Page:Jesus of Nazareth the story of His life simply told (1917).djvu/234

 him. He lived in the gloomy caverns in the rocks that were used as graves, and "he was exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass that way." No man could tame him; iron chains he snapped like flax. Day and night he roamed about the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones. He was a demoniac.

Seeing Jesus afar off, he ran to Him, and, falling down, adored Him. And, crying out with a loud voice, he said:

"What have I to do with Thee, Jesus Son of the most High God? I beseech Thee do not torment me."

And Jesus asked him: "What is thy name?"

"And he said, "Legion."

"For many devils were entered into him," says St. Luke. And the spirits besought Him that He would not command them to go into the abyss. And there was there near the mountain a great herd of swine feeding, in number about two thousand. And the devils said:

"If Thou cast us out, send us into the swine."

And He said to them: "Go!"

And they going out went into the swine, and the whole herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea and were stifled in the waters. And the men in charge of them fled into the city and told the news—how the fierce demoniac, the terror of the country, had been healed, and how the swine had perished. Strange to say, it was the last event that seemed to make the most impression on the townsfolk, for instead of rejoicing at the cure of the poor man, "they were taken with great fear. And the whole city went out to see what was done. And they came to Jesus, and saw him that had been troubled with the devils sitting at His feet, clothed and well in his wits."