The Man stood there, tears on his face—and yet, as Rachel looked . . .

She recalled his coming into the room, how she fell at his feet and besought him to give her back her darling, and all that followed.

What did it all mean?

It mingled with her entire sense of life’s mysteries, this thing called death. What was it he had said?

Would she and Rollin lose all their faith in a heavenly Father unless Eloise were brought to life? Did their faith in him rest upon his answer to his one petition, or did it rest upon something more vital and fundamental? If he were to say he did not use his power to bring the child to life on account of reasons they could not now understand, would they curse God and die? Or would they accept even death as a part of human life, and go on to live their lives even more strongly and beautifully on account of it? One thing he could promise: that no cloud of doubt would ever obscure their vision of Eloise alive and happy in a world far above this one in joy and beauty. They would always be assured of that.

And there were other words spoken which blended into all the rest that had transpired in Rachel’s heart and mind. But the main thing, the sharp, distinct fact, remained: Eloise, her child, was dead. Jesus had not brought her back to life. Why? Was he then not real? Was he not Jesus after all?

But no, Rachel found that, even in that most heartbreaking moment of all funerals, when the coffin holding what she held dearest was sinking down into the ground—even at that moment, as she looked up at him, she did not doubt Jesus was there, by her side. She believed in him. Her faith was triumphant.

The tears had come to her relief. Through them she saw her friends, her husband, with whom she was passing through their first great sorrow, and irresistibly, again and again, she returned her gaze to him—yes, to him who, for some good reason, had denied her heartbreaking appeal and had not performed a miracle for her sake.

When the service at the cemetery was all over, and Rachel, Virginia, Rollin, Dr. West, and Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell had gone together to Rollin’s, Jesus was not there. Mr. Maxwell did not know where he was, and his mind was in a tumult over his sudden disappearance. But to his amazement, and the wonder of Rollin and all the rest, Rachel seemed to understand, and her whole bearing was that of calm and even joyful confidence.

She held the boy Frank in her lap as she said to Mr. Maxwell, “I do not have any doubt of his character, his person, or his wisdom. My heart is at rest for Eloise. Do not fear for me. My mind was distracted; Jesus has comforted me. I begin to see how it is possible for some things to surpass even death and its blows. Yes, I believe in him wholly. Eloise is alive and happy. I asked him to give her back to me alive. He is doing more than that. He is making me certain that she is alive, in a better world than this.”