sts
Of self-reproach familiarly assail'd."

Ringfield bared his head as the priest approached, standing with
lowered eyes and heaving breast. Father Rielle stopped short in wonder
as he noted the pale drawn face, the working hands, the averted eyes
and trembling lips.

"Can I do anything for you?" he cried in his excellent English.
"Monsieur is not well perhaps? This peculiar day, this air----"

"You are right. I am not well. I have been very ill, but that was
nothing, only illness of the body. Yes, there is one thing you can do
for me. Oh! man of God! What does it matter that I do not belong to
your communion? It must not matter, it shall not matter. Father
Rielle, I need your help very much, very, very much."

In still profounder astonishment the priest took a step forward.

"You are in trouble, trouble of the soul, some perplexity of the mind?
Tell me then how I can help?"

And Ringfield answered:--

"Father Rielle, I wish to confess to you. I wish you to hear a
confession."

"Oh! Monsieur, think! We are not of the same communion. You have
said so yourself. You would perhaps ridicule my holy office, my
beloved Church!"

"No, no! I am too much in earnest."

"You wish me to hear a confession, you, a minister of another religious
body not in sympathy with us, not a son of the only true Church? I do
not care to receive this confession, Monsieur."

Ringfield's hand pressed heavily on the priest's arm and his agonized
face came very close. Father Rielle's curiosity naturally ran high.

"Monsieur," he said nevertheless coldly, not choosing to display this
desire to know too suddenly, as there darted into his mind the image of
Miss Clairville, "it is true you have no right to demand absolution
from me, a priest of the Holy Catholic Church, it is true I have no
right to hear this confession and give or withhold absolution. Yet,
monsieur, setting dogma and ritual aside, we both believe in the same
Heavenly Father, in the same grand eternal hope. I will hear this
confession, my brother, _in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti_,
Amen. And may it bring peace to your soul."

There was a silence, and then Ringfield led the way to the little
church. Father Rielle, who had never been inside the finished edifice
before, although he had frequently walked through it while the builders
were at work, entered respectfully and crossed himself in the porch.

"Ah!" he whispered or rather breath