until he came within a distance of twenty rods from where the men were gathered, Indian fashion, around the fire.  He was not at all surprised when he saw in the group the familiar face of Deacon Cramps and Reverend Bonds.  And he observed from certain parts of their masks which they still had on that these two men were the fellows who took the leading part in the affair at the camp.  Jake recognized that the group was made up mostly of men who were prominent members of Mount Olivet church.  A few non-church-members and young men of the baser sort were also in the group.  Benton watched them until nearly daybreak, when they disbanded and started for home.  Jake lay quietly in his clump of buck-brush until he was sure that they were at a safe distance, then he crawled out and went home, informed much and scared more.

Shortly after sunrise, old Brother Bunk came over to tell Benton that Evangelist Blank was at his house safe, and happy in the Lord.  This news greatly relieved Benton and his good wife, for they had not seen the Evangelist since he left their tent during the night, and they did not know just how he was faring.  Evangelist Blank had suggested that it be announced that as this was Sunday there would be services held that day at Old Brother Bunk’s.  This idea pleased Benton, and he joined Brother Bunk in scattering the news among the saints.  Accordingly at eleven o’clock the saints gathered at the Bunk home, where a blessed meeting was held.  Great power and victory prevailed.  The awful persecution had driven the saints to their knees in prayer.  The very atmosphere round about seemed to be charged with the Holy Spirit’s power.  Evangelist Blank started to preach, but found it impossible.  The saints shouted him down.  A number of sinners who were present melted under the influence of the Holy Spirit and yielded their hearts to God.  “Great grace was upon them all.”

That night the meeting at the arbor was resumed, and it continued for two weeks with greater victory and power than before the molestation.  The mob never bothered again, and the reason was this:  A dozen or more men in the community who were sinners, and professed to be sinners, but who believed that men should be allowed to serve God according to the dictates of their own consciences, simply made it plain that the first fellows masked or unmasked who should disturb the meeting would be dealt with in a most uncomplimentary manner.  The mob saw the situation in its true light and decided that for their own safety they would stay away.

When the meeting finally ran its natural course and came to a close, Evangelist Blank bade the band of saints a loving and tearful farewell and betook himself to other fields to suffer and rejoice in the great work with which God had entrusted him.

CHAPTER XI