Is There No Reality in Penitence?

Hester prynne looked into his face, hesitated to speak, yet uttering his long restrained emotion so vehemently as he did. She conquered her fears and spoke such a friend as thou hast even now wished you, said, she with whom to weep over thy sin. The clergyman replied: I have had enough of penitence. There has been none else. Had i one friend, or were it my worst enemy, methinks my soul might keep itself alive thereby even thus much of truth would save me. But now it is all falsehood, all emptiness, all death.