There was a brief benediction, and the congregation, held motionless till the governor and his family passed out, broke up and departed through the various doors, leaving the meeting-house empty. No, not quite; for Samuel Parris still lingered behind, and busied himself in covering the consecrated wine and bread; for he could not endure that other hands should touch the symbols our Lord has made holy. He was reverently placing the napkin over them when Barbara Stafford came from her station in the shadow of the pulpit, and, kneeling at his feet, besought him that she too might partake of the holy bread and wine. Parris was an old man, and his eyes were dim with tears, for to his gentle heart there had been something peculiarly touching in the rites he had just administered to his friend. Besides, the lady was so changed by her toilet, that he had no suspicion that she was the person whose life he had saved a few days before. Thus he stood for a moment lost in astonishment at the strangeness of the request. "Sister," he said very kindly--for with thoughts of the Saviour's suffering so close to his heart, how could he do otherwise?--"this is a singular request. Know you not that the sacrament of to-day was special to one purpose? The congregation was not expected to join in it." "I know that it may seem out of place to ask so much, even of a servant of God, and in a house given up to his worship. But if there is a holy virtue in this bread and wine, give it to me that I may be strong; for I declare to you, old man, there is not a soul on the broad earth that needs it as mine does now." How mournfully those eyes implored him, how deep and pathetic were the pleadings of that sweet voice! Imperceptibly the old minister began to tremble as he had done a few minutes before, with his hand in the baptismal water. She laid one hand on her heart: "Old man, if you are a true servant of God, listen; I am afraid of myself, for humanity is very frail--here with that voice still ringing through my brain, with--but no matter, I am a woman, and weak--alone, and oh how desolate! While the power is strong upon me, I would breathe a vow which no one but the Holy of holies shall hear; I would seal that vow with the bread and wine he has tasted." "But sister!" "Do not refuse me: it is a little thing for you, all the future to me. Give me to taste of the cup while I have strength; for I say unto you, old man, the spirit that impels me will not suffice to struggle against a great temptation, without help from heaven." The face of that woman was eloquent with noble resolves, the pathos of her voice would have touched a heart of ice. The old man slowly removed the napkin, and laid his hand upon the wine cup. Barbara's eyes turned wistfully upon it. "Remember," said the minister, taking a morsel of the bread between his fingers--"remember, he that eateth of this bread or drinketh of this cup unworthily--"