hts from the
affairs of this world, and succeeded in confining them once more to
subjects of ecclesiastical learning. But a new demon soon dogged him
even into the sacred precincts. He never dared to tell Clement of this
last machination of the evil one; for Clement would have raised a fresh
hue and cry. This made a rupture of their intimacy inevitable, and
accident soon brought it about. Clement was speaking of the Godhead of
Christ as manifested in his having assumed the bitterness of death upon
his cross, and said that this was needed to complete the revelation of
him as God and as the Savior of the world.

"I see nothing so superhuman in death upon the cross," said Ivo, very
calmly. "It is holy and grand, but it is not superhuman, to die
innocently in the promotion of a great cause. I should have esteemed
him equally if there had been no occasion for a martyrdom to prove the
truth of his divine mission, and if the blind Jews had acknowledged him
without it, and had suffered him to live. Not the crucified, but the
living Christ, His divine life and divine doctrines, are my salvation
and my faith."

Clement stood trembling from head to foot: his lips swelled, and his
eyes rolled wildly. With clenched fist he struck Ivo's face, making
sparks of fire start from his eyes and causing his cheek to tingle. Ivo
stood unmoved, or motionless; but Clement fell to the ground before
him, seized his hand, and cried,--

"Down into the dust, forsaken one! Verily, the heaviest chastisement
which could befall thy blasphemy has the Lord visited upon thee by my
hand: it was not my will, but the Lord's, which hurled my arm against
thee. Thou art the brother of my heart, and by me thou must be smitten;
for thou must feel two-edged swords piercing thy flesh.

"If thou thrust me away, the Lord's wrath is thereby visited upon thee
still more: thou shalt lose the best friend thou hast. Do what thy
spirit will, put me away, and thou shalt be doubly wretched. The Lord
must plunge thee into the depths of darkness, that thine eye may be
opened to receive the light. He must give thee sadness to drink and
gall to feed upon, until the spirit of lies shall depart and the slime
of sin fall away from thee. Lord, let this offering be pleasing in thy
sight: I offer thee half of my heart,--my friend. Thou art my friend, O
Lord! Forgive me that my soul still clings to one who is the food of
worms. Be gracious unto me, O Lord! give me the full cup of so