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9. There will not be enmigh for us and youâ€"In that day no man will have more than enough for himself. And, even if he should, he would be unable to communicate it to another. Each man must buy for himself. ffbe personaf experi- 8. Our lamps are going outult is an artist’s touch which makes the going out of these lamps coincident with the coming of the bridegroom. 'A formal religion may lmrely do to get a man through this life, but it leaves him in darkness when the summons sounds. 6. At midnightâ€"The cry breaks upon the drowsy senses of the wait- ing virgins with startling sudden- ness. Our Lord had just described his coming as a lightning gleam, the swoop of eagles, and the surge of a flood (Matt. 24. 27, 28, 37). The time for preparation has gone en- tirely by; now,‘all that is left is to go forth to meet him. 7. All . . . arose, and trimmed their lampsâ€"Both wise and foolish at the last moment required to do a little trimming.‘ Who of us in the end but will feel the need of, and be grateful for the chance of, a hurried prayer? All slumberedâ€"Both wise and foolish. It was natural, and in the story may be regarded as “a mer- ciful concession to human weak- ness. It is impossible for creatures such as we are to keep our relig- ious life always at high pressure.” Others look. upon the figure as meaning the repose of faith, a, “se- rene confidence in God.” Some- times all we can do is to wait, and,‘ if all 'is in readiness, it is well. But the slumber of the foolish is a false complacency. 5. The bridegroom tarriedâ€"The cause for this delay is not given. The one thing certain is that, though his coming may not be at an hour expected, it is bound to Occur. 4. The wise took oil in their ves- selsâ€"The lamps are probably to be understood as torches, consisting of poles wrapped on one end with 0in rags. These, of course, would burn only a limited time, and so would need to be replenished with oil from the little earthen jar carried for that purpose. If the inner life is nourished by the Spirit, there will be light for each day and for all that theAfuture may require. THE S. S. LESSON Lesson I. The Wise and Foolish Vir- gins, Matt. 2-5. 1-13. Golden Text, Luke 12. 40. Verse 1. Thenâ€"Indicating the viewpoint of the parable. Jesus has just finished speaking of the coming of the Son of man in judg- ment. At that time events will take place as described in this pic- ture. and the one follmving.‘ The kingdom of heavenâ€"Consid- ered both as a. present and a future reality. The ten virgins represent those who are members of the kingâ€" dom as we see it in the visible church, and who are therefore can- didates for membership in the kingdom which is to be. So, in some sense, they are all friends of the bridegroom. Took their lampsâ€"Oriental wedâ€" dings usually occur after dark, and one of the principal features is the procession, when the friends go forth to meet the bridegroom and accompany him to the house of the bride’s parents. All the details are, of course, not capable ct interpre- tation. The number ten, standing for completeness, is the entire numâ€" ber of those who make up the ex- pectant church. Among the‘Jews, ten constituted a congregation. The lamps stand for the outward proâ€" fession of church members. To carry a, lamp is to announce to the world a definite purpose to be counâ€" ted among the friends of Christ, who of course is the bridegroom. The bride is not mentioned, simply because the church here is depicted in the wise and wit-less virgins. 2. Five . . . were foolish â€"â€" Not bad, but improvident and careless. 3. Took no oil with them â€"â€" The oil symbolizes all‘ that is inward in the life of the Christian. Withâ€" out that grace which is infused by the abiding Spirit all the externals of religion, such as philanthropies and creedal confessions, are lack- ing in warmth and light; indeed. are a cumbrance to those who bear these empty lamps and a cause of stumbling to those who may look to them for guidance. Jesus is not speaking of hopeless hypocrites ; the foolish had a little oil, that is, a modicum of true religion. But they hadn’t any to spare for an emer- gency, and have been well compar- ed to those of the parable of the soils who had no depth of earth. INTERNATIONAL LESSON, \ OCT. 2. Statistics bf murders and‘attremp- ted murders by the type of indi- vidual known as the “Apache” show that they have rapidly _in- creased of late. In August crimes of this kind cbmmitted with the reâ€" volver were neatly seventeen per cent. more numerous than were those in July. Strong and growing opinion de- mands that whipping for the Apache type of criminal be applied in French prisons as it is in Engâ€" lish ones. M. Raynaud, a deputy from Charente, announces that he will take the initiative in favor of the lash as a legal means of punâ€" ishment. M. Lepine, the Prefect of Police, says that the law, as it exists would suffice for the suppression of this evil if it were fully enforced. He blames the leniency of the Judges. Light imprisonment and lighter fines are the usual punishâ€" ments for many dreadful crimes. Strong and Growing Demand for This in Paris. How to protect Pans, France, from the growing Apache evil is the subject occupying the minds of nefarlyAalrl lgading qitizens. 