“Now, as a matter of fact,” said Robert Davis, “mind has considerable influence over matter, but, after saying that, it is not necessary to go to the absurd extent as to deny that there is matter.”

“I see it now,” said Kate, “there is a subtle connection between mind and our bodies, but I see that if, because of that, I should deny facts, my state would be no better and probably worse.  I give up the whole system as being contrary to reason, sense, and the Scriptures.”

A few days after this Robert was called to Kansas City on business, where he remained a week.  Now, it so happened that while he was away from home on this business trip, a colporteur of the Seventh-Day Adventists denomination came through the country and sold Mary Davis the book entitled Daniel and the Revelation, also several tracts, one of which was entitled “Who Changed the Sabbath?” Mary Davis had never before heard of anything on the Sabbath question, and when the colporteur told her about how the Sabbath had been changed from Saturday to Sunday (according to Adventist theories), and how they, the Adventists, were in a great reformation to restore the Sabbath-day, she was considerably interested.  Open-hearted for truth, she was peculiarly susceptible at that time to the claims of Adventism.

Mary spent the next few days in reading her newly bought literature.  It seemed plausible to her that if God gave the Ten Commandments as a perpetual covenant, the seventh day should still be kept.  The more she read the more she was convinced.  By the time Robert returned she had begun to count herself a seventh-day keeper.  Robert Davis was surprised beyond measure when he returned and found his house full of Advent literature.

“Well, Mary dear, what does all this mean?” asked Robert kindly.

“Why, Robert,” she said, “while you were gone a colporteur came here with these books.  He seemed so earnest and he talked for hours about a reformation and how the Catholics had changed the Sabbath and about how God had set himself to restore the day to Christendom.  I have been reading the books and they make it very plain that we ought to keep Saturday.”

“Now, come here, dear,” said Robert, “let me point out to you the false and unscriptural position which these zealots hold.”

Mary felt a little indignant at this, but she complied, willing to know the truth.  However, she was secretly determined to keep the Sabbath-day unless very good reasons were shown why she should not.

“First, Mary, let me ask a few questions,” said Robert.  “Did the colporteur say anything about living holy or nearer to God?”

“No,” said Mary, “he talked almost exclusively about the Sabbath-day.”

“Very well,” said Robert.  “Did he say the Ten Commandments were still in full force?”

“Yes, he did, Robert, and he made it very plain that God’s law could not change,” said Mary.

“Did he say the Catholics changed the Sabbath-day from Saturday to Sunday?” asked Robert.