. % "You boys kin come out," he shouter, "an' leave yore guns inside." The leashes were slipped from <fTe dogs. They leaped forward, and made directly for Samson, who sat as unmoving as a lifeless image on the top ntpn of fho Blilo Thoro ? ' ? ?~ r ? a uv? o noo a uairuiir ment of terrific suspense, then the) beasts clambered by the seated figure,} passing on each side and circled 1 les6ly about the yard?their <juest un? ended. They sniffed indifferently about the trouser legs of the #nen who sauntered indolently out of O? door. They trotted into the house4 out again, and mingled with tht^ ongrel home pack that snarled at 'rolled hostility for this invaslt ^tlThen, they came once more to tm As t^ey climbed ^ut. SamsopIy hea^^y^M pit, I'd ddwn to the road, and Wotted gl , We "Tm obliged to youj sir," sA jjg ter man from the Bluegrass, with A dawgs ?f immense relief. / tan in The moment of suspense) s< hey're Past> and> In the relief of thf ai d, i>d clash, the master oh' hounds ' hell. that hIs dogs stood branded as i-goln' trailers. But when h? rejoine group in the road he found h s Con- looking into eurly visages, an le old fentures of Jim Hollman in part d pas- were black in their scowl of sir louder lnS wrath. "Why dldnt ye a* him," gr Uncle hinsman of the man who had ?ettin" shot? "whar the other feller's at "What other fellow?" echoe ?:? Lexington man. Jim Hollman's voice rose lently, and his words drifted, meant them to, across to the ei the clansmen who stood in the of Spicer South. "Them dawgs of your'n con Misery a-hellin*. They hain't M ?" vjuicnn lutjy r*J | la ornery, no-'count curs thet don't their business, they come for reason. They seemed mighty ? ested in gittin' hyar. Ax them 1 in thar who's been hyar thet hyar now? Who is ther fellei I got out afore we come hyar?" At this veiled charge of dece faces of the Souths again blac and the men near the door o house drifted in to drift present! again, swinging discarded ters at their sides. It seemed after all, the Incident was not c The man from Lexington, finding Belf face to face with a new diffi Moses turned and argued in a low voice the Hollman leader. But Jim man. whose eyeB were fixed on aumb son, refused to talk In a modi ?, the tone, and he shouted his reply: e. "I hain't got nothin' ter wt J dis- about," he proclaimed. "Go ai door who hit war thet got away from 1 *. Old Splcer South stood leanlr nand- his fence and his rugged countei caval- stiffened. He started to speak Sev- Samson rose from the stile and ading in a composed voice: d im- "Let me talk to this feller, num- Spicer." The old man nodded >st of Samson beckoned to the owner q dogs. - / id in "We hain't got nothin' ter/sa \ for, them fellers with ye," he apUnu Ident- briefly. "We hain't axln' 'en* no 'oung tions, an' we hain't answsrln' their Ye done come hyar with' dawgi j out we hain't stopped ye.' \ye've dor t the swered all the question^ them d pipe, hes axed. We done treated yo uster vore hntin'? nlnmh frflendlv K in re- them other men, we hain't got n< wbl& ter say to 'em. Theyidone come man becausd they hoped tfiey could g louth in trouble. They d<4ne tailed, door, road belongs ter thn county, t the got a license ter traVel hit, bul strip right hyar halnl't the healt d his flection they kin flndl I reckon n his better advise 'em terlmove on." The Lexiiftoa man want back. For a minute or two Jim Hoilman eat scowling down la Indecision from hie saddle. Then he admitted to himself that he had done all he oonld do without becoming the aggressor. For the moment he was beaten. He looked up and from the road one of the hounTls raised Its voice and gave cry. That baying afforded an excuse for leaving an;*. Jim Hollman seized It. "Go on," he growled. "Let's see what them d d curs hes ter say now." Mounting, they kicked their mules into a jog. From the men inside the fence ? came no note of derision, no hint of triumph. Tbey stood looking out with expressionless, masklike faces until their enemies had passed out of sight around the shoulder of the mountain, fhe Souths had met and fronted an accusation made after the enemy's own choice and method. A jury of two hounds had acquitted them. It was not only because the' dogs had refused to recognize in Samson a suspicious character that the enemy rode on grudgingly convinced, but, also, because the family, which n^H I -.?