I 've ruined people body and soul -- I 've broken hearts and poisoned homes -- I 'm worse than a murderess . No -- no -- no , there 's no hope for me . '' Her voice rose again into that shrill , intolerable shriek . `` I 've got to go to hell . It ai n't so much the fire I 'm skeered of as the outer darkness . I 've always been so skeered of darkness -- it 's so full of awful things and thoughts . Oh , there ai n't nobody to help me ! Man ai n't no good and I 'm too skeered of God . '' She wrung her hands . Mr. Leonard walked up and down the room in the keenest anguish of spirit he had ever known . What could he do ? What could he say ? There was healing and peace in his religion for this woman as for all others , but he could express it in no language which this tortured soul could understand . He looked at her writhing face ; he looked at the idiot girl chuckling to herself at the foot of the bed ; he looked through the open door to the remote , starlit night -- and a horrible sense of utter helplessness overcame him . He could do nothing -- nothing ! In all his life he had never known such bitterness of soul as the realization brought home to him . `` What is the good of you if you ca n't help me ? '' moaned the dying woman . `` Pray -- pray -- pray ! '' she shrilled suddenly .
Mr. XXXXX dropped on his knees by the bed .
God Leonard fire murderess night others peace poisoned religion things