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act upon them so long as； from whatever defects it might be in
himself； they bore to him this aspect。 He saw that while they
appeared to be such； even though it might turn out that he mistook
them； to acknowledge them would be to wrong God。 But this conclusion
left him in no better position for practice than before。
When at length he did see what the will of God was； he wondered； so
simple did it appear； that he had failed to discover it at once。
Yet not less than a fortnight had he been brooding and pondering
over the question； as he wandered up and down that burnside； or sat
at the foot of the heather…crowned stone and the silver…barked
birch； when the light began to dawn upon him。 It was thus。
In trying to understand the words of Jesus by searching back； as it
were； for such thoughts and feelings in him as would account for the
words he spoke； the perception awoke that at least he could not have
meant by the will of God any such theological utterances as those
which troubled him。 Next it grew plain that what he came to do； was
just to lead his life。 That he should do the work； such as
recorded； and much besides； that the Father gave him to dothis was
the will of God concerning him。 With this perception arose the
conviction that unto every man whom God had sent into the world； he
had given a work to do in that world。 He had to lead the life God
meant him to lead。 The will of God was to be found and done in the
world。 In seeking a true relation to the world； would he find his
relation to God？
The time for action was come。
He rose up from the stone of his meditation； took his staff in his
hand； and went down the mountain； not knowing whither he went。 And
these were some of his thoughts as he went：
'If it was the will of God who made me and her； my will shall not be
set against his。 I cannot be happy； but I will bow my head and let
his waves and his billows go over me。 If there is such a God； he
knows what a pain I bear。 His will be done。 Jesus thought it well
that his will should be done to the death。 Even if there be no God；
it will be grand to be a disciple of such a man； to do as he says；
think as he thoughtperhaps come to feel as he felt。'
My reader may wonder that one so young should have been able to
think so practicallyto the one point of action。 But he was in
earnest； and what lay at the root of his character； at the root of
all that he did； felt； and became； was childlike simplicity and
purity of nature。 If the sins of his father were mercifully visited
upon him； so likewise were the grace and loveliness of his mother。
And between the two； Falconer had fared well。
As he descended the mountain； the one question washis calling。
With the faintest track to follow； with the clue of a spider's
thread to guide him； he would have known that his business was to
set out at once to find； and save his father。 But never since the
day when the hand of that father smote him； and Mary St。 John found
him bleeding on the floor； had he heard word or conjecture
concerning him。 If he were to set out to find him now； it would be
to search the earth for one who might have vanished from it years
ago。 He might as well search the streets of a great city for a lost
jewel。 When the time came for him to find his father； if such an
hour was written in the decrees ofI dare not say Fate； for
Falconer hated the wordif such was the will of God； some sign
would be given himthat is； some hint which he could follow with
action。 As he thought and thought it became gradually plainer that
he must begin his obedience by getting ready for anything that God
might require of him。 Therefore he must go on learning till the
call came。
But he shivered at the thought of returning to Aberdeen。 Might he
not continue his studies in Germany？ Would that not be as
goodpossibly； from the variety of the experience； better？ But how
was it to be decided？ By submitting the matter to the friend who
made either possible。 Dr。 Anderson had been to him as a father： he
would be guided by his pleasure。
He wrote； therefore； to Dr。 Anderson； saying that he would return at
once if he wished it； but that he would greatly prefer going to a
German university for two years。 The doctor replied that of course
he would rather have him at home； but that he was confident Robert
knew best what was best for himself； therefore he had only to settle
where he thought proper； and the next summer he would come and see
him； for he was not tied to Aberdeen any more than Robert。
CHAPTER II。
HOME AGAIN。
Four years passed before Falconer returned to his native country；
during which period Dr。 Anderson had visited him twice； and shown
himself well satisfied with his condition and pursuits。 The doctor
had likewise visited Rothieden； and had comforted the heart of the
grandmother with regard to her Robert。 From what he learned upon
this visit； he had arrived at a true conjecture； I believe； as to
the cause of the great change which had suddenly taken place in the
youth。 But he never asked Robert a question leading in the
direction of the grief which he saw the healthy and earnest nature
of the youth gradually assimilating into his life。 He had too much
respect for sorrow to approach it with curiosity。 He had learned to
put off his shoes when he drew nigh the burning bush of human pain。
Robert had not settled at any of the universities； but had moved
from one to the other as he saw fit； report guiding him to the men
who spoke with authority。 The time of doubt and anxious questioning
was far from over； but the time was long gone byif in his case it
had ever beenwhen he could be like a wave of the sea； driven of
the wind and tossed。 He had ever one anchor of the soul； and he
found that it heldthe faith of Jesus （I say the faith of Jesus；
not his own faith in Jesus）； the truth of Jesus； the life of Jesus。
However his intellect might be tossed on the waves of speculation
and criticism； he found that the word the Lord had spoken remained
steadfast； for in doing righteously； in loving mercy； in walking
humbly； the conviction increased that Jesus knew the very secret of
human life。 Now and then some great vision gleamed across his soul
of the working of all things towards a far…off goal of simple
obedience to a law of life； which God knew； and which his son had
justified through sorrow and pain。 Again and again the words of the
Master gave him a peep into a region where all was explicable； where
all that was crooked might be made straight； where every mountain of
wrong might be made low； and every valley of suffering exalted。
Ever and again some one of the dark perplexities of humanity began
to glimmer with light in its inmost depth。 Nor was he without those
moments of communion when the creature is lifted into the secret
place of the Creator。
Looking back to the time when it seemed that he cried and was not
heard； he saw that God had been hearing； had been answering； all the
time； had been making him capable of receiving the gift for which he
prayed。 He saw that intellectual difficulty encompassing the
highest operations of harmonizing truth； can no more affect their
reality than the dulness of chaos disprove the motions of the wind
of God over the face of its waters。 He saw that any true revelation
must come out of the unknown in God through the unknown in man。 He
saw that its truths must rise in the man as powers of life； and that
only as that life grows and unfolds can the ever…lagging intellect
gain glimpses of partial outlines fading away into the
infinitethat； indeed； only in material things and the laws that
belong to them； are outlines possibleeven there； only in the
picture of them which the mind that analyzes them makes for itself；
not in the things themselves。
At the close of these four years； with his spirit calm and hopeful；
truth his passion； and music； which again he had resumed and
diligently cultivated； his pleasure； Falconer returned to Aberdeen。
He was received by Dr。 Anderson as if he had in truth been his own
son。 In the room stood a tall figure； with its back towards them；
pocketing its handkerchief。 The next moment the figure turned；
andcould it be？yes； it was Shargar。 Doubt lingered only until
he opened his mouth； and said 'Eh； Robert！' with which exclamation
he threw himself upon him； and after a very undignified fashion
began crying heartily。 Tall as he was； Robert's great black head
towered above him； and his shoulders were like a rock against which
Shargar's slight figure leaned。 He looked down like a compassionate
mastiff upon a distressed Italian grayhound。 His eyes shimmered
with feeling； but Robert's tears； if he ever shed any； were kept for
very solemn occasions。 He was more likely to weep for awful joy
than for any sufferings either in himself or others。 'Shargar！'