hard-hearted and covetous hostess, who had brought her before the judge,
and so into prison. What an abyss of the deepest anguish of soul I could
discover in this woman, who was worthy of a better lot! What is highest
and best in a woman? Her love, her mother's heart, her honor; and
Magdalen had squandered and ruined all these by her own guilt. The blow
of overwhelming fate may be easily borne, but woe to him, whose life is
ruined by his own sin! She was a sinner, she felt it with anguish of
repentance, and she steadily refused my offers to purchase her freedom.

"She was greedy of punishment, as a man in a fever is greedy of the
bitter potion, which cools his blood. And, by the crucified Lord! I
have found more noble humanity among sinners, than in many just men in
priestly garb. Through the presence of Magdalen, the prison recovered
its sanctity in my eyes. Before this I had frequently quitted it full of
deep contempt, for among the imprisoned Christians, there were too often
lazy vagabond's, who had loudly confessed the Saviour only to be fed by
the gifts of the brethren; there I had seen accursed criminals, who hoped
by a martyr's death to win back the redemption that they had forfeited;
there I had heard the woeful cries of the faint-hearted, who feared death
as much as they feared treason to the most High. There were things to be
seen there that might harrow the soul, but also examples of the sublimest
greatness. Men have I seen there, aye, and women, who went to their
death in calm and silent bliss, and whose end was, indeed, noble--more
noble than that of the much-lauded Codrus or Decius Mus.

"Among all the prisoners there was neither man nor woman who was more
calmly self-possessed, more devoutly resigned, than Magdalen. The words,
'There is more joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth than over
ninety and nine that need no repentance,' strengthened her greatly, and
she repented--yea and verily, she did. And for my part, God is my