muring of the congregation died into stillness, as a gust of wind
dies among whispering tree-tops. All the crowd gazed up, in breathless
silence, at the white figure on the altar-steps. Slowly and steadily he
began to speak:

"It is written in the Gospel according to St. John: 'God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son that the world through Him
might be saved.'

"This is the festival of the Body and Blood of the Victim who was slain
for your salvation; the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the
world; the Son of God, Who died for your transgressions. And you are
assembled here in solemn festival array, to eat of the sacrifice that
was given for you, and to render thanks for this great mercy. And I know
that this morning, when you came to share in the banquet, to eat of the
Body of the Victim, your hearts were filled with joy, as you remembered
the Passion of God the Son, Who died, that you might be saved.

"But tell me, which among you has thought of that other Passion--of the
Passion of God the Father, Who gave His Son to be crucified? Which of
you has remembered the agony of God the Father, when He bent from His
throne in the heavens above, and looked down upon Calvary?

"I have watched you to-day, my people, as you walked in your ranks in
solemn procession; and I have seen that your hearts are glad within you
for the remission of your sins, and that you rejoice in your salvation.
Yet I pray you that you consider at what price that salvation was
bought. Surely it is very precious, and the price of it is above rubies;
it is the price of blood."

A faint, long shudder passed through the listening crowd. In the chancel
the priests bent forward and whispered to one another; but the preacher
went on speaking, and they held their peace.

"Therefore it is that I speak with you this day: I AM THAT I AM. For I
looked upon your weakness and your sorrow, and upon the little children
about your feet; and my heart was moved to compassion for their sake,
that they must die. Then I looked into my dear son's eyes; and I knew
that the Atonement of Blood was there. And I went my way, and left him
to his doom.

"This is the remission of sins. He died for you, and the darkness has
swallowed him up; he is dead, and there is no resurrection; he is dead,
and I have no son. Oh, my boy, my boy!"

The Cardinal's voice broke in a long, wailing cry; and the voices of the
terrified people answered it like an ech