Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-06-04


Leading me on through innumer-
able arches we went on and on for a
long time. Then stopping suddenly.
Sec? he said. Behold thy soul'
was petrified with terror. One single
drop of oil remained in my lamp and
over it lowered an angel with coal
black wings who blew upon the flame
to make it burn out more quickly. /
was in mortal fear. and / was a cow
ard; yes | was a coward" said the
duke trembling violently.
Listen, Robert! listen! Beside my
lamp burned another with steady
and brilliant flame: q white winged
angel watched OYER the golden vessel.
The spirit of evil came and whisFSred
in my ear"
The old duke ceased. 1t seemed as
il he heard the Spirits voice at
that moment His eyes were blood
shot his hair stood on end with fright
and his teeth chartered. He contin-
ued in a hoarse voice:
The white winged angel looked at
me sadly, but the black kept whisper
ing in my ear. saw nothing, | would
see nothing. From the black angels
wing | plucked feather and dipping
it into the brilliant lamp l took the
oil out drop by drop and let it fall
into my own. My flame became bril-
liant and red as blood; the other grew
paler but retained its starry bright
ness Only one drop OF oil remained;
the white angel stretched forth his
wing TO stop me. but another with
wings cleaning like mother of pearl
and bearing golden sword came TO us
Let the man do his will! God will
Judge him. he said. Then l took the
last drop OF oil.
Then l was afraid. Whose lamp
is thisP' | asked. pointing to the
flame which was just on the point OF
going out And the voice replied:
1t is the soul OF thy beloved son. At
that moment the flame went out. The
white angel took the soul in its wings
and flew away with a cry OF grief;
but the spirit of evil responded with a
loud cry OF triumph.
Il awoke frozen stiff with horror
Two corpses were stretched out upon
the floor of my room. crushed almost
out OF human shape My son, notified
by his betrothed. had wished to pro-
tect her in her flight and the dreadful
trap which / had set for her had
killed them both. 1t was twenty
years ago"
The old man fell back in his
chair. the tears streaming down his
face.
'Stop!" he said to the negro. who
was tending the precious lamp
Feed the flame no more! l have
made my confession. now can die
but can God find pardon for meP"
At that moment the castle bell rang
loudly and the chants OF the church
were heard. The doors of the great
hall swung open. Through them was
seen the chapel OF the old manor blaz-
ing with lights and the Child Jesus
on His bed of straw seemed resplen-
dent with glory and pardon. The old
duke fell on his knees before the In
faat God. ',Manw SAID the voice of
tho priest Christ was born.
suffered died TO redeem the sins of
men. Thou hast sinned. thou hast
suffered. thou has repented; God
pardons thee May thy soul depart ia
peacew
Then the old man looked at the
golden lamp. and saw above 1t an
angel with white wings. and he
recognized him as the guardian of
the brilliant lamp. The angel smiled
on him sweetly, and taking up
the fickering light few off toward
heaven.
The Duke de Kerberzoff was dead.
Sarah Bernhard in the Cincinnati
Times-Star.