too, saw the change
that had come over her since he had left the room to get the simple
remedies, and forgetting all about the things he was carrying, opened
his hands and stretched them out toward her, and would have fallen had
not Pierre caught him and led him over to the bed.

"Wife, wife!" he cried; but the quiet expression of her face did not
change.

The sight of his father's sorrow recalled Pierre out of the dazed
condition into which he had fallen.

"She is dead, father," he whispered falteringly.

"No, no, Pierre, she has only fainted!" he shouted fiercely. "You do
not know what death is. Quick, Pierre; quick, son, bring me the
medicine, the hot water; quick, quick, the--the--"

Poor old Baptiste! he could go no further. He ceased rubbing her
hands, staggered over to Pierre, who was standing with averted face in
the middle of the room, buried his head in his bosom and said
brokenly:

"No, Pierre, don't go for the medicine, nor for the water, nor for
anything now, for what you said is true. _Mon Dieu_, true, too true!"
And Pierre, erring Pierre, folded his arms around his father and tried
to comfort him like one would a sorrowing child. It was while his arms
were yet around him that her eyes slowly opened, and she saw the
precious sight. The dying embers of life, which so often flash up
before they expire forever, were burning in her now.

"Pierre, _mon garcon_; Baptiste, husband," she whispered.

For a moment they hesitated as though one from the dead had spoken to
them, then with glad cries they hurried to her side. With infinite
tenderness Pierre put his strong arms around her and bent his head to
catch the last words her lips would ever form. Baptiste, prayer-beads
in hand, knelt by his son's side, saying prayers for the dying.

"My son; my Pierre."

"Mother!"

"Oh, I am so happy that I released you from the spell the evil one
threw over you. For my sake, Pierre, return to the Church and be
forgiven."

"Before the sun sets, mother, I will go to confession and partake of
the blessed sacrament; and I will cease my evil ways and be a son to
my father. It was so noble of you, mother, to release me from the
spell as you did."

He would rather have had his tongue cut out than to let her know that
the great sacrifice she had made for him had been a sad, sad mistake.

And now the end was very near. "Baptiste?" she asked faintly.

He laid her in his father's arms and turned away. He did not hear