Mr World and Miss Church-Member | Page 7

number of Mr. World's friends quickly rallied and
complimented Miss Church-Member on the good she had already done.
"Mr. World is a better man since he has known you," said one. "If you
will continue walking with him on his own level, no one can estimate
the amount of good you will yet do for him," hopefully spoke another.
These unexpected testimonies aroused anew her missionary spirit and
changed her thoughts to these yielding sentences:
"No sacrifice is too great, if victory but comes at last. If there is hope
that Mr. World will cease deceiving me and walk in the path of truth, I

will consent to be his companion still a little farther."
"There is every hope of that," smilingly returned Mr. World as he
suavely bowed to her and to the little group of companions who had
given him such timely help.
As I saw Mr. World and Miss Church-Member moving on, in closer
fellowship than ever, I waxed warm with indignation, and addressed
Blackana who was still lying at my side as motionless as the strata of
the rock-ribbed earth:
"Will you explain to me this folly of Miss Church-Member, who has
not only disgraced her cause before the fiendish Mr. World, but who
also continues with him in such unseemly intimacy?"
"Miss Church-Member is not walking in folly. She is engaged in a
noble work, endeavoring to elevate Mr. World to a higher Christian
life," was the answer from the lips of Blackana in a low, heavy voice.
"Ah," said I, with a feeling of suspicion, "she is shining from the wrong
lighthouse. The rays of truth will never reach him as long as she is in
that position.
"Perhaps they might in a miraculous way," suggested Blackana.
"No good miracle is ever done in the steps of the Devil or in his
dominions," I answered with boldness.
Then did Blackana enlarge himself, and as he replied he looked down
upon me significantly. "O puny mortal, instruct me not in the miracles
of my master. More great things are done under the canopies of Hell
than mortals ever know."
At first I was filled with alarm, but under the voice of One invisible I
rose as with superhuman strength, and I looked at him unflinchingly.
"O horrible creature! I fear you not in any of your passions. You would
even destroy me if you could, but you are forever restrained by the
Power that holds authority over all!"

There was a sudden rustling, unlike anything I had ever heard. The
uncanny creature dashed toward me in his awful fury. But I moved not,
neither was I touched. Then I stretched forth my hand and commanded
him, in the name of One who is supreme, to cease his foolish ragings,
else would he be instantly flung through the wastes of Hell.
Blackana, knowing his limit, as all foul fiends do, dared to venture no
further in his rage, but calmed himself and, with unexpected civility, he
addressed me. He told me, in close detail, how Mr. World, by his
binding promises to his companion, had played the part of folly rather
than Miss Church-Member who did nothing more than enter upon a
more convenient and a Broader Way to heaven, and that, too, in good
company.
"And what think you,--will Mr. World ever fulfill his binding
promises?"
"Do not doubt it, sir. Mr. World is an honorable gentleman. His
promises are always fulfilled.
"A lie! A lie! Can you not speak the truth?"
Again he was about to rise into terrible proportions when a great hand
moved the door on its hinges. Blackana, interpreting that movement
better than I, continued in dread restraint. I looked again upon the
Broad Highway, and saw how Mr. World had so completely won the
confidence of Miss Church-Member that she now frequently expressed
her sense of obligation to him, and declared that he was not so mean a
fellow as some alleged, and as she had been inclined to believe.
"Pray, tell me who seeks to injure my good reputation?" he courteously
asked.
"It has long been current talk on the King's Highway that you are
deceitful and treacherous, and that you aim to lead people to ruin. You
well know that I hoped, by mutual association, to win you to a better
path. I find, even after some painful errors on my part, that you are not
so much in need of reformation as I imagined. You are a very

considerate and clever fellow, doubtless under the sway of a moral
evolution, and whether I stay with you, or you go with me, it is now, to
my mind, quite evident that you will soon reach a perfect condition."
The wily Mr. World chuckled. "You are newly endowed with the gift
of