It surprised him to see how much of the Scriptures he could by a strong effort recall, and most consoling and cheering to him were those words of peace and power.
In one of these lonely watches, Blair's thoughts turned to his present companions with his usual loathing.

Suddenly there came to him the image of these rough bad men in their days of babyhood, ere yet this evil world had found its full response in the evil within their poor human hearts.

He could fancy the loving eye of God on those little ones, following them along their dreary pathway, and grieving as thicker grew the crust of sin over all that had been pure and childlike, and more and more dark their coming doom.

Blair realized for the first time the love of God, the pure and holy God, for those wicked transgressors of his law.

"Yes," he thought, "it was while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.