"You mustn't think me quite a lost soul," pursued David after a moment of emotion. "You don't remember me, but I had lots of blessings and halfpence from you when I was a lad. I dare say I valued the latter more in those days." He smiled to hide his emotion. Reb Shemuel was beaming. "Did you, really?" he inquired. "I don't remember you. But then I have blessed so many little children. Of course you'll come to the _Seder_ to-morrow evening and taste some of Hannah's cookery. You're one of the family now, you know." "I shall be delighted to have the privilege of having _Seder_ with you," replied David, his heart going out more and more to the fatherly old man. "What _Shool_ will you be going to for Passover? I can get you a seat in mine if you haven't arranged." "Thank you, but I promised Mr. Birnbaum to come to the little synagogue of which he is President. It seems they have a scarcity of _Cohenim_, and they want me to bless the congregation, I suppose." "What!" cried Reb Shemuel excitedly. "Are you a _Cohen_?" "Of course I am. Why, they got me to bless them in the Transvaal last _Yom Kippur_. So you see I'm anything but a sinner in Israel." He laughed--but his laugh ended abruptly. Reb Shemuel's face had grown white. His hands were trembling. "What is the matter? You are ill," cried David. The old man shook his head. Then he struck his brow with his fist. "_Ach, Gott_!" he cried. "Why did I not think of finding out before? But thank God I know it in time." "Finding out what?" said David, fearing the old man's reason was giving way. "My daughter cannot marry you," said Reb Shemuel in hushed, quavering tones. "Eh? What?" said David blankly. "It is impossible." "What are you talking about. Reb Shemuel?" "You are a _Cohen_. Hannah cannot marry a _Cohen_." "Not marry a _Cohen_? Why, I thought they were Israel's aristocracy." "That is why. A _Cohen_ cannot marry a divorced woman." The fit of trembling passed from the old Reb to the young man. His heart pulsed as with the stroke of a mighty piston. Without comprehending, Hannah's prior misadventure gave him a horrible foreboding of critical complications. "Do you mean to say I can't marry Hannah?" he asked almost in a whisper. "Such is the law. A woman who has had _Gett_ may not marry a _Cohen_." "But you surely wouldn't call Hannah a divorced woman?" he cried hoarsely. "How shall I not? I gave her the divorce myself." "Great God!" exclaimed David. "Then Sam has ruined our lives." He stood a moment in dazed horror, striving to grasp the terrible tangle. Then he burst forth. "This is some of your cursed Rabbinical laws, it is not Judaism, it is not true Judaism. God never made any such law."