He Will Save Me From the Water — As I Lay Dying

One day we were talking, Cora remembers, long before the ford, while Addie still lived and Cora still believed she knew sin better than the woman sitting across from her. Cora preached that children are God's gift, that only the Lord can judge, and that Addie took grace too much for granted. Addie answered that her daily life was punishment and that she knew her own sin. Cora warned that judging salvation in God's place was vanity, even after Brother Whitfield wrestled with Addie's spirit at the camp meeting.

Then Cora named the sin she had always seen. Addie favored Jewel, who never loved her back, over Darl, who was touched by God and did love her. There is your sin, Cora said. Jewel is your punishment. Where is your salvation? Life is short enough to win eternal grace, she told Addie, and God is jealous of any rival.

Addie started to answer, stopped, then said he is my cross and he will be my salvation. He will save me from the water and from the fire. Even though I have laid down my life, he will save me. Cora first thought she meant God. Then I realized that she did not mean God, Cora says, and went down on her knees begging Addie to cast out vanity while Addie sat proud and would not kneel. Will Addie finally speak in her own voice and tell us what water and fire were always about?