There was once, in a certain town, a man who was guilty of murder. He had been arrested for his crime, and was confined in prison, awaiting his trial. The evidence was strong against him, and the criminal would certainly have been condemned to death, had he been brought before the judge. But it was not to be so.

Now there happened to be a war going on at this time, in which this city was involved. Before long, it was attacked by the enemy and overtaken by their army. The enemy soldiers then began pillaging the city, robbing it of its valuables and setting its buildings on fire.

As a result, all of the prisoners in the jail were let loose, the murderer in question among them. When the criminal stepped out a free man, and saw that his former prison on fire, he gazed triumphantly at the devouring flames.

"Now," he said exultantly, "my enemies are all gone."

As he spoke however, a bystander, who knew the murder, overheard what he said and gravely corrected him, saying "Yet your most powerful enemy is not gone."

This surprised the criminal, who asked the man what he meant. The man then explained "Since you are guilty of murder, God is your enemy. He is more powerful than any human judge. You cannot possibly escape from Him. His officer, grim death, will surely apprehend you, and drag you before the tribunal of the Most High."

These solemn words made a profound impression on the murder. God’s merciful grace accompanied them, for a seed was planted in the criminal’s heart. This led him before long to the Sacrament of Penance, where he made his peace with God. Afterwards, he delivered himself up voluntarily to justice, in order to make emends for his crime. On account, however, of his self-accusation and public repentance, the just penalty of death was suspended, and the sentence that was passed on the contrite murder was, in the end, a very light one.