Not accident, but a high design had been hidden in this incident--a design in which Self had been transformed to Selflessness, and loneliness to love.

"I should like to believe in God--if I could!" This he had said to his friend Vesey, on the last night he had seen him.

And now--did he believe?
Yes!--for he had benefited by his first experience of what a truly God-like love may be--the love of a perfectly unselfish, tender, devout woman who, for no motive at all, but simply out of pure goodness and compassion for sorrow and suffering, had rescued one whom she judged to be in need of help.

If therefore God could make one poor woman so divinely forbearing and gentle, it was certain that He, from whom all Love must emanate, was yet more merciful than the most merciful woman, as well as stronger than the strongest man.

And he believed--believed implicitly;--lifted to the height of a perfect faith by the help of a perfect love.