"'Thy life shall pay for this arrogance, young man!' answered the priest. 'I have power and will exercise it.'
"'Not to the danger and wrong of this maiden, my Lord Annas, whom Jehovah will protect, since she has trustingly sought the sheltering wing of his altars,' answered my brother firmly. 'If thou continue to persecute her, I will appeal to the Procurator, Pontius Pilate, against thee.'
"The result was," continued Martha, "that the wicked priest, alarmed by the threat of appeal to Pilate, relinquished his present purpose and left them, breathing menaces against my brother. The same day Lazarus conducted the maiden, whom you already guess to be Rachel, to our house. She has since then been our guest, and has won all our hearts, as well as our dear brother's."
"Is there no hope for him?" I asked, after listening to her touching narrative.
"None; the physicians say that he will never rise again."
"There is one hope left," I said eagerly.
"What is that?" demanded Martha.
"Jesus!" I answered. "Send to him, O Martha, and he will yet save him, and raise him up to life and health."
I had no sooner spoken than Mary, who overheard me, uttered a cry of joy.
"Yes, Jesus has the power to heal him, and Jesus loves him! He will come and save him the moment he hears of his danger."