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"Yet God can open the doors even as He did for Peter," he said sole his eyes on the blue sky For a entle voice took up the story, as if telling it over to himself

"I was not always of the black robe; only six years since I wore the blue and gold of a soldier of France in the dragoon regiood fa But let that pass We were stationed at Saint-Rienes, in the south country, as fair a spot, Monsieur, as this world holds, yet strangely inhabited by those discontented under the faith of Holy Church But we rode rough shod over all such in those days, for it was the will of the King to crush out heresy 'Tis a pleasure to see the shrinking of a heretic before the wrath of God Yet this tale has little to do with this service, however I love to dwell upon it As I said, ere quartered in garrison at Saint-Rienes, and it was there I first irl wife of a Captain in His Majesty's Guard She was a creature of beauty, Monsieur, with clear cheeks, lips of the rose, and great trustful eyes I was but a boy then, she not e of the world and of men which enabled her to make poor, blinded fool--her helpless slave for evil Merciful Mary! how I did worship her! To el; divinity lurked in her smile and found utterance upon her lips I could have died at her word, happy to knoas her pleasure Yet, as I kno, all the love- between us was no ht to ah a dull season No, not quite all, for back of her smiles lurked a purpose so dark, so diabolical, 'twas not strange I failed to fatho wohts lurk behind eyes soft with love and lips breathing tenderness Yet behind the outer angel of Marie Fousard there was a devil incarnate I was blind, crazed, helpless to resist an evil I failed to perceive I loved her; in that passion all else was lost She had confessed love for me; in that was all the heaven I desired Little by little she fanned within my heart a hatred for the man whose wife she was, my comrade in ar, the lies, the upbraidings which turnedhim ever to s are told with tears, when every sob rings in the ears as though crying for vengeance I listened, believing it all, until deep in my heart hate was born Once she showed me her shoulder, the white flesh discolored as if by a bloearing that he did it The sight maddenedinnot what happened, so I killed him What boots now the insult offered which forced him to the field? I can see his face yet, full of wonder atmy very sanity; yet I saw only her and that bruised shoulder I would kill hi down reht but her? It was a duel, fairly fought, and I was safe from censure God! in that hour it never came to me that it was foul murder; that I had stricken down an innocent man at the word of a harlot"