Then the sinking away, the last gasp, and eternity opened! In the
distance there dawned upon her vision the glory of the city, the
golden gates, the crowns, the harps, the white-robed throng, the
wonderful music thrilling her soul. As she tremblingly approached
the gate, her heart gave a bound, for that kingly One could be no
other than Christ the Lord, the one she loved years ago before the
world got hold of her. Surely he would recognise her; but when she
timidly ventured nearer, and spoke his name, there was no smile of
welcome, no "Come, ye blessed;" the look was cold, the face averted.
In tears and agony she begged an angel to open the gates and let her
in. When he asked her whence she came, and by what right she hoped to
enter, she murmured out that she belonged to Christ's church when she
was on earth. Then he bade her come with him. He lifted a veil and
said, "Look!"

There were rooms filled with beauty, opening into each other, and
stretching off into the distance. There was rich furniture, carpets
of softest velvet covered the floors, mirrors and paintings filled
the walls; there were exquisite vases of delicate tints and graceful
forms, finest statuary, innumerable and endless articles of
ornamentation, and, lying about in rich profusion, were costly silks
and glittering satins and rare laces; jewellery flashed out here and
there; diamonds and pearls and all precious gems in beautiful
settings, novels in costly binding, food delicate and tempting in
abundance and variety. "It was for such as these," the sad voice of
the angel said, "that you bartered your soul; these are the things
you coveted and toiled for in your earth-life."

How perfectly empty and unsatisfying it all looked to her now, with