"Christian," exclaimed the dying man, "what can I do?--what shall I do? They tell me I am near the hour of judgment; will you thrust away my last plea?--will ye deny me my last hope? Did He not accept the publican who restored fourfold? Behold my offering, O, Lord, and be merciful--be merciful! I have toiled through all this terrible life--labored, and groaned, and fainted for the uplifting of Thy countenance--and shall I go away in darkness, and wilt Thou show me no more light at all for ever? Lord! Lord!" The thin, worn arms were lifted in passionate appeal--the long white fingers clasped--the wasted face convulsed with despairing earnestness. Christian Lillie knelt by her brother's bedside. "Mercy and light, Patrick--mercy and light! our Father in heaven does not give them for a hire. Take them out of a gracious hand that has paid a bitter price for the gifts--take them, Patrick. Take them from Him who has made the sole sacrifice that can stand in the sight of God. Blood for blood." "Blood for blood!" said Patrick Lillie, with a wild shudder. "Blood for blood! has it come to this end? Christian, I have been laboring to make amends--I have labored in vain: let me pay the price now at last--there may be peace then. Let me away--let me away--I will pay the price--a life for a life!" He was struggling to rise--his emaciated features shining wildly with his desperate purpose. Christian's arms were stretched over him, subduing the frenzy. "Patrick," she said, solemnly, "in a little while the Lord will recall the life He has sent so fearful a shadow on. A day or two--maybe only an hour or two--and in this ghastly noon of ours, which is more terrible than the darkest midnight, the sun of your life must go down. The Lord is taking the price with his own hand. Patrick, let me but know that you are grounded on the one rock--that ye can see the one sacrifice." The unhappy sufferer sank back exhausted. "'Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.' Christian, it is a just sentence--take me away--I see it--I see it--it is what no mercy can wipe out--no grace forgive--it must be atoned for. Ye hear me, Christian! the price must be paid. If ye would have hope in my death, take me away." "It is a just sentence," said Christian Lillie, firmly. "Just in the sight of God and man--I say not that there needs no public atonement; but ye cannot pay it now--and I say that for your life, your higher life, Patrick, an atonement has been made. Do you forget Him that died at Jerusalem? they ranked him with murderers--was He one? He was accursed for the shedders of blood. Throw but your sin upon Him--rest but your soul upon Him, and I will have hope in your death--ay! such hope as will cover all the by-gone darkness with a mist of radiance; only let me know that you are safe in His shadow--strong in His faith, and I am content."