"God hath said it; His Word is true, though all the world should deny it!" cried Robin boldly. "But," he added gravely, "the promise is to those who walk in the light, and have fellowship one with another."
"What is it to 'walk in the light'?" asked Ali.
"To walk with God, love Him and His people," replied the Knight of St. John.
"Perhaps you do so," said Ali, gloomily; "but there are some who neither can nor will so walk in the light. And there are stains which no blood could remove, even were your religion a true one."
"I know not of any such stains," quoth 'Robin.
"Suppose now—just suppose—that a murderer sought pardon from God, could he find it?" asked the Amir.
"David, who committed murder, found grace," replied Robin. "He repented, and though he was punished on earth, we know that he was washed white in atoning blood."
"There you are wrong," said Ali, quickly; "Hasrat David died long before your Prophet was born."
"But not before He existed," said Robin; and reverentially, he added, "Christ's sacrifice was for all the world; it saved believers who lived before His first coming, as well as those who now live before His second coming. The light from the Cross shines all around, behind as well as before."
"You think that even murderers may be saved," said Ali; "but there are different degrees of murder. A man slays his foe in open fight—that is fair; or by stratagem—perhaps stealing on him in his sleep. There may, as you say, be forgiveness for that."