"I may deny His power to do so--I may deny Him."
"And so fall as Peter fell," said Lionel, sadly. "Yet he repented with bitter weeping."
"I am not a tearful woman," she retorted, and turned to look into the fire. She did not wish to meet his eyes when she spoke the ensuing acknowledgment. "You are a good man, Lionel, and--and--you may be able to help me."
Kaimes resumed his seat. "I hope so; but I can only point the way to a better Helper, and One more powerful."
She continued to gaze at the burning coals. "I was frightened a few minutes before you entered," she said abruptly.
"By what?"
"That is the question you must answer. By something which made me see what a horrid nature I have."
Lionel was silent for a few moments, not quite sure of his speech.
"The Unseen presses closely around us," he remarked at length, "and at times reveals itself. For instance, a contemplated sin may be prevented by a spiritual influence informing the intelligence how terrible the consequences of such a sin may be."
"It was the sin itself rather than its consequence which frightened me," murmured Leah, so softly that Lionel caught but one word.