"Drink," said Geronimo, holding the pitcher to his lips; "the water will

cool the inflammation and refresh you."

Julio took the water.

"Thank you, signor; it is useless, the water does me no good."

"Take more, I beg you, Julio,--as much as you can."

Julio obeyed mechanically and nearly emptied the pitcher. His respiration

became very labored, and the sweat ran in big drops from his brow.

"Do you feel better, Julio?" asked the young man.

"A little better; the heat is not so burning."

"There is still hope!" exclaimed Geronimo, joyfully. "Take courage, Julio;

have confidence in the mercy of God. When all human aid fails us, then God

gives his omnipotent assistance."

"But," said Julio, "my heart beats so feebly, my limbs are benumbed.

Signor, I am dying. The poison is killing me."

"Die? Julio! You have delivered me from death, and shall I be powerless to

save you? What shall I do? O my God, what can I try?"

"Think no more of it, signor," said the dying man. "I feel that there is

no hope. Alas! I was partly the cause of your bitter sufferings: I pushed

you into the chair; I intended to kill you, the deliverer of my blind

mother! Take pity on me! Let not your just malediction follow my poor soul

into eternity. Pardon me, signor, pardon!"

"Speak not thus, Julio. But for you, that yawning grave would now cover my

corpse. Shall I refuse pardon to you who spared my life? No; I will pray

for you, I will give alms for the repose of your soul. Have confidence in

the goodness of God."

"Confidence?" said Julio, in a dying voice. "I shudder to think of the

judgment which awaits me. In this, my death agony, I see with frightful

clearness. I dare not hope in God's mercy. I have done nothing to merit

it. A dark veil is before my eyes."

The death-rattle was in his throat.

Geronimo passed his arm around his neck and raised his head, and seeing

Julio's eyes fixed upon him, he said, tenderly and fervently: "Julio, listen to me! You say you dare not hope in the mercy of God' Have

you forgotten that Jesus Christ shed his blood to redeem fallen man? Do

you not know that there is joy before the angels when a sinner, by sincere

repentance, escapes the eternal enemy of man and enters triumphant into

heaven? You repent, do you not? You sincerely repent?"




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