As he shouted those last words, he pushed Albine forcibly towards the door.  She, extremely pale, retreated step by step.  When he had finished in a gasping voice she very gravely answered: 

’It is all over, then?  You drive me away?  Yet, I am your wife.  It is you who made me so.  And God, since He permitted it, cannot punish us to such a point as this.’

She was now on the threshold, and she added: 

’Listen!  Every day, at sunset, I go to the end of the garden, to the spot where the wall has fallen in.  I shall wait for you there.’

And then she disappeared.  The vestry door fell back with a sound like a deep sigh.

IX

The church was perfectly silent, except for the murmuring sound of the rain, which was falling heavily once more.  In that sudden change to quietude the priest’s anger subsided, and he even felt moved.  It was with his face streaming with tears, his frame shaken by sobs, that he went back to throw himself on his knees before the great crucifix.  A torrent of ardent thanksgiving burst from his lips.

’Thanks be to Thee, O God, for the help which Thou hast graciously bestowed upon me.  Without Thy grace I should have hearkened unto the promptings of my flesh, and should have miserably returned to my sin.  It was Thy grace that girded my loins as with armour for battle; Thy grace was indeed my armour, my courage, the support of my soul, that kept me erect, beyond weakness.  Oh! my God, Thou wert in me; it was Thy voice that spoke in me, for I no longer felt the cowardice of the flesh, I could have cut asunder my very heart-strings.  And now, O God, I offer Thee my bleeding heart.  It no longer belongs to any creature of this world; it is Thine alone.  To give it to Thee I have wrenched it from all worldly affection.  But think not, O God, that I take any pride to myself for this victory.  I know that without Thee I am nothing; and I humbly cast myself at Thy feet.’

He sank down upon the altar steps, unable to utter another word, while his breath panted incense-like from his parted lips.  The divine grace bathed him in ineffable ecstasy.  He sought Jesus in the recesses of his being, in that sanctuary of love which he was ever preparing for His worthy reception.  And Jesus was now present there.  The Abbe knew it by the sweet influences which permeated him.  And thereupon he joined with Jesus in that spiritual converse which at times bore him away from earth to companionship with God.  He sighed out the verse from the ’Song of Solomon,’ ’My beloved is mine, and I am his; He feedeth his flock among the lilies, until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away.’  He pondered over the words of the ‘Imitation:’  ’It is a great art to know how to talk with Jesus, and it requires much prudence to keep Him near one.’  And then, with adorable condescension, Jesus came down to him, and spoke with him for hours of his needs, his happiness, and his hopes.  Their confidences