12. I know you notâ€"\Ve are not told whether the foolish virgins obâ€" tained their oil, or whether the Bridegroom relented and opened the door later. But this solemn word seems to signify, that the be- lated attempt to fix up so as to look like his friends was unsuccessful. “The mere wish to enter the kingâ€" dom, and even the request to be allowed to enter, is of little avail when the prescribed conditions of obtaining admission have been per- sistently neglected.” He is sure to see us as we are, and not as we try to make ourselves appear, and to recognize us as his own by our abiding his coming. 13. Watch thereforeâ€"Our Lord knew full well that the church would not be vividly awake upon his return, that “expectancy would flag and ardor burn low.” “But well for such as carry in their souls a. deep spring of faith and love, and, when the cry is raised at midnight, awaken with glad surprise to greet; him.” 11. Lord . . . open to usâ€"Their interest, then, is just in being ad- mitted to the feast. There are many people who want to get to heaven, but they make very meaâ€" ger preparations for it: The man who is genuinely, and not superâ€" ficially, a friend of the. Bridegroom, will pay gladly what it costs to be ready to meet him, and not come clamoring at the, gate when it is too late. The door was shutâ€"â€"For those that were ready this meant s-ecur- it)? and the delights of the marriâ€" age feast. For those who were not ready it meant banishment and darkness. 10. While they went away to buy â€"â€"Why is it that men put off, till some great crisis forces them to it, the thing that they can do so easny at any moment! 'iliere is an interval between the warning cry and the actual coming of the bridegroom, but it is not long enough to transact the business for which there has been ample time given before. These five were fool~ ish to the last, for they ought to have considered that the merchants would be asleep at such an hour, and that the bridegroom would have come and gone. ence of Christ’s grace is only for those who are Willing to pay the price. STOMAGH « MISERY MB. ALCIDE HEBERT Stratford Centre, Wolfe Co., Que. “I have been completely cured of a frightful condition of my. Stomach through the wonderful fruit medicine ‘Fruit-a-tives'. I could not eat anything but what I suffered awful pain from Indigestion. _ My head ached incessantly. I was told to try ‘Fruit-a-tives’ and sent for six boxes. Now I am entirely well, can eat any ordinary food. and never have a Headache.” ALCIDE HEBERT. 50¢. a box. 6 for $2.50, or trial box, 250. At all dealers or from Fruit-a- tives Limited, Ottawa; LASH FOR APACHES. A strange adventure befell Capt. Denny, of the North-West Mounted Police, in the Summer of 1875. From the fort on Old Man River he took a trip to the foot-hills of the moun- tains, about- 40 miles distant, for the In the year 1869 the missionary of Victoria, a small settlement north- east of Edmonton, caused the stone to be brought in to the mission. When the Indians heard of the dese- cration they were loud in expres- sion of their regret, while the old medicine men declared its removal would be followed by war, disease and the disappearance of the buf- falo. It is curious as a coincidence that in the following year the plague of smallpox swept over the Saskatchewan country with fearful violence, leaving whole camps of victims to rot unburied on the plains. ’l‘ue plague was accompani- ed by the afflictions of tribal war, carried on, in spite of the disease, with unparalleled ferocity; while a few short years sufficed for the ex- termination of the countless bufâ€" falo. herds. The stone was afterâ€" wards shipped to Toronto, where the curious can now see it' in the museum of Victoria University. It is also of interest to note that Iron Creek, Alberta, derives its name from this historic stone, for it was near its banks that it reposed so long as a manito of the red man. There. once lay on the lonely sum- mit of a, hill far out on the prairie