One
who stood just beside her:

"O Jesus Christ! who came to save, come close to this poor little
wandering child of Thine and show her that she is forgiven! Take her
gently by the hand and help her to see Thee, how loving Thou art! Help
her to understand how Thou didst come to earth and die to take her place
of punishment so that she might be forgiven! Open her eyes to comprehend
what love like that can be!"

Gila turned startled eyes on Courtland as she heard his voice, strong,
beseeching, tender, intimate with God! She lay listening, watching his
illumined face as he prayed. Watched and listened as one who suddenly
sees a ray of light where all was darkness; till gradually the tenseness
and pain faded from her face and a surprised calm came to take its
place.

The strong voice went on, talking with the Saviour about what He had
done for this poor erring one, till with a sigh, like a tired child, the
eyelids dropped over her frightened eyes and a look of peace began to
dawn.

While the prayer had been going on, Tennelly, with his little girl in
his arms, had slipped silently into the room and stood with bowed head
looking with anguished eyes at the wreck of the beautiful girl who was
once his wife.

Suddenly, as if alive to subtle influences, Gila opened her great eyes
again and looked straight at Tennelly and the baby! A dart of
consciousness came into her gaze and something like a wave of anguish
passed over her face. She made a piteous, helpless movement with the
little jeweled hands that lay limply on the coverlet, and murmured one
word, with pleading in her eyes:

"Forgive!"

Courtland had ceased praying and the room was very still till Bonnie,
just outside the door, began to sing, softly:

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
Let the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power!"

Suddenly little Doris, who had been looking down, with wondering baby
solemnity on the strange scene, leaned forward and pointed to the bed.

"Pitty mamma dawn as'eep!" she said, softly; and with a groan Tennelly
sank with her to his knees beside the bed. Courtland, kneeling a little
way off, spoke out once more:

"Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world, we leave her with Thy tender
mercy!"

As if a visible sign of assent had been asked, the setting sun suddenly
dropped lower, touching into blazin