of the danger of refusing her absolution; to do so might fling her back upon agnosticism.  He was contending with vast passions.  An unexpected wave might carry her beyond his reach.  The stakes were high; he was playing for her soul with Owen Asher.  He had decided to yield a point if necessary, but his voice was so kind, so irresistibly kind, that she heard nothing but it.  However she might think when she had left him, she could not withstand the kindness of that voice; it seemed to enter into her life like some extraordinary music or perfume.  He could see the effect he was producing on her; he watched her eyes growing bright until a slight dread crossed his mind.  She seemed like one fascinated, trembling in bonds that were loosening, and that in the next moment would break, leaving her free—­perhaps to throw herself into his arms; he did not dare to withdraw his eyes.  An awful moment passed, and she turned slowly as if to leave the room.  But at the moment of so doing a light seemed to break upon her brain; where there was darkness there was light.  He saw her walk suddenly forward.  She threw herself upon her knees at the table, and like one to whom speech had suddenly come back, she said—­

“I believe in our holy Church and all that she teaches.  Father, I beseech you to absolve me from my sins.”

So striking was the change that the priest himself was cowed by it, and his personal pride in his conquest of her soul was drowned in a great awe.  He had first to thank God for having chosen him as the instrument of his will, and then he spoke to Evelyn of the wonder and magnitude of God’s mercies.  That at the very height of her artistic career he should have roused her to a sense of her own exceeding sinfulness was a miracle of his grace.

His presence by her at that moment was a balm.  She heard him say that life would not be an easy one, but that she must not be discouraged, that she must remember that she had made her peace with God, and would derive strength from his sacraments.  An extraordinary sweetness came over her, she seemed borne away upon a delicious sweetness; she was conscious of an extraordinary inward presence.  She did not dare to look up, or even to think, but buried herself in prayer, experiencing all the while the most wonderful and continuous sensation of delight.  She had been racked and torn, and had fallen at his feet a helpless mass of suffering humanity.  He had healed her, and she felt hope and life returning to her again, and sufficient strength to get up and continue her way.  Never again would she be alone; he would be always near to guide her.  She heard him tell her that she must recite daily for penance the hymn veni sanctus spiritus, and the thought of this obedience to him refreshed her as the first draught of spring water refreshes the wanderer who for weeks has hesitated between the tortures of thirst and the foul water of brackish desert pools.  She was conscious that he was making the sign of the cross over her