"No, no, Julia," she said, "you must not run away from me thus. I want to be your friend, if you will let me."
"I cannot!" cried Julia. "I am not fit to be your friend. Oh, if you only knew how bad I am!"
And, overcome with emotion, Julia sank on to the bench, and again began to sob.
"Dear Julia, if you are a sinner, I am one also," said Ellen. "And the Saviour who has forgiven my sins, will forgive yours, if you will only ask Him."
"Oh, Ellen, is it true?" cried Julia, a ray of hope passing over her countenance. "Is it all true that the preacher said—'As many as touched Him'? Can I go to Him? Can I touch Him?"
"Yes, it is true, quite true," Ellen assured her. "The Lord Jesus will receive you lovingly, and heal your sins. But here comes Jerry; he will tell you better than I can. You did not know that the preacher was my brother Jerry."
And now Jerry added his words to Ellen's, and encouraged Julia to seek the Great Physician, who now, as in the days of His flesh, "receiveth sinners."
It was long before she could believe that, wretched and sin-stained though she was, Jesus would not disdain to hear her cry. But at last, faith conquered fear; and bowed beneath the burden of her sin, yet trusting in the Saviour's love for forgiveness, like the penitent woman in the house of Simon, she knelt at Jesus' feet, bathing them with her tears, and was comforted by hearing from His lips the words, "Thy sins are forgiven thee; go in peace."
She knew that in this life she must ever bear the scar of her sins, but their smart was healed, and in her case also was the saying true, "As many as touched Him were made whole."
Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London.