1. A tale told in moving pictures
under the direction of VICTOR SJÖSTRÖM
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2. At the camera - J. JULIUS
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3. Once there was a poor
Salvation Army sister at death's door.
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4. She'd been stricken
with galloping consumption
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5. and had only held out
for the space of a year.
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6. When there was no hope left,
she'd gone home to her mother.
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7. Waiting at the foot of her bed
was another Salvation Army sister
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8. who had worked
alongside the sick girl.
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9. "Don't fret over
those poor souls now, Sister Edit.
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10. You've done enough for them."
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11. "Send for David Holm!"
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12. "Please don't!
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13. My daughter was yours
as long as she had a spark of life.
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14. Now that she's dying,
let me have her to myself."
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15. "Sister Maria,
why don't you do as I ask?
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16. Send for David Holm!"
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17. "I shall go find him at once."
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18. "You can't be serious!
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19. Asking David Holm
to attend to a dying person!"
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20. "I wasn't able to find him,
but Gustavsson is Iooking too.
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21. He'll bring him here
if it's at all possible."
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22. "Poor Mrs. Holm!"
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23. "I'll take her back home.
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24. It wouldn't do for her husband
to see her if he should come here."
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25. The evening on which these events
took place was no ordinary evening.
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26. It was New Year's Eve.
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27. "Well, we'll certainly know
when it's time to toast the New Year."
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28. "It's a spooky place to wait for midnight,
here among the dead."
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29. "You gentlemen aren't afraid
of ghosts, I hope?"
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30. "Then I'd like to tell you a story
while we wait for the midnight hour."
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31. "I once had a pal named Georges,
who was generally a jolly fellow."
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32. "He came from a good family
and had studied at Uppsala University,
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33. so he knew a bit more
than the rest of us."
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34. "But a change would come over him
on New Year's Eve."
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35. "Remember that it's New Year's Eve,
the last day of the year!"
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36. "Whoever dies on this eve
must drive Death's carriage."
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37. "There is an old, old carriage..."
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38. "It is no ordinary driver
who holds the reins,
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39. for he's in the service
of a strict master named Death."
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40. "For him, a single night
is as long as 100 years on Earth.
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41. Night and day he must carry out
his master's business."
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42. END OF PART 1
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43. PART 2
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44. "Wherever he goes, he's greeted
with sorrow and despair."
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45. "There is no escape.
He must perform his forlorn duty."
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46. "Though horse and carriage are
always the same, the driver is not."
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47. "The last soul to die each year -
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48. the one who passes over
at the stroke of midnight -
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49. is destined to be Death's driver
for the following year."
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50. "Now you know why I'm afraid
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51. of something fatal happening
to me on New Year's Eve."
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52. "And the odd thing is, you see,
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53. that Georges apparently died
last New Year's Eve."
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54. "Why hasn't Gustavsson
arrived with David Holm?"
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55. "Come with me, David Holm!
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56. Sister Edit is dying,
and she has asked for you."
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57. "If Sister Edit wants to see you,
you must go to her at once!"
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58. "David, I can't believe it's you!
It is you who is to relieve me!"
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59. "You should take me to the hospital
in your carriage as quickly as you can."
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60. "No Iiving soul rides in that carriage.
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61. By the time I arrive,
it's too late for a doctor."
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62. "You know full well that
I am no longer among the Iiving."
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63. "But worst of all,
you must face the consequences
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64. of the evil you have wrought
during your Iifetime."
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65. "David, do you think I'm unaware
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66. that it's my fault
you've met such an end?"
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67. "If you hadn't fallen in with me,
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68. you'd have led a good life
with your wife, children, and brother."
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69. "By tomorrow you will have served
your time for drunken behavior.
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70. But before you leave,
a harsher punishment awaits you."
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71. "Behold your brother.
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72. While you were here,
he killed a man while intoxicated,
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73. and now a long prison term awaits."
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74. "But we feel that you ought
to serve the sentence in his place,
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75. since you and you alone
led him astray and made him a killer."
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76. "Does this not make you want to turn
from your wicked ways, David Holm?"
