"Perhaps you are one of those who do not believe in the punishment of
sin?"

"Who can disbelieve it, Mrs. Mostyn? Call it what we like, it is a fact.
It confronts us on every side. We might as well refuse to believe in
death."

"It is not that I meant! I was talking of punishment in the next world,
Mr. Lyndsay."

"Well, there, too, no doubt it must continue, until the uttermost
farthing is paid. I believe--at least I hope--that."

She shook her head with a troubled expression.

"There is no paying that debt in the next world. It can only be paid
here. Here, a free pardon is offered to us, and if we do not accept it,
then---- It is the fashion, even among believers, nowadays to avoid this
awful subject. Preachers of the Gospel do not speak of it in the pulpit
as they once did. It is considered too shocking for our modern notions.
I have no patience with such weakness, such folly--worse than folly. It
seems to me even more wrong to try and hide this terrible danger from
ourselves and from others than to deny it altogether, as some poor
deluded souls do. Mr. Lyndsay, have you ever realised what the place of
torment will be like?"

"Yes; once, Mrs. Mostyn."

"You were in pain?"