Part 6 (2/2)

Cla.s.s prayer meetings were held every afternoon, and at midday smaller groups met for devotional exercises. At these latter those who had made no profession of religion were pet.i.tioned for by name. James Farnum was swept into the movement and distinguished himself by his zeal. It was understood that he desired the prayers of friends for that relative who had not yet cast away the burden of his sins.

It became a point of honor with his cousin's circle to win Jeff for the cause. There was no difficulty in getting him to attend the meetings of the revivalist. But he sat motionless through the emotional climax that brought to an end each meeting. To him it seemed that this was not in any vital sense religion, but he was careful not to suggest his feeling by so much as a word.

One or two of his companions invited him to come to Jesus. He disconcerted them by showing an unexpected familiarity with the Scriptures as a weapon of offense against them.

James invited him to his rooms and labored with him. Jeff resorted to the Socratic method. From what sins was he to be saved? And when would he know he had found salvation?

His cousin uneasily explained the formula. ”You must believe in Christ and Him crucified. You must surrender your will to His. Shall we pray together?”

”I'd rather not, J. K. First, I want to get some points clear. Do you mean that I'm to believe in what Jesus said and to try to live as he suggested?”

”Yes.”

Jeff picked up his cousin's Bible and read a pa.s.sage. ”'We know that we have pa.s.sed from death unto life, BECAUSE WE LOVE THE BRETHREN. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.' That's the test, isn't it?”

”Well, you have to be converted,” James said dubiously.

”Isn't that conversion--loving your brother? And if a man is willing to live in plenty while his brother is in poverty, if he exploits those weaker than himself to help him get along, then he can't be really converted, can he?”

”Now see here, Jeff, you've got the wrong idea. Christ didn't come into the world to reform it, but to save it from its sins. He wasn't merely a man, but the Divine Son of G.o.d.”

”I don't understand the dual nature of Jesus. But when one reads His life it is easy to believe in His divinity.” After a moment the young man added: ”In one way we're all divine sons of G.o.d, aren't we?”

James was shocked. ”Where do you get such notions? None of our people were infidels.”

”Am I one?”

”You ought to take advantage of this chance. It's not right to set your opinion up against those that know better.”

”And that's what I'm doing, isn't it?” Jeff smiled. ”Can't help it. I reckon I can't be saved by my emotions. It's going to be a life job.”

James gave him up, but he sent another Senior to make a last attempt.

The young man was Thurston Thomas and he had never exchanged six sentences with Jeff in his life. The unrepentant sinner sent him to the right about sharply.

”What the devil do you mean by running about officiously and bothering about other people's souls? Better look out for your own.”

Thomas, a scion of one of the best families in Verden, looked as if he had been slapped in the face.

”Why Farnum, I--I spoke for your good.”

”No, you didn't,” contradicted Jeff flatly. ”You don't care a hang about me. You've never noticed me before. We're not friends. You've always disliked me. But you want the credit of bringing me into the fold. It's d.a.m.ned impertinent of you.”

The Senior retired with a white face. He was furious, but he thought it due himself to turn the other cheek by saying nothing. He reported his version to a circle of friends, and from them it spread like gra.s.s seed in the wind. Soon it was generally known that Jeff Farnum had grossly insulted with blasphemy a man who had tried to save his soul.

Two days later Miller met Jeff at the door of Frome 15.

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