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77. "Yes! Only now
do I realize how it feels
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78. to have brought great misery
upon a Ioved one."
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79. "What about your wife and children?"
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80. "Now I know how miserable they've been,
but I will turn over a new Ieaf.
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81. They need never
despair of me again."
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82. END OF PART 2
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83. PART 3
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84. "No, she's not ill.
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85. She was well enough
the other day when she left."
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86. "And here I thought
I'd come home to her with such joy!"
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87. "If she had gone openly,
I would have understood.
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88. But to slink off like that, to let me
come home to an empty house -
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89. that was heartless!"
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90. "I'll wipe those smiles
off your faces.
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91. I'll find her
and show her how it feels
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92. when your heart freezes
to its very core, like mine has now!"
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93. "I'll refrain from reminding you
of your search for your wife,
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94. during which your feelings of hatred
and revenge grew ever stronger."
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95. "I will take you to a time a year ago,
to last New Year's Eve,
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96. when you came to this town,
bringing such misfortune in your wake."
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97. "A Salvation Army station
had been set up here in town,
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98. and it was ready for use
on New Year's Eve."
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99. "Keep your food!
I just want to sleep."
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100. "Leave it alone!
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101. It may be full of germs,
and our sterilizing oven isn't working yet."
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102. "Don't you realize, Maria,
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103. how happy I am to help
the first guest God has sent us?"
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104. "Please go to bed.
It's been a busy day.
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105. Let me attend to this."
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106. "Dear Jesus, let our first guest
be blessed with a happy year."
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107. All night long
she bent over the coat,
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108. never giving a thought
to the germs and filth she inhaled.
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109. By the time she went to bed,
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110. the icy chill of winter
had thoroughly filled the room.
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111. "Was it you
who mended my coat?"
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112. "Would you mind
calling the person who did this?"
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113. "It's a shame you went
to all that trouble, miss,
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114. but I'm used to having it like this."
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115. "Before you leave, I'd like to ask you
to visit me again next New Year's Eve."
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116. "You see, I prayed that our first guest
would have a good year,
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117. and I'd like to know
if my prayer was answered."
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118. "Oh, I'll be here.
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119. I'll come show you God didn't give
a fig for you or your twaddle."
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120. "The time has come to honor that promise
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121. before you take over here.
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122. From you she contracted the disease
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123. that put her on her deathbed,
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124. and now she awaits your visit."
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125. "You possessed all that is
most wonderful, but you lost it!
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126. You cannot avoid the torment of remorse,
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127. just as you cannot escape taking over
as Death's driver for a year."
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128. "Captive, come forth from thy prison!"
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129. "Ye spirit that left thy body
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130. at the stroke of midnight,
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131. thou wilt relieve me of my office.
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132. For a year thou wilt set souls free
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133. from the earthly realm."
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134. END OF PART 3
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135. PART 4
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136. "It is Death,
but he has come too soon."
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137. "You see
that I'm not afraid of you.
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138. I will gladly heed your summons,
but grant me a day's reprieve,
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139. for there is someone
I must talk sense into."
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140. "You do not know what terrible
misfortune I have caused.
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141. I cannot approach the Lord
until I have set it right."
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142. "The person I'm waiting for
is the man I love.
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143. Do you understand?
The man I love!"
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144. "I would grant you that reprieve
if it would avail you.
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145. But you have
no power over this man!"
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146. "Believing he was good,
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147. you've tried to make him mend his ways,
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148. but your hopes have been dashed
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149. time and time again."
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150. "It was you who enticed him
away from his home and work!
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151. You made him the drunkard he is!"
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152. "Don't let yourself
be dragged under!"
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153. "Run along and be saved,
and I'll be sure to come watch!"
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154. "Why turn away so carefully?
I'm a consumptive myself,
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155. but I cough in people's faces
in hopes of finishing them off.
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156. Why should they be
better off than us?"
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157. "He's merely amusing himself.
He's not as wicked as he pretends to be."
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158. "How can you be filled with such
bitter hatred for your fellow man?"
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159. "You needn't worry about that.
I'll be leaving town in a few days."
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160. "No, you mustn't do that!"