^^V Jim Hollman. bad InvariaMy met hostility with hosEn3V ^UDayspass/duneventfuily afti n?rl]l Tbe kinsmen dispersed to thel wT I tend coves/ and cabins. No |d th j again came ^ rumor that Jesse <viv<a ???*? ujing, nut always bard heels came another to the effe< ?emec the obdurate fighter had rertet though the doctors held out am forgot couragement of recovery, falst One day L*escott, whose bai d the arm gave him much pain, but wl imseli able to get atyout, was strolling i d th< from the hoase with Samson, iculai were following a narrow trail tolder the mountain aide, and, at a soi louder than the falling of a i owlet the boy halted and laid a all I beei hand on the painter's shoulder. ?" followed an unspoken command d the companion's eyes. Lescott sank behind a rock, cloaked with glis trucu rhododendron leafage, where 8 as h? had already crouched and becoi ars ol movable and noiseless. The: i yard been there only a short time they saw another figure slippiii ie up etly from tree to tree belo^ the never For a time the mountain plumb watched the figure and the p know saw his lips draw in a straigta some and his' eyes narrow with a el inter- tense bate. Yet, a moment later 'ellers a nod to follow, the boy unexpe bain't rose into view and his features tbet absolutely expressionless. "Mornin*. Jim," he called, it the The slinking stranger whirled kened a start and an instinctive moti >f the though to bring his rifle to his ly out der. But. seeing Samson's pea< iches- manner, he smiled and his on that, meanor became friendly, losed. "Mornin*, Samson." 1 him- "Kinder stranger in this co' culty. hain't ye, Jim?" drawled the boj > with lived there, and the question br Holl- a sullen flush to the other's < Sam- bones. * . ilated "Jest a-passin' through," he v safed. ilsper "i reckon ye'd find the wagon t 'em more handy," suggested Sai lyar." "Some folks might 'spiclon y< ig on, stealin' 'long through the tlmbei lancej The skulking traveler decided , by* plausibly. He laughed mendach salld, "That's the reason, Samson. I J kinder skeered ter go through unc'- country in the open." 'ana > Samson met bis eye steadily ft the said slowly: t"I reckon, Jim, hit mought be b risky fer ye ter walk upsta long Misery es ter go a-crou< 4?es-' Ye thinks ye've been a-sbadderln none, j knows Jest whar ye've been al 9 an' time. Ye lies when ye talks e an* pasain' through. Ye've done been awgs hyar, ever since Jesse Purv> a an'l shot, an' all thet time ye've done 8 fer wfltrhnd vpraelf. I r??lrnn fci*n Jthln' healthier fer ye ter do yore spyin' byar t'other aide of the ridge. I reclcoi it met aiiowin' ter git me ef Purvy dies, Thet we're watchin' ye." They jim Asberry's face darkened, hi ! this eaid nothing. There was nothin thlest 8ay. He was discovered in the frsM ray's country and must accept i enemy's'terms. * ? > .: !t ( **Thls by*? time I lets ye so back," aid Samson, "fer the reason tbet I'm try to' like all h?1 ter keep this truce. But ye must stay on yore side or else ride the roads open. How is Purvy. terday?" "He's mighty porely," replied the other. In a sullen voice. "All right. Thet's another reason why hit hain't healthy fer ye over hyar." i f The spy turned and made his way over the mountain. "D n him!" muttered Samson, his face twitching, as the other was ?uov hi iuo uuaergrowm. ouuio unj I'm a-goln' ter git him." Tamarack' Splcer did not at one* reappear, and when one of the Souths ? met another in the road the customary dialogue would he: "Heered anything of Tamarack?" . . . "No', her your* "No, nary a word." Is Lescott wandered through the hills, his unhurt right hand began cry*ing out for action and a brash to nurse. As he watched, day after day, the unveiling of the monumental hills and the transitions from hazy, wraithlike whispeA of hues to strong, flaring riot of color, this fret of restlessness became actual pain. He was wasting wonderful opportunity and the creative Instinct in him was clamoring. One morning, when he came out just after sunrise to the tin wash basin at the well, the desire to paint was on him with compelling force. The hills ended near their bases like things bitten off. Beyond lay limitless streamers of mist, but, while he stood at gaze, the filmy veil began to lift and float higher. Trees and mountains grew taller." The sun, which showed first as a ghost-like disk of polished alumi num. struggled through orange aivd ~ vermilion }nto a sphere of living flame. Lescott heard a voice at his 1 side. ' "When does ye low ter commence palntin'?" j It was Samson. For anewer the