“I can die,” he panted, “I can die, but I cannot ever be mastered again, never again be blind! Oh, Helen, all my life I have been lost and beaten--beaten by my weakness and my fear; but this once, this once I was free, this once I knew, and I lived; and now I can die rejoicing! Listen to me, Helen; while I am here there can be no more delaying,--no more weakness! Such sin and doubt as that of yesterday must never conquer my soul again, I will not any more be at the mercy of chance. I love you, Helen, God knows that I love you with all my soul; and this much for love I will do, if God spares me a day,--take you, and tear the heart out of you, if need be, but only teach you to live, teach you to hold by this Truth. It is a fearful thing, Helen; it is madness to me to know that at any instant I may cease to be, and that you may be left alone in your terror and your weakness. Oh, look at me,--look at me! There is no more tempting fate, there is no more shirking the battle--there is life, there is life to be lived! And it calls to you now,--_now!_ And now you must win,--cost just what it may in blood and tears! You have the choice between that and ruin, and before God you shall choose the right! Listen to me, Helen--it is only prayer that can do it, it is only by prayer that you can fight this fearful battle--bring before you this truth of the soul, and hold on to it,--hold on to it tho it kill you! For He was through all the ages, His glory is of the skies; and we are but for an instant, and we have to die; and this we must know, or we are lost! There comes pain, and calls you back to fear and doubt; and you fight--oh, it is a cruel fight, it is like a wild beast at your vitals,--but still you hold on--you hold on!” The man had lifted himself with a wild effort, his hands clenched and his teeth set. He had caught the girl's hands in his, and she screamed in fear: “David, David! You will kill yourself!” “Yes, yes!” he answered, and rushed on, chokingly; “it is coming just so; for I have just force enough left to win--just force enough to save you,--and then it will rend this frame of mine in two! It comes like a clutch at my heart--it blinds me, and the sky seems to turn to fire----” He sank back with a gasp; Helen caught him to her bosom, exclaiming frantically, “Oh, David, spare me--wait! Not now--you cannot bear it--have mercy!” He lay for a long time motionless, seemingly half dazed; then he whispered faintly, “Yes, dear, yes; let us wait. But oh, if you could know the terror of another defeat, of sinking down and letting one's self be bound in the old chains--I must not lose, Helen, I dare not fail!”