“God’s light—the light of knowledge—you have withheld from them. Woe be to you!
“You have taught them to beg, and to kiss the rod that smote them. You have cloaked the shame of alms-receiving, and have prated of honor in servitude.
“Thus have you humbled man, and disfigured the human soul....
“Of the love of the Father you have made commerce—a sinful merchandise. Not because you love virtue do you preach it, but because of the sweet profit. You promise deliverance to all who follow your counsel; but as well can you make a present of moon and stars.
“Are you not told to recompense evil with good? And is God less than man that He should do otherwise?
“It is well for you that He does not do otherwise, for where then were your salvation?
“For you, and you only, are the brood of vipers against whom is kindled the wrath of Him who was gentle with adulterers and murderers.”
While speaking, the man had risen to his full height, and he now appeared, to all there assembled, impressively tall.
When he had spoken, reaching his right hand backward he grasped the foot of the great golden crucifix. It snapped off like glass, and he threw it on the marble floor at the feet of the priest. The fragment broke into many bits. It was apparently not wood, but plaster.
“Sacrilege!” cried the priest, in a stifled voice, as if the sound were wrung from his throat. His eyes seemed to be starting out of his great purple face.