between the North and SouthSas’ katchewans, a. huge block of metal. It was a, medicine‘stone of surpass- ing virtue among the Indians over a vast territory. No band of Ci'ees, Blackfeet or Saroees would pass in the vicinity w1thout paying a. Visit to this great medicine stone to lay their offerings upon it- to propitiate the mysterious powers dwelling therein. Strange stories were told in .the lodges concerning this stone. Old men remembered having heard men say that they were only able to lift it, but yearly it had grown in weight so that no Single man could carry it. It is little wonder that, indiavn superstition was stir- red by this stone. It was not of this world; it had fallen from hea- ven. It-was, in fact, The phenomena of Nature someâ€" times took a, tragical, sometimes a puzzling form. During a. storm on the prairies near the south branch of the Saskatchewan a rain of fire suddenly descended upon a qanip of Cree Indians and burned everything around them. Thirtyâ€"two Crees perished in the flames. The ground was burned deeply for a, consider- able distance, and only one or two of the party who stood near a, deep slough were able to save them< selves by jumping into the water. It was not a, flash of light-ning'but a rain of fire that lasted for some moments. Many a curious tale has been told by adventurous travelers when in pie-settlement days they penetratâ€" ed the vast solitudes of prairie, forest or mountain valley, writes W. J._ Barclay, in Chambers’ Jour- nal. 1n the Summer of 1862 there was a great rush in the newly disâ€" covered gold mines of Cariboo. A party of over a hundred gold~seek- ers from Ontario and Quebec made the journey overland via St. Paul» Fort Garry, the prairies, and across the Rockies by the Leather- head Pass. Descending the Fraser on rafts and in canoes, they found their greatest trials in its tumultu- ous waters, more than one life be- ing 'lost in the rapids of the Grand Canon. The circumstances attend- ing the death ofka Torontonian named Carpenter were singular. His party consisted of three other men from the same cityâ€"~â€"Messrs. Fletcher, Handcock and Alexander. When they arrived at the rapids they explored the canon, it being agreed by lot that Fletcher and Handcock should portage the outâ€" fit while Carpenter and Alexander ran the rapids in the canoe. In midstream, the canoe struck a rock and upset. Alexander was a. strong swimmer, and managed to reach the shore in safety, but Carpenter ap- peared stunned, and While exploring the canon his companions had noticed Carpenter making some memoranda in his note-book, which he replaced in an inner pocket of his coat and l'eft on the bank before entering the canoe. His sorrowing companions found the entry to be:~“1\rrived at Grand Canon, ran the canon, and was drowned.” IT IS A LAND OF ROMANCE One Member of Prospecting Party Predicted His Own Dealh by Drowning. MANY STRANGE TALES OF THE CANADIAN WEST. SANK IMMEDIATELY. A METEORITE. A BLAZE OF LIGHTNING, and the crash of thunder stunned him and caused him to fall from the shock. A large tree was struck not far off; he could hear the rending of wood. It was several minutes before he was able to look around, But, to his unutterable astonish- ment and terror, the camp had dis- appeared. Where a large Indian camp had stood in full view, the voices of its inhabitants distinctly audible, nothing remained in sight but an empty glade surrounded by stormâ€"tossed trees. Little wonder that the/captain, before he could gather his‘wits together, turned and ran, dropping his gun in his course. When lack of breath caus- ed him to sit down on the bank of the river, a quarter of a mile away, he determined to leaverhis boat and (walk to the fort rather than approach the spot again. The §fifteen miles made a hard journey, but he arrived about midnight, draggled and worn out. The story told to his brother officers next morning at the breakfast table caused only laughter and chaff as a freak of the imagination. But the captain was firmly convinced of the reality of the experience. He was determined to proceed to the spot again and bring back his boat and gun. With an Indian and Black- foot interpreter he return-ed that day, finding no difficulty in locating ‘ the place; but it was vacant, with- out sign of any recent camp. A few rings of stones overgrown with grass showed where an old camp had been many years before. The Indian related how the Blackfeet had surprised and slaughtered a camp of Crces at this spot, and two bleach-ed skulls found among the grass were evident proof of the story. brought for the purpose, in which he purposed returning to the fort‘ fishing on the