-he would have felt with Clement the happy
change which was going on within him. It seemed really and truly as if
the ethereal hand of God were upon him, gently luring out the burden
which oppressed him, and inspiring him with a new life and a better
courage.

The new Clement was a different being from the old one. He moved about
noiselessly, often looking around as if in dread of something. Then
again he would suddenly stand still. Ivo could not encourage him; for
not even to him had Clement dared to disclose the whole enormity of his
wickedness.

After the next holidays, Clement was changed again. He looked fresh and
blooming as before; but fires of a mysterious import darted from his
eyes. One day, as they walked in the little wood called the "Burgholz,"
he drew his friend to his breast, and said, "Ivo, thank God with me,
for the Lord has given me grace. It is our fault if the Lord does not
do miracles in us, because we do not purify ourselves to be the vessels
of his inscrutable will. I have made a vow to be a missionary and to
announce to the heathen the salvation of the world. I have seen her
again who stole my soul from the Lord; but in the midst of my gazes the
world vanished from my eyes, the All-Merciful laid his hand upon me and
gave me peace. I was drawn up into a mountain. There I sat until the
sun went down and the night came on. All around was still and dead.
Suddenly, afar off in the woods. I heard the voice of a boy singing,
but not in earthly tones,--

"'Where Afric's sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand.'

"I knelt down, and the Lord heard my vow. My heart was no longer in my
flesh: I held it in my hand. Kissing the rock beneath and the tree
beside me, I inhaled the Spirit of God from them: I heard the leaves
rustle and the clefts wail in whispered sorrow, weeping and yearning
for the day when the cross shall be erected as the tree of life,
standing aloft between earth and heaven, when the Lord shall appear and
the world be saved,--when the rocks shall bound, and the trees sing
songs of joy."

Falling on his knees, Clement continued:--"Lord, Lord, be gracious unto
me! lay thy words upon my tongue, make me worthy to feel the love of
the seraphs; pour out thy goodness richly over the brother of my heart;
crush him; let him feel the swords which have pierced thy breast, and
which rend the heart of the world. I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast
wedded me unto holy po