y of Heaven, but he
escaped. However, she remembered his appearance, and was able to
describe him to her followers.

"He is no other," she said, "than Father John of Cronstadt who,
although a great worker of miracles, is in fact an evil genius in the
service of Satan."

And all her hearers rejoiced, and paid homage to Helen's clairvoyant
powers. Their enthusiastic adulation, together with the conviction of
the love Christ bore her, threw the good sister into a frenzy of
intense excitement, until she, who formerly had only desired to
ameliorate the lot of mankind, suddenly perceived in herself an
incarnation of the divine. But she sought, nevertheless, to resist the
idea, and said to her followers, "I am only a poor daughter of the
Lord, and He has chosen me to spread the truth about His sufferings,
and to proclaim the great punishment of mankind--the end of the world."

She spoke with such emotion that her hearers, visualising the agony to
come, shed tears abundantly, and prayed and fasted. But now the
prophetess had another vision, for on the night before Good Friday
Christ Himself appeared to her.

"Weep not, _Helenouchka_ (little Helen)," He said. "The end of the
world approaches for the wicked, and for those who knew Me not--the
pagans, Jews, and priests. But you, my faithful Bride, shall be saved,
and all who follow you. On the day when the world is darkened and all
things crumble into ruins, the true kingdom of God shall dawn for the
beloved children of heaven."

Another time Helen was overcome with joy because her heavenly Spouse
visited her by night.

"Dost thou not see," said the divine Lover, "with what brilliance the
sun is shining, how the flowers are opening, and every face is
illumined with joy? These are the 'last rays' bidding farewell to
life. But thou, Helen, shalt peacefully enjoy the raptures of love.
On the appointed day thy celestial Spouse, accompanied by His angels,
shall come to rescue thee, and thou shalt dwell with Him three hundred
years."

One of the priests who had adopted Helen's religion composed numerous
hymns in her honour, and these were chanted in chorus by the believers.
The opening line of one which was sung to greet her when she awoke each
morning, ran as follows: "Rejoice, Saint Helen, fair Bride of Christ,
rejoice!"

Poor Saint Helen! She was not allowed to enjoy her heavenly idyll for
long. Just when the new religion promised consolation to so many, the
be