He found perfection nowhere.  After a disappointing meeting, the climax of a series of experiences in which arguments from various schools of doctrine had jostled against each other, and the varying phases of practice, emotional, anti-emotional, informal and ritualistic, with the intervening shades of difference, had presented themselves, he stood in the veranda at home with Winifred and described to her the procession of rival claims which a divided church presents to a Christian man’s adherence, and ended with the question: 

“Where shall we find the truth, Winifred?”

“In Christ,” she answered simply.

“You are right, wise little sister,” he said admiringly.  “And there we will look for it.”

He turned from his quest for perfection in any detachment of the church and sought the place where God would have him, not alone for the green pasture to be found but for the testimony to be given.  Deeper lessons were learned as time advanced—­lessons of “grace” as well as “truth.”  Keen discrimination was tempered by love toward that Body which, though distorted and maimed, was still beloved by her Lord, and though besieged by error was still “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

CHAPTER XIV

A “WITLESS, WORTHLESS LAMB”

The air at Silverguile Lake did not altogether agree with Mrs. Gray.  Rheumatic damps rose from the water, and the mornings were chilly and uncomfortable.  The inane round of dressing, eating, appearing in the veranda, taking the daily drive, and other mild etcetera, grew irksome; and, beyond all, the faces of the dear ones at home were longed for.  Winifred came for a few days, and then the place brightened like a cloudy day that surprises the world with sunshine at its close.

Mrs. Gray was far from well when the home journey was undertaken, and Winifred looked at her with apprehension.  But they traveled comfortably and reached home in the evening where welcome waited.  But an alarming chill overtook the mother before she had retired that night, and the doctor was hastily summoned.  The chill was a harbinger of serious illness, and the cheerful house became shrouded in dread of coming sorrow.  Winifred devoted herself eagerly to her mother, but professional skill was needed also.  The telephone rang frequent calls from the office during the anxious days to inquire for the loved patient, and life for the time was enveloped in the one painful query:  Will mother live?

The doctor gave sparing reports, but careful directions.  Winifred moved about the house with a pale face and frightened eyes, until the doctor told her that she evidently needed his services also, and that she must not let her mother see her with that face.  Then she fled to her room and poured out her pitiful need to God, and begged His grace for calm and cheerfulness.  With unfailing faithfulness He gave her what she asked, and she went back to minister with Him at hand to help.