midnight
If I could die now ... '' Faint and far the words rose out of the stillness : Nearer , my God , to Thee , Nearer to Thee , E'en though it be a cross That raiseth me . With the closing of the hymn another soul passed to its rest , and they that had been one in life were not sundered in death . The sisters , mourning and rejoicing , said : `` How blessed it was that she never knew ! '' At midnight they sat together , grieving , and the angel of the Lord appeared in the midst transfigured with a radiance not of earth ; and speaking , said : `` For liars a place is appointed . There they burn in the fires of hell from everlasting unto everlasting . Repent ! '' The bereaved fell upon their knees before him and clasped their hands and bowed their gray heads , adoring .