“Go back to Regenstein,” he enjoined. “Be a just lord unto your peasants. You shall answer for them to God. Care for the little children. See that the lads and maids live true and honest. Read and pray diligently, but be not over-anxious for a sudden resolving of doubts and the gift of miracles. And if in the months to come it be God’s will to work a great change on the face of Germany and all Christendom, be ready, a valiant helper, to do the deed He commands.” “And Ilsa,” I asked at parting; “shall I crush her forever from memory?” “Bow to God’s will,” he answered slowly. “He can bring to pass doings that may be marvellous in our eyes. All lies in His hands. Do not pry too far into the future. Let the morrow care for itself. And yet”--he hesitated as he spoke--“the day may come when even nuns’ veils, and vows, and convent walls will be as a tale that is told. For we live amid the Lord’s doings. They are marvellous in our eyes.” And then I passed out into the warm, rainy night. * * * * * The next day, without waiting for Carlstadt and Eck to conclude their final arguments, Dr. Luther left Leipzig for Wittenberg. When I hear men criticize him as being harsh and uncharitable in dealing with opponents I recall one of his acts whilst in Leipzig,--how he wrote a letter of comfort and condolence to no less a person than Johann Tetzel, who lay dying in ignominy, execrated even by the Papalists, at the Dominican convent. “The matter had passed beyond him,” Luther assured the miserable indulgence vendor, “not Tetzel was the author of the great contention, but quite another, greater than he.” And so with consolation from the man he had berated, on July the 4th, while Luther was locking horns with Eck, the fellow died. Let his judgment be left with God. I travelled with Dr. Martin back to Wittenberg. He was weary physically and mentally, and glad to be again in his quiet home cloister. On the journey I made the happy friendship of his _fidus Achates_, young Professor Melanchthon, whose classical learning nobly used was to be such a prop to Luther, such an ally to the Reformation. After a stay of some weeks at the University, amid pleasant comradeship, I did as I had been bidden--I returned to the Regenstein. CHAPTER XVIII I HEAR OF ILSA