est the child slip away from
him; but she smiled at his fears.

"'I can never leave you while you want me,' she answered; 'beside, I do not
wish to, for I love you. Do you forget that?'

"At this the man lay down quite peacefully. His heart was full and soft,
and the strange water that filled his eyes overflowed upon his cheeks.

"In the morning they ate fruits and berries, and pursued their journey, and
it was not long before another of the obstacles which the roc and the
hermit had foretold threatened to end their pilgrimage. It was a chasm that
fell away so steeply and was so deep and wide that, looking into the depths
below, the man shuddered and started back. Before he had time to utter his
dismay, a large mountain deer appeared noiselessly before the travelers.
The man started eagerly, but as the creature's bright, wild gaze met his,
it vanished as silently and swiftly as it had come.

"'Ah, why was that?' exclaimed Purity. 'Felt you an unloving thought?'

"''Twas a fine deer. Had I but possessed a bow and arrow, I could have
taken it!' returned the man, with excitement.

"'To what end?' asked Purity, her wondering eyes sad. 'One does not gain
the Heavenly Country by slaying. We must wait now, until Love drives out
all else.'

"The repentant man hung his head and looked at the broad chasm. 'Would that
I had not willed to kill the creature,' he said, 'for I am loath to lose my
own life, and it is less good than the deer's.'

"Purity smiled upon him and slid her hand into his, and again the deer
bounded before them, followed this time by its mate.

"The child fondled them. 'Mount upon its back,' she said to the man,
indicating the larger animal. He obeyed, though with trembling, while the
smaller deer kneeled to the child and she took her seat.

"Then the creatures planted their feet unerringly and stepped to a lower
jutting point of rock, from whence with flying leaps they bridged the chasm
and scrambled to firm earth on the other side.

"'Our hearts' best thanks, loved ones,' said Purity, as the deer bounded
away.

"The man was trembling. 'I have slain many of God's creatures for my
pleasure,' he faltered. 'May He forgive me!'

"'If you do so no more you will forgive yourself; but only so,' returned
Purity.

"They moved along again and the man spoke earnestly and humbly of the
wonders that had befallen them.

"'To Love, all things are possible,' returned the child; 'but to Love
only;' and her com