parish
house. "I think," he said gravely, "that we have learned another
lesson, have we not, _amigo_?"

Rosendo's head sank upon his great chest.

"And, if we are wise, we will profit by it--will we not, _compadre_?"
He waited a moment, then continued:

"I have been seeing in a dim way, _amigo_, that our thought is always
the vital thing to be reckoned with, more than we have even suspected
before. I believe there is a mental law, though I cannot formulate it,
that in some way the thoughts we hold use us, and become externalized
in actions. You were wild with fear for Carmen, and your thoughts of
Diego were murderous. Bien, they almost drove you to murder, and they
reacted upon the very one you most love. Can you not see it,
_amigo_?"

Rosendo looked up. His face was drawn. "Padre--I am almost afraid to
think of anything--now."

"Ah, _amigo_," said Jose with deep compassion, "I, too, have had a
deep lesson in thinking these past two days. I had evolved many
beautiful theories, and worked out wonderful plans during these weeks
of peace. Then suddenly came the news of the revolution, and, presto!
they all flew to pieces! But Carmen--nothing disturbs her. Is it
because she is too young to fear? I think not, _amigo_, I think not. I
think, rather, that it is because she is too wise."

"But--she is not of the earth, Padre." The old man shook his head
dubiously.

"Rosendo, she is! She is human, just as we are. But in some way she
has learned a great truth, and that is that wrong thinking brings all
the discord and woe that afflict the human race. We know this is true,
you and I. In a way we have known it all our lives. But why, _why_ do
we not practice it? Why do I yield so readily to fear; and you to
revenge? I rather think if we loved our enemies we would have none,
for our only enemies are the thoughts that become externalized in
wrong thought-concepts. And even this externalization is only in our
own consciousness. It is there, and only there, that we see evil."

"_Quien sabe?_ Padre," replied Rosendo, slowly shaking his head. "We
know so little--so little!"

"But, Rosendo, we know enough to try to be like Carmen--"

"_Caramba_, yes! And I try to be like her. But whenever danger
threatens her, the very devils seize me, and I am no longer myself."

"Yes, yes; I know. But will not her God protect her? Can not we trust
her to Him?" Jose spoke with the conviction of right, however
inconsistent his past conduct m