Julio bowed affirmatively.

"Ah!" exclaimed Geronimo, "if I cannot save your body from death, at least

let me keep your soul from eternal torments. Oh! if I could thus repay the

debt of gratitude I owe you! Julio, were God to prolong your life, would

you renounce evil and return courageously and sincerely to the path of

duty and virtue? You say yes? You implore God's mercy, do you not? You

have confidence in the inexhaustible treasure of his goodness? Then,

Julio, raise your dying eyes to heaven, direct your last thoughts to Him

who is the source of all mercy, and with full confidence let your soul

wing its flight to the supreme tribunal. Already from the highest heaven

God absolves the repentant sinner!"

A triumphant hope illumined the countenance of Julio as he endeavored to

raise his eyes to heaven.

"Saved--his soul is saved!" exclaimed Geronimo, transported with a pious

joy.

A slight convulsion passed over the limbs of Julio, his muscles became

paralyzed, his head fell heavily on Geronimo's shoulder, and drawing his

last breath, he murmured, almost unintelligibly: "Mercy! O my God!"

"He is dead!" said Geronimo. "May thy soul receive my fraternal embrace in

its passage to eternity! May this mark of reconciliation weigh in the

balance of eternal justice!"

He bent over the dead; but as if contact with the corpse had deprived him

of his little remaining strength, he fell as it were lifeless. Not a limb

moved, his arms dropped motionless, his eyes closed, it seemed that his

soul had also taken its flight to heaven to accompany the soul of Julio

before God's judgment seat.




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