You cannot draw off from God. You have been
keeping Him at arm's length. This will not do."

"It is no use, Shock," said The Don bitterly. "My head is all right. I
believe with you. But I cannot get over the feeling I have for that--"
He broke off suddenly.

"I know, I know. I feel it, too, old chap, but after all, it is not
worth while. And besides, Don, forgive me saying this--if it had not
been true about you he could not have hurt you, could he?"

The Don winced.

"I am not excusing him, nor blaming you," continued Shock eagerly, "but
a man has got to be honest. Isn't that right?"

"Oh, yes, it is true enough, Shock. I was a beast, as you know, at that
time in my life, but I had put it all past me, and I believed that God
had forgiven me. And then those two raked it all up again, and broke my
darling's heart, and drove me away, an outcast. He is a minister of the
gospel, and she is a member of the Christian Church."

"Don," said Shock gravely, "that won't do. You are not fair."

The door opened quietly, and the nurse came in and sat down out of
Shock's sight behind the bed.

"Now, Don, I want you to read for me that tale of the Pharisee and the
woman who was a sinner. For my sake, mind you, as well as for yours,
for I was wrong, too, on this matter. I confess I hated him, for I
cannot help thinking that he has done me a great wrongs and I have
found it hard enough to say the Lord's Prayer. Perhaps you had better
read this letter so that you may understand."

He took from under his pillow Mrs. Fairbanks' letter and gave it to The
Don, who read it in silence. Poor Shock! He was opening up wounds that
none had ever seen, or even suspected, and the mere uncovering of them
brought him keen anguish and humiliation.

As The Don read the letter he began to swear deep oaths.

"Stop, Don. You mustn't swear. Now listen to me. I think she has a
perfect right to do as she has been doing. But--Lloyd"--Shock seemed to
get the name out with difficulty,--"was my friend, and I think he has
not been fair."

"Fair!" burst out The Don. "The low down villain!"

"But listen. The question with me has been how to forgive him, for I
must forgive him or keep far from Him who has forgiven me, and that I
cannot afford to do. Now read." And The Don took up the Bible from the
little table beside Shock's bed, and read that most touching of all
tales told of the Saviour of the sinful.

"'Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which a