<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary information extracted from the financial
statements of Protective Variable Life Separate Account and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000948923                             
<NAME> PROTECTIVE VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT                     
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 12
   <NAME> MFS GROWTH WITH INCOME SUB ACCOUNT
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                             MAR-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                         48,374
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        50,648
<RECEIVABLES>                                      0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                50,648
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         874
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              874
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                    0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                           0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          2,722
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                             0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                           0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                           0
<NET-ASSETS>                                  49,774
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           2
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      2,064
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          2,066
<EQUALIZATION>                                     0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                          0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                           0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        2,310
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       14
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        42,770
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                          0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                         0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  387
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                               0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                         16.441
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                            0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                               0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                           18.610
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                             0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                               0