th pleasure and partly with pain."

"Would you like to go with him and be his wife, as he said?"

"If it were right, father,--not otherwise."

"Oh, foolish child! oh, blinded soul! to think of right in connection with
an infidel and heretic! Do you not see that all this is an artifice of
Satan? He can transform himself into an angel of light. Do you suppose
this heretic would be brought back to the Church by a foolish girl? Do you
suppose it is your prayers he wants? Why does, he not seek the prayers of
the Church,--of holy men who have power with God? He would bait his hook
with this pretence that he may catch your soul. Do you believe me?"

"I am bound to believe you, my father."

"But you do not. Your heart is going after this wicked man."

"Oh, my father, I do not wish it should. I never wish or expect to see him
more. I only pray for him that his soul may not be lost."

"He has gone, then?"

"Yes, my father. And he went with my uncle, a most holy monk, who has
undertaken the work of his salvation. He listens to my uncle, who has
hopes of restoring him to the Church."

"That is well. And now, my daughter, listen to me. You must root out of
your thought every trace and remembrance of these words of sinful earthly
love which he hath spoken. Such love would burn your soul to all eternity
with fire that never could be quenched. If you can tear away all roots and
traces of this from your heart, if by fasting and prayer and penance you
can become worthy to be a bride of your divine Lord, then your prayers
will gain power, and you may prevail to secure his eternal salvation. But
listen to me, daughter,--listen and tremble! If ever you should yield to
his love and turn back from this heavenly marriage to follow him, you will
accomplish his damnation and your own; to all eternity he will curse you,
while the fire rages and consumes him,--he will curse the hour that he
first saw you."

These words were spoken with an intense vehemence which seemed almost
supernatural. Agnes shivered and trembled; a vague feeling of guilt
overwhelmed and disheartened her; she seemed to herself the most lost and
abandoned of human beings.

"My father, I shall think no penance too severe that may restore my soul
from this sin. I have already made a vow to the blessed Mother that I will
walk on foot to the Holy City, praying in every shrine and holy place; and
I humbly ask your approval."

This announcement brought to the mind of the