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161. "I would rather you stayed
so I may challenge you again."
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162. "Tempting as that may be,
I still can't stay."
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163. "You see, Iittle missy,
I'm on a journey throughout Sweden
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164. in search of someone
I must find at all costs."
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165. "Who is this person you seek?"
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166. "You'll know that
when I find the person in question!"
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167. "I am the one
David Holm is Iooking for."
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168. "I am his wife."
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169. "I couldn't endure
the life he was Ieading.
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170. I deserted him.
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171. I took my children
and crept away in secret."
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172. "I moved to this town,
for it was so far from our old home
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173. that I never expected him
to come Iooking for me here."
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174. "You must take him back!
It's his only hope!"
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175. "I didn't mean you must
make up your mind on the spot.
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176. Only promise you'll listen to your heart,
and let us talk again Iater."
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177. She had gotten
the better of herself
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178. and asked for none of the things
that belonged to this world.
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179. "Just come with me!
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180. A surprise awaits
that will make you happy."
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181. END OF PART 4
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182. PART 5
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183. She hoped to replant in good soil
the seed that had fallen among thorns.
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184. And she may well have succeeded
had it not been for...
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185. "The doctor says it's pneumonia.
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186. And her resistance is poor,
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187. for she's been in ill health
since last New Year's Eve."
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188. "Yes, that David Holm
has been her undoing.
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189. She worries so about the situation
between him and his wife,
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190. but she mustn't know the truth."
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191. "You might at least have the heart
to refrain from infecting the children!"
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192. "It wasn't so easy
to run away this time!"
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193. "Haven't you had your fill
of revenge, David?"
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194. "If only I hadn't brought them
together again.
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195. His sin would be of Iesser magnitude
were it not for me."
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196. "You must grant me a reprieve!
I cannot die yet!
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197. I must see him turn over a new Ieaf!
Just spare me a few minutes!"
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198. "You know I love him!
I've never Ioved him as I do today."
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199. "Captive, ye of Ioving heart,
come forth from thy prison!"
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200. "Come along.
We have no business here.
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201. Those who are to receive her
will arrive shortly."
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202. "You know, David, if I could
send a message to mankind,
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203. I would like to send them
a New Year's greeting."
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204. "I would like them to dwell
on a single New Year's prayer:
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205. "Lord, please let my soul come
to maturity before it is reaped."
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206. "Why are we here?
Surely no one here is going to die!"
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207. "No, I can't go on!
I can't go on!"
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208. "I'm sorry, but I must go away,
and I cannot leave them behind."
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209. "Please don't be angry with me.
It's not my fault."
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210. "This will do, David.
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211. It will suffice
for the children and myself."
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212. "Yes, David,
I see what's coming.
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213. I'm obliged to watch.
I will not shirk my duty."
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214. "You mustn't let this happen!
This mustn't come to pass!
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215. Don't let those poor,
innocent creatures die!"
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216. "I have no power over the Iiving."
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217. "Where should I turn?
Should I pray to God or to Christ?
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218. Who can tell me
where to direct my plea?"
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219. "I'm a poor, miserable sinner,
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220. and I beseech the Lord of life and death!
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221. I'm not worthy.
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222. I've broken your every commandment."
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223. "Condemn me to eternal darkness!
Let nothing remain of me!
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224. Do what you will to me, my Lord,
but spare the three of them!"
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225. "David, I see that I no longer
need grieve for you!"
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226. "Captive, return to thy prison!"
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227. "She didn't do it yet!
I made it in time!"
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228. "Sister Edit is dead.
I was at her side.
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229. I promised her I'd become
a good husband and father."
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230. "You're Iying!
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231. Sister Maria told me
you refused to go to her!"
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232. "Are you crying, David?"
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233. "No one believes I want to reform.
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234. I want to be good, but no one
believes me. Is it any wonder I cry?"
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235. "It's hard to believe, David.
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236. But I do believe you.
Your tears have convinced me."
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237. "I can't help crying too.
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238. I won't be truly happy
until all my sorrow is drained."
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239. "Lord, please let my soul
come to maturity before it is reaped."
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240. THE END
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