wish for. I am too weak to make that use of it which, I do not
doubt, is permitted us; it would enslave my soul. With a nature such as
mine, there is only one path of safety: I must renounce all. You know
me to be no hypocrite, and to you, in this moment, I need not fear to
speak my whole thought, The sacrifice has cost me much To break my
faith to you, and to put aside for ever all the world's joys--the
strength for this has only come after hours of bitterest striving. Try
to be glad that I have won; it is all behind me, and I stand upon the
threshold of peace.

"You know how from a child I have suffered. What to others was pure and
lawful joy became to me a temptation. But God was not unjust; if He so
framed me, He gave me at the same time the power to understand and to
choose. All those warnings which I have, in my blindness, spoken of so
lightly to you, I now recall with humbler and truer mind. If the shadow
of sin darkened my path, it was that I might look well to my steps,
and, alas, I have failed so, have gone so grievously astray! God, in
His righteous anger, has terribly visited me. The most fearful form of
death has risen before me; I have been cast into abysses of horror, and
only saved from frenzy by the mercy which brought all this upon me for
my good. A few months ago I had also a warning. I did not disregard it,
but I could not overcome the love which bound me to you. But for that
love, how much easier it would have been to me to overcome the world
and myself.

"You will forgive me, for you will understand me. Do not write in
reply; spare me, I entreat you, a renewal of that dark hour I have
passed through. With my aunt I am going to leave London. We shall
remain together, and she will strengthen me in the new life. May God
bless you here and hereafter. MAUD ENDERBY."

After an interval of a day Waymark wrote as follows to Miss Bygrave:--

"Doubtless you know that Maud has written desiring me to release her. I
cannot but remember that she is scarcely yet recovered from a severe
illness, and her letter must not be final. She entreats me not to write
to her or see her. Accordingly I address myself to you, and beg that
you will not allow Maud to take any irrevocable step till she is
perfectly well, and has had time to reflect. I shall still deem her
promise to me binding. If after the lapse of six months from now she
still desires to be released, I must know it, either from herself or
from you. Write to