artist, with his unhurt hand, lmpar c tiently tapped his bandaged yrrist. { "Ye still got yore right hand, hain't ye?" demanded the boy. The other 1 laughed. It was a typical question. So 8 long as one had the trigger finger left c one should not admit disqualification. I "You see, Samson," he explained, I "this isn't precisely like handling a c gun. One must hold the palette; mix ? the colors; wipe the brushes and do d half a dozen equally necessary things, * It requires at least two perfectly good I hands. Many people don't find two ' enough." "But hit only takes one ter do the h palntin', don't hit?" t "Yes." s "Well"?the boy .spoke diffidently e but with enthusiasm?"between the c two of us we've got three hands. I C reckon ye kin larn me how ter do t them other things ter ye." d Lescott's surprise shotted in his t ?r that. ^^^^^yhithalnTnon^o^my [r scat- neM> hut, all day yestiddy an w and hefo', I was studyln' 'bout Purvy here thing, an* I hustled up an on its inei corn weeded an' now I'm thr ct that Ef 1 k,n help y? out I thought rallied. by?" He paused and looked at iall en- 'ngly at the artist. ( Leecott whistled and then his ndaged lighted into contentment, ho was "Today, Samson." he annou not far "L^scott, South and Company They busy.' along 11 was the first time he had ind no Samson smile, and, although th< valnut. PreBsion was one of sheer deligh encing herent somberness loaned it a t Then of the wistful, in his When, an hour later, the twc ; down out> the mountain boy carried the tening aphernalia and the old man stan amson at the door watched them off wl ne im- half-quizzical, half-disapproving gli f had A? the boy, with remarkable when tude, learned how to adjust the t ig qui- and arrange the paraphernalia, Lei m sat drinking in through thirsty l boy the stretch of landscape he had d ainter mined to paint, it line Then, while he painted, the hoy lnt of palette, his eyes riveted on ', with -anvras, which was growing froi ctedly hlank to a mirror of vistas?and were hoy's pupilB became deeply hungr: The day of painting was folio by others like it. The disabllnj I wlth Lescott's left hand made the cons on as companionship of the boy a ms Bhoul- inat neeaed no explanation or apol ^eable though not a matter of approval tc n de uncle. Another week had passed witl the reappearance of Tamarack Spl One afternoon Lescott and San r*' were alone on a cllfT-protected si w? and the painter had Just blockec ?hf u w,th umber and neutral tint the ci ee sketch of his next picture. (TO BE CONTINUED) ouch Tribute Money, road Fancy long ago said that the bl tnson. marks on either side of the* head of s fer haddock were made by the Apost r." finger and thumb as they held 1 to lie while extracting the tribute mo >usly. from his mouth. But alas for fan was The haddock is not found in the this of Galilee! Most of the fish there long to the barbel family, and no and has ever told us authoritatively w particular variety the tribute beat half Ugh belonged to. The "half shel ndln* of the tribute waa 112 grains T chin' weight of silver, say nearly a quai me. 0f an ounce, worth about thirt 1 the cents today, but greatly more in th bout days. spy ' got The Girl Who Is In Demand, been There is a price on the head of ev 1 be pretty girl who can bake good biscu from Most any girl can look pretty uni i yer the parlor ohandelier or in the a , but moonlight, but, ah, how few will do iuuk ai next morning at 6:30, and a it he fewer can set before the hungry n g to at breakfast a plate of appetizing 1 one- biscuits, and for the one who can t the boys are searching the world girl*.?Hamilton Record. INUBNAFIONAL SIMM LESSON [By E. O. SELLERS. Acting Director of Sunday 8chool Course. Moody Bible In- v stltute. Chicago.) LESSON FOR MARCH 14 8AUL GAINS HI8 KINGDOM. LESSON TEXT?I Samuel, chapter 1L I GOLDEN TEXT?He that Is slow to an- . jer Is better than the mlehtv; anit he .hat ruleth hla spirit, than he that taketh I l city.?Prov. 16:32. V In order to repay Israel's victory un- fi ler Jepthah, Nahash the Ammonite de- I nanded the right eye of those besieged n Jabesh in Gilead, knowing that the eft eye would be hid hy their shields * ^Hjli ind'they would thus be Incapable of warfare. For Israel to make any oovjnant with the Ammonites was conrary to God's commands (Ex. 2S:32; ml 3eut. 23:3). I. The Cry of Jabesh, w. 1-3. This 9 svent probably occurred about a month ifter the previous lesson. It was a | V jroud, haughty demand