"For your amendment it was permitted that you should do so. Out of your pleasant vices have you made whips to lash yourself. The wages of sin is death; you have sinned, and the wages--oh, Leah, Leah, bitterly cruel as it may seem to you, I rejoice that the wages should be so paid." "You are a Job's comforter, I must say," said the Duchess, sullenly. "Because I can see how this tribulation of the flesh can save your soul alive. God might have struck you dead in your wickedness, and with justice, for your wilful sin. Instead of doing so, He has given you a lingering disease, that you should be brought to acknowledge His power and also have time to repent." "There is nothing to repent of." "Shame! shame! Even from a worldly point of view you have sinned grossly; how much blacker, then, are your deeds in God's sight! But they can be made white; the past can be wiped out by sincere sorrow." Leah twisted her hands above her head with a cry of impotent rage. "How can I repent, when I do not even feel sorry?" "You will not ask Christ to help you. Repentance is a gift, as is Faith. He will give both, and His undying Love, if you will but confess your sin." "I have done so--to you." "Who am powerless. Confess it to Christ; weep as did Mary at His wounded feet. Hard as is your heart, He will melt it; soiled as is your soul, He will cleanse it. Now--now, when human aid is vain, now is the appointed time. Repent and be saved!" "If I try to, will He--will He cure met" "That question I cannot, dare not answer. His mercy is infinite." "You say that to me, knowing what I suffer." "I say it to you who suffer. In no other way could the Spirit have brought you to the mercy-seat." "He has not brought me now," she persisted obstinately. Lionel fell on his knees and caught her restless hands. "Oh, your poor, sinful soul, for which Christ died!" he cried passionately; "to whom can you go but to God? Doctors cannot cure you; He can, if it be His will. He may even make your flesh clean." "Ah! And that question you declined to answer a minute or two back. Besides, you denied that miracles could take place." "I did not. No one ever came in vain to our Blessed Lord, when He walked the earth some two thousand years ago. As was His power then, so is it now. He loved in those days, He loves now. Sitting on God's right hand, He is ready to succour the vilest. His arm is not shortened, His pity is not exhausted. In mercy He may even cure you of this dreadful disease, as He cured the afflicted man we read of. Only acknowledge that God is mightier than you are; only bow to the rod, only admit your sin, only cry for pardon." "If He will cure me----" she began, wavering. "That you must leave to His love and wisdom. Cure you He may; permit you to suffer, He may see fit. But save your soul, He can. That much I can swear to." "I want this horrible thing cured," she cried passionately. "To continue in your sins? To soil your soul anew?" "No! no! If I repent----"