"I do not know," answered Owen, "and it troubles me not at all. I go to
carry out my mission, and in this way or in that it will be carried out.
John, if you are fearful or unbelieving leave me to go alone."

"Nay, father, I am not fearful; yet, father, I would have you
understand. Yonder there are men who can work wizardry. _Wow!_ I know,
for I have seen it, and they will demand from you magic greater than
their magic."

"What of it, John?"

"Only this, my father, that if they ask and you fail to give, they will
kill you. You teach beautiful things, but say, are you a wizard? When
the child of a woman yonder lay dead, you could not raise it as did the
Christ; when the oxen were sick with the pest, you could not cure them;
or at least, my father, you did not, although you wept for the child and
were sorry at the loss of the oxen. Now, my father, if perchance
they ask you to do such things as these yonder, or die, say what will
happen?"

"One of two things, John: either I shall die or I shall do the things."

"But"--hesitated John--"surely you do not believe that----" and he broke
off.

Owen turned round and looked at his disciple with kindling eyes. "I do
believe, O you of little faith!" he said. "I do believe that yonder I
have a mission, and that He Whom I serve will give me power to carry
out that mission. You are right, I can work no miracles; but He can work
miracles Whom everything in heaven and earth obeys, and if there is need