made of these ^ sraelttes. Exhausted and hopeless, < Jj hey had offered to become servants in j M >rder to live. So today we frequent- 1 y find men willing to compromise \ with the world and the devil, who only \ flr 4 told them In derision and contempt L } [r. 2). Compromising Christians are ilways blind leaders of the bltnd (Matt. 5:14; 6:22). The demand of Nahash vould also bring reproach upon Israel, ret this same king afterwards showed tlndness to David (II Samuel 10:2). history records that Emperor Basil I actually sent an army of 14,850 ilghtless men back to the king of Bui- "M 'aria, who died of pHef and hnrwiF II. The Conquest of Ammon, w. 4- B 1. Nahash granted the request for I i seven days' respite. Here was Saul's B ?pportunity?wrongs to be righted and B >eople to be saved. Saul had held his B leace since being anointed by Samuel. imploying his time in everyday toll B md duties (v. 5), for the messengers I lid not find Sflul at home idle. The J IdingB of this Insult were told to the teople who llffed up their voices and rept. (v. 4). The news of this threatned calamity reached Saul's ears and lis conduct effectually put to silence hose "worthless fellows" who deplsed him and had brought no pcesnts at his anointing (10:27). Instead A f tears Saul to moved to deeds: Like B Hnclnnatus and Israel Putnam, he left ?4 he plow to take qp the sword. Saul. M id not, in his own strength, undent ake to relieve Jabesh, tor "the Bplm ' the 49; Acts 10:38). This moved Simlw this anger, not alone at such an evidence ' got of cruelty, but more at the contempt Dugh. Nahash had for God and his people, meb- Saul associated himself with Samuel, peal- the man of God, and summoned th^na* tion of Israel to his side, face The Holy Spirit gave Saul clear assurance of a call from God, and he re* need, sponded with unquestioned faith get (Rom. 8:31). The people responded with great rapidity, for the fear of seen God came upon them also. We have 3 ex- the good news of a better deliverance t. in- from a more subtle foe to proclaim ouch in the present age. Thev all r<>?nrfoii to Bezek, west of the Jordan. The t set messengers returned bearing a mespar gage having two meanings (v. 10), and iding that helped to keep Nahash ignorant >th a of Saul's actions on the other side of ince. the river. Dividing his army Into comapti panies Saul attacked the enemy "in iasel the morning watch," and completely scott overwhelmed them and put them to eyes rout. As the Ammonites had refused eter- to show any mercy, they in turn were judged unworthy of mercy (v. 11, see held aiBO James 2:13; Matt. 7:2). III. The Crowning of 8aul, w. 12-15. m a Saul's victory so impressed the people e that they demanded to know of SamT' uel who it was that had refused him >wea as kjng desiring to put them to death. * ?. Saul showed his wisdom by not periUer such a course of action. Many today refuse God's divinely appointed klnc vhn will J * " ? jot. uc gmu to acKnowl' edge him (Luke 19:27; Phil. 2:10). iout In the next place Saul did not claim leer. credit 'or th? victory for, said he, json "Th? Lord hath wrought deliverance tielf, *n Israel" (v. 13 R. V.). All real vicI in tories come from God (Pa. 44:4-8; I U()8 Cor. 15:10). This was the true kingly spirit. Saul reaped the reward ot ,,?. .. his humility, his forbearance, courage and activity in the loyalty and pride of the people. Samuel gladly lac* shared in the success of Saul aqi led th? tho people to Oilgn! for the crat -niug le* ceremony. This was the placej where "m? Israel had first encamped unair the ne* leadership of Joshua and whs|*e the q twelve stones from the river hati been set up as a testimony to Gof's real pesence and deliverance. Saul had natural and physical char* . acterlstics calculated to make ,11m m rel Rreat and useful king?self-restraint, modesty, military invention and'a car rt?V paclty f?r leadership. He was shrewd, patient ami cuD _ |>OUCI" OM <>US 7 He thus stood on the threshold of his kingdom with the possibilities of untold usefulness and blessing, ery Wo are ' "kings and priests unto its. God." He has ushered us into his der kingdom. Power, usefulness, lnfleoft ence, helpfulness, victory ove~ sin are to before us. "Napoleon said that his till nobility dated from Arcole and Marenien go. May ours date from the victories n?t of love over the evil within us and In tho the world." "This Is the victory that ** overcometh the world, even cmr faith" (I John S:" >! \ \ '