Mark put up his other hand and touched the bandage:
“Father!” he said, “Father!” and broke down “Father, I have sinned—” he said brokenly.
The minister's arm went lovingly up across the young man's shoulders:
“Son, have you told your heavenly Father that?” he asked gently.
“I've tried,” said Mark, “I'm not sure that He heard.”
“Oh, He heard,” said the minister with a ring of joy in his voice, “While you were a great way off He came to meet you, son.”
“You don't know yet,” said Mark lifting a white sad face—
“If you've told Him I'll trust you son. It's up to you whether you tell me or not.”
“It is your right to know, sir. I want you to know. I cannot rest again until you do.”
“Then tell.” The minister's hand folded down tenderly over the boy's, and so kneeling beside the couch Mark told his story: