He perceived that she had no doubts of his sincerity, and rallying from the thrust she had so unconsciously given him, went on with the rôle he had laid down for himself.
"I fear I am one of the wise ones you speak of, for I confess I do not see the way yet. Can you not explain it more fully?"
"I will try," she said. "You believe that you are a sinner deserving of God's wrath?"
"Yes."
"You have broken His law, and His justice demands your punishment; but Jesus has kept its requirements, and borne its penalty in your stead, and now offers you his righteousness and salvation as a free gift,—'without money and without price.'"
"But what am I to do?"
"Simply take the offered gift."
"But how? I fear I must seem very obtuse, but I really do not comprehend."
"Then ask for the teachings of the Spirit; ask Jesus to give you repentance and faith. 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."
Elsie's voice was low and pleading, her tones were tremulous with earnest entreaty, the eyes she lifted to his face were half filled with tears; for she felt that the eternal interests of her hearer were trembling in the balance.