Part 5 (1/2)

I took a pa.s.sing glance at the King's Highway, and saw a virtuous and holy woman on her knees in prayer, with a Bible opened before her.

She read from the Book, doubting not its words, and was pleading earnestly with G.o.d for a better understanding of them, until flash after flash of heavenly light filled her soul, making her face s.h.i.+ne with more than human glory.

To her the Devil, robed as an angel of light, made no appearance so long as I looked.

Then I asked Blackana, and he told me that Satan feared that which was sharper than a two-edged sword more than a large number of professing Christians not filled with the word of G.o.d.

”And what think you of Miss Church-Member?” I continued.

”She is a fine character,” spoke Blackana as a hideous grin spread over his face.

Then I was moved with indignation, and I spoke with fire in my voice: ”Give me no more deceptive words of h.e.l.l! Tell the naked truth. What is the estimate that Satan places on one who acts like Miss Church-Member?”

Blackana moved not a feature at my changed att.i.tude, but spoke calmly within the bounds of truth: ”Satan considers such a one as a valuable ally to his cause, for she is now working against Jesus Christ on her imaginary road to Heaven. Nothing is more helpful to Satan than when members of the church believe that parts of the Bible are untrue. It is indeed gratifying to us,” continued Blackana with a fiendish smile, ”to see the twentieth century of the so-called Christian era opening with the church wrangling over her Bible more desperately than ever, and some of the learned leaders, and those of lesser light, laying the lash on him who believes that the regularly revised version of Scripture is of sufficient authority and approved of G.o.d.”

Thus Blackana, in dread reluctant tones, and with his tongue still unfriendly to Christ's cause, was continuing, when a voice from above gave this startling and silencing testimony.

”_Such Scripture is an impregnable rock; and they, who by faith stand thereon, cannot be poisoned by the fiery darts which are hurled even by the latest invented guns from the Wizard City. All h.e.l.l secretly acknowledges the strength of this foundation, even though part of the church on earth refuses to do as much._”

CHAPTER V.

THE DEVIL'S p.a.w.n SHOP.

1. Miss Church-Member with her new gla.s.ses looks upon her attire and, not being satisfied with her pilgrim's robe, exchanges it for up-to-date apparel.

2. The similar action of Mr. Deacon and Mr. Elder described.

Miss Church-Member, having closed her Bible, was engaged in a close scrutiny of her attire. By the aid of her gla.s.ses she realized very keenly that her garments were out of harmony with her environments.

”Will you answer a frank question?” she modestly asked Mr. World. ”Do you think my pilgrim's robe becomes me as it should?”

”A very delicate question. I should never have ventured a criticism without your invitation to do so. Sincerely, your whole attire is somewhat antiquated. It is just as faulty as the Bible. So I would advise you to wear apparel more suited to your natural charms.”

”But where can such be found?” she blus.h.i.+ngly asked, offering no comment upon Mr. World's aspersion upon the Holy Scriptures.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A Scene in the Devil's p.a.w.n Shop. ”Her beautiful pilgrim robe was drawn through the dust and relegated to the rear.”]

”At numberless places along the way. In the distance I see an exchange store, duly authorized to do business along this Highway. If you so desire, we will proceed thither.”

She a.s.sented gratefully, and soon the vehicle stopped. The two alighted and stepped into the place known along the King's Highway as the Devil's p.a.w.n Shop.

This establishment was easily accessible from either Highway, and had been in operation for thousands of years, carrying on an extensive business.

In such a place our parents p.a.w.ned a glorious inheritance for a taste of forbidden fruit, and Esau exchanged a legitimate birth-right for a mere mess of pottage.

In another similar place Judas sold his Lord and Master for thirty dirty pieces of silver; and Ananias and Sapphira p.a.w.ned their natural and spiritual lives for a little worldly profit which was held but for a few hours, and that in guilt and pain.

Satan has a p.a.w.n Shop, or an exchange store, for every phase of desire that can enter into an unsatisfied heart, or a soul unduly ambitious.