“Chester Lawrence.”

“Well, mine is Lucy May Strong—­and now, goodnight.”

He took her arm and helped her down the steps, gently, for she seemed such a frail being, one who needed just such stout arms as Chester’s to lean upon.  He risked the danger of meeting the father by helping her down the second flight of steps to the state-room deck.

“Good night, Lucy.”

“Good night—­Brother Lawrence.”

CHAPTER V.

All Monday forenoon, Chester sat on deck reading a book which he had obtained from the ship’s library.  It was a most interesting story, and yet the world of gray-green water and changing clouds drew his attention from the printed page.  He was beginning to realize what the fascination for the sea was which took hold of men.  It would have been difficult for him to analyze or explain this feeling, but it was there; and it seemed to him that he would have been content to live out his life on that boundless ocean which presented a symbol of eternity continually before his eyes.

“Good morning.”

Chester started, then turned.  It was Lucy’s father who found a chair and drew it up to Chester’s.

“Is the book interesting?” inquired the minister.

“Not so interesting as this wonderful sea and sky,” was the reply.

“You are right,” said the other, following the young man’s gaze out to the distance.  “Our universe is now but water and air, and we are but specks floating between the two layers.”

“But we know that ocean and air are not all.  We know there are plains and mountains, forests and growing fields; so after all our universe must include not only all we can see with our eyes, but all that comes within view of our comprehension.  Do you know,” resumed Chester after a pause, “I have come to this conclusion, that our universe is limited only within the bounds of our faith.  As we believe, and strive to convert that belief into a living faith, so shall we know and realize.”

The preacher looked keenly at the “Mormon,” as if he would see the fountain of these thoughts.  Chester continued: 

“But you, as a minister of the gospel, understand all these things.  However, I like to think about them and express them to those who will listen”—­and as the minister was listening, the young man went on: 

“I reason it out this way:  The Spirit of God—­that is, His presence in influence and knowledge and power, as you so beautifully put it yesterday at the services, is everywhere in the universe.  There is no place in heaven or hell, or in the uttermost bounds of space but God is there.  As you also stated, we may not fully understand this infinite magnificence of God, but this has been done to help us:  the Father has revealed Himself to us through his Son.  The Son we can comprehend, for He was one of us.  We learn from scripture that this Son had all power both in heaven and earth