Meanwhile she exults that my human wife plunged herself and me in despair, and has borne me a countless race of miserables; but my Eve repented, and is now beautiful as never was woman or angel, while her groaning, travailing world is the nursery of our Father's children.

I too have repented, and am blessed .-- Thou, Lilith, hast not yet repented; but thou must .-- Tell me, is the great Shadow beautiful?
Knowest thou how long thou wilt thyself remain beautiful ?--Answer me, if thou knowest." Then at last I understood that Mr.Raven was indeed Adam, the old and the new man; and that his wife, ministering in the house of the dead, was Eve, the mother of us all, the lady of the New Jerusalem.
The leopardess reared; the flickering and fleeing of her spots began; the princess at length stood radiant in her perfect shape.
"I AM beautiful--and immortal!" she said--and she looked the goddess she would be.
"As a bush that burns, and is consumed," answered he who had been her husband.

"-- What is that under thy right hand ?" For her arm lay across her bosom, and her hand was pressed to her side.
A swift pang contorted her beautiful face, and passed.
"It is but a leopard-spot that lingers! it will quickly follow those I have dismissed," she answered.
"Thou art beautiful because God created thee, but thou art the slave of sin: take thy hand from thy side." Her hand sank away, and as it dropt she looked him in the eyes with a quailing fierceness that had in it no surrender.
He gazed a moment at the spot.
"It is not on the leopard; it is in the woman!" he said.

"Nor will it leave thee until it hath eaten to thy heart, and thy beauty hath flowed from thee through the open wound!" She gave a glance downward, and shivered.
"Lilith," said Adam, and his tone had changed to a tender beseeching, "hear me, and repent, and He who made thee will cleanse thee!" Her hand returned quivering to her side.

Her face grew dark.