This criminal saw things and
heard words no mortal eyes have perceived, nor mortal ears understood.
The man was haunted: I cannot doubt it."
"I believe what you say," said Elizabeth, solemnly, "for I have heard,
and I have seen."
"And so have I," said the preacher, in a kind of rapture. "When I lay
sleeping on the St. Mark's one night, I felt the thrill of a mighty
touch, and I heard, with my spiritual ears, words which no mortal lips
uttered; and I rose swiftly, and saved my life from the Comanche by
the skin of my teeth. And another night, as I rode over the Maverick
prairie, when it was knee-deep in grass and flowers, and the stars
were gathering one by one with a holy air into the house of God, I
could not restrain myself, and I sang aloud for joy! Then, suddenly,
there seemed to be all around me a happy company, and my spiritual
ears were opened, and I heard a melody beyond the voices of earth,
and I was not ashamed in it of my little human note of praise. I tell
you, death only sets us face to face with Him who is not very far from
us at any time."
"And Bob is dead?"
"Yes; and I believe he is saved."
No one spoke; and the preacher, after a minute's silence, asked,
"Who doubts?"
"A sixfold murderer, you said?"
"Nay, nay, John; are you going to limit the grace of God? Do you
know the height and depth of his mercy? Have you measured the
length and breadth of the cross? I brought the cross of Christ to
that fiend-haunted bed, and the wretched soul clasped it, clung to
it, yes, climbed up by it into heaven!"
"It was peace at last, then?" said Phyllis.
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