limbs, and withered frames--their flesh macerated by prayer and
fasting--the cross, the agony--all here speaks of the victory of will
over passions. Themselves an example of purity in body and soul, they
demand the same purity from all who enter the oratory, their holy
shrine.

"To them Anastasia had recourse in the agitation of her heart; from
them she implored aid against the temptations of the Evil One; but
help there was none for her, the weak in will, the devoted to the
passion which she felt for an unearthly tempter.

Thrice, with crossing and with prayer, did Obrazetz bow before the
images; thrice did his son and daughter bow after him. This pious
preface finished, the old man chanted the psalm--'Whoso dwelleth
under the defence of the Most High.' Thus, even in our own times,
among us in Russia, the pious warrior, when going to battle, almost
always arms himself with this shield of faith. With deep feeling,
Khabar repeated the words after his father. All this prepared
Anastasia for something terrible she trembled like a dove which is
caught by the storm in the open plain, where there is no shelter for
her from the tempest that is ready to burst above her. When they
arose from prayer, Obrazetz took from the shrine a small image of St
George the Victorious, cast in silver, with a ring for suspending it
on the bosom. 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost!' he said, with a solemn voice, holding the image in his
left hand, and with his right making three signs of the cross--'with
this mercy of God I bless thee, my dear and only son, Ivan, and I
pray that the holy martyr, George, may give thee mastery and victory
over thine enemies: keep this treasure even as the apple of thine eye.
Put it not off from thee in any wise, unless the Lord willeth that
the foe shall take it from thee. I know thee, Ivan, they will not
take it from thee living; but they may from thy corse. Keep in mind at
every season thy father's blessing.'

"Anastasia turned as white as snow, and trembled in every limb; her
bosom felt oppressed as with a heavy stone, a sound as of hammering
was in her ears. She seemed to hear all the images, one after another,
sternly repeating her father's words. He continued--'It is a great
thing, this blessing. He who remembereth it not, or lightly esteemeth
it, from him shall the heavenly Father turn away his face, a