Helen’s Fire

( feu d’Hélène ), a comazant called “St. Helme’s” or “St. Elmo’s fire” by the Spaniards; the “fires of St. Peter and St. Nicholas” by the Italians; and “Castor and Pollux” by the ancient Romans. This electric light will sometimes play about the masts of ships. If only one appears, foul weather may be looked for; but if two or more flames appear, the worst of the storm is over. Helen ( Roll est on ), heroine of Charles Reade’s novel, Foul Play . She is betrothed to Wardlaw, chief villain of the story, and sets out on a sea-voyage to restore her health; is shipwrecked and cast on an island with Herbert Penfold. After their return to England, she rights the wronged Penfold, and punishes Wardlaw. Helen , wife of John Ward, Preacher . Her husband is a Calvin ist of a pronounced type; she a believer in Universal Salvation. The spiritual agonies to which they are subjected by the difference in creeds, separate them for a while and are the moving cause of John Ward’s death. He pa es away, convinced that “his death is to be the climax of God’s plans for her.”—Margaret Deland, John Ward, Preacher (1888).