THE MASTER-CHRISTIAN

By MARIE CORELLI

AUTHOR OF

"Thelma," "Ardath," "Innocent," "The Treasure of Heaven," etc.




TO ALL THOSE CHURCHES WHO QUARREL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

The Master-Christian.

I.

All the bells were ringing the Angelus. The sun was sinking;--and
from the many quaint and beautiful grey towers which crown the
ancient city of Rouen, the sacred chime pealed forth melodiously,
floating with sweet and variable tone far up into the warm autumnal
air. Market women returning to their cottage homes after a long
day's chaffering disposal of their fruit, vegetable, and flower-
wares in the town, paused in their slow trudge along the dusty road
and crossed themselves devoutly,--a bargeman, lazily gliding down
the river on his flat unwieldly craft, took his pipe from his mouth,
lifted his cap mechanically, and muttered more from habit than
reflection--"Sainte Marie, Mere de Dieu, priez pour nous!"--and some
children running out of school, came to a sudden standstill,
listening and glancing at each other, as though silently questioning