Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/389

Rh companionship of sinners, because none other would believe on Him."

" 'T is true I was a sinner and a harlot," replied the Magdalene, with downcast eyes and sweet, sad voice. "I was; but there is that in the power of God that can wipe out all sin and set one, with clean feet, afresh along a new path of life, that is all joy, and peace, and faith, and happiness, and love."

"Believest thou this?" asked Rebekah musingly. Then, with renewed wrath and infinite scorn, she added: "Ah, 't is easy for thee to talk of all this inward joy when Lazarus is thy affianced bridegroom, and he loveth thee; but tell me, if I took him from thee, and if he left thee, or if he died, or if he loved another, what wouldst thou say then? Wouldst still have inward joy and peace and trust?"

The night was growing chilly, and a shiver struck the Magdalene's heart at Rebekah's words. She paused a moment to reflect what she would do if the newly opened doors of her heart were shut to again.

If Lazarus should die! It was as if her heart fluttered and fainted within her, and as if from the ebbings of her swooning mind there rose up mystic music on the night air, that only she could hear or understand:

"Yea, I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world."

Then, with strengthened spirit, she raised her head and looked outwards in the gloom, towards where she fancied the eyes of Rebekah were looking for her answer, and she said: "Yea, even if I should lose Lazarus, if he should die, or love another, I would still believe and love the Lord."