Then I saw a strange-looking man who, as far as I could judge, might be any age between fifty and seventy. I looked at him steadily for some time. Somehow his face seemed familiar. I could not call to mind where I had seen it, however. He had a long gray beard, while his hair was also long and unkempt. His eyes shone with a wild brilliancy, and he seemed to be always eagerly watching.
"Thank you for helping me," I said; "it was very good of you."
"Was it?" he replied. "Do you really think it was good of me?"
"It was, indeed," I responded. "I wish I could repay you somehow. Some time I hope to have the power."
He looked at me eagerly.
"I'm glad you think it was good of me," he said; "so very glad. Will you tell me something?"
"If I can I will," I replied.
"Do you think it possible that many good deeds—many, many, many—can atone for wild, bad, murderous actions?"
"God takes everything into account," I replied.