way. During the morning he made good headway down the river, only once having trouble at a rather nasty rapid, in the middle of which he stuck on a flat stone, and was upset in getting off. He got a thorough wetting be- fore he caught his boat again. About noon the weather began to look threatening, heavy banks of clouds gathering in the north. The thunder storms along the mountains are usually of short duration, but very severe "While they last. When the storm broke the captain sought shelter in a clump of timber on the south bank, and during a lull in its fury he plainly heard the drums beating in an Indian camp, and the accompanying “Hiâ€"ya” mingling with the sound. Leaving his boat drawn up on the shore and safely tied, he made his way towards the sound. The storm came down worse than ever, and the lightn- ing was blinding as he made his way through the timber. In an open glade the-\Indian camp of about 20 lodges lay before him plainly visible, 20 yards away, with a band of horses grazing on the farther side, the gleam of fires shining through the open entrances of the lodges. This was surprising, as the Indians do not move about in the wet if they can help it, and their lodges are kept closed through suâ€" perstitious fear of the thunder. Capt. Denny stood for a. few secâ€" onds watching the scene, considerâ€" ing which lodge to make for. He had made a step or two towards that nearest him, when he seemed to be surrounded with purpose of fishing and deerâ€"huntâ€" ing. He was accompanied by an Indian guide. The hunt was suc- cessful, both the captain and his guide killing a deer. He sent the Indians back to the fort with the horses loaded with the venison while he inflated A RUBBER BOAT Mrs. Dokleâ€"Yes, it is hard to tell, at first glance, whether she belongs to the mineral or animal, kingdomf The Germans, if victorious over the British fleet, can very well in- vade England, and hold it for some time. The British, with the present organization of their army, *eould never think of invading one town of Germany. “What is the most expensive: perfume you know of?” -’ Mrs. HoyllewCov‘er-ed with jewels” isn’t she? â€" And after a moment’s thoughti2 Mr. Chuggins replied, “Gasoline/5' Had Rome possessed only sea. power Carthage might very well have defeated her. But Rome had land and sea. power. Given her suf- ficient constitution and her two-fold power Rome would not be worsted in the long run. Like ancient Garth-age, which could not expand into the interior of uninhabitabl-e Africa, Germany, too, cannot hope to possess much more territory on the fully occuâ€" pied Continent, and is forced to spread by maritime power. How- ever, Carthage met Rome, that is, a power well knit and strongly 0r- ganized on land, and very capable on sea. The end was'the downfall of Carthage. Many people imagine that Soci- alism in Germany is a disrtfptive force, or one that will impedeor incapacitate Germany in any at)- tempt at, making political moves of a, European grandeur. . No greater illusion can possibly be indulged in. - as everywhere else on the Contin» ent, except; France, is a. purely, theoretic force. 11; yields to the first, onslaught of any one of the old historical and real forces on the Continent. Between Germany and Greafil Britain there is an antagonism that can be gotten over only by means of ’armed conflict. There wasthel same antagonism between ~Athens‘ and Sparta; between Rome and Carthage; between England andl France in the Middle Ages, and u! ,to Waterloo, and between many I. minor set of nations. 1n EVITABLE. _. It has nothing to do with personal likes or dislikes; with the saying of the press; with dynastic differ- ences, 01' with “racial” views. It is in the nature of things. It its; like the conflict between day andi night, 01' between youth and oldi, age. It can be stayed off for a, time! it can never be averted alm‘ together. In Germany every .single person has long since been sufficiently con- vinced, and every ablebodied man is a soldier. Together witlrhis edu- cation as an efficient; unit for miliâ€" tary purposes, he is taught a little history, and the great sprit of an aggressive and growing nation is infused into him. The Germans Think It Unavoidablo â€"They Sbek Sea Powerâ€"â€" Britain Like Rome. the New York American in part as follows :â€" GREAT WAR MUST COME‘l STRIFE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND GERMANY. AXLE GREAW Professor Emil Reich writes SOCIALISM IN- GERMANY, The Imperial 0" 00.,Ltd. Ontario Agents: The Queen City 02! C... m is the turning-point to economy in wear and tear of wagons. Try a box. Every dealer everywhere. PERVASIVE ODOR. SURELY A BIRD.