rum_."

"Don't talk to me in that accursed Latin tongue."

"In good Hebrew: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

"Now, they've got Him in the middle," said another, for the two robbers
had been hoisted up to the right and left of Him. The one on the left
stretched out his neck, and mocked at Jesus with a distorted face: "I
suppose, neighbour, that you too are one of those who get executed just
because they are weaklings. Jump from the cross, rush among them, and
the wretches will idolise you!"

Jesus did not answer him. He turned His head towards the man who hung
on His right who saw the moment approaching when his legs would be
broken. In the agony of death, and in penitence for his ill-spent
life, he turned to Him whom they called Messiah and Christ. And when
he saw the expression with which Jesus looked at him, a curious shudder
passed through the criminal's heart. How the man on the cross gazed at
him, with His fading eyes--My God!--it was the never-to-be-forgotten
holy look which a little child had given him in the days of his youth.
Dismas began to weep, and said: "Lord, you are from heaven! When you
return home, remember me."

And Jesus said to him: "There is mercy for all who repent! To-day,
Dismas, you and I will be together at the Heavenly Father's home."

"He is from heaven!" was heard in the crowd. "He is from heaven!" One
of the Roman soldiers threw his spear away, and exclaimed in immense
excitement: "Verily, He is the Son of God!"

"The Son of God! The Son of God! Set Him free! It is the Son of God
who hangs on the cross!" The cry rolled through the crowd like the
dull noise of an avalanche; like a shriek of terror, like the inward
consciousness of a fearful mistake, the most fearful that had been made
since the world began. He who hangs yonder on the cross is the Son of
God. Far below in a cleft of the rock is a poor sinner. He struggles
up to his feet, holding on with his lean hands, he looks up to the
cross with rolling eyes. A prayer for mercy wells up from his heart
like a bloody spring. And beside him a woman kneels and folds her
hands against the cross. And she who thus stands under the cross
wrings her hands, and implores mercy for her child.

The letters I.N.R.I, over the cross begin to gleam. And a voice is
heard in the air: "Jesus Near Redeems Ill-doers."

"The Son of God! The Son of God!" The cry went on without ceasing.
"The Son of God on the cross!"

"The