The next few months found Robert and Mary Davis searching the Bible for the truth.  Every sermon they heard they compared with the Scriptures.  Articles in their new paper helped them greatly.  They bought a book of Bible Readings, and made as thorough an investigation of Bible doctrine as they were capable of making.  They made rapid progress.  They became believers in holiness and sanctification; for the salvation theme held their interest most profoundly, and they became well acquainted with the proof-texts which supported these doctrines.  The study of these texts brought great conviction to their hearts, and both of them sought the Lord for forgiveness of their sins, and both entered into the grace of conversion.  The joy of this experience made their Bible study still more delightful.  They had not been strangers to grace, but they had become slack and lukewarm, and when the light of God began to shine more brightly they felt that they should make sure work of it, and so they began at the bottom round of the ladder.  They were glad afterwards that they had done this, because it gave them a sure starting-point.

Along in the fall of the year, as Robert was breaking ground for wheat, he got an invitation to attend a neighborhood prayer meeting.

“Good evening, neighbor,” said a voice, “don’t you want to go to our prayer meeting next Wednesday night?”

Robert looked up from his work and saw it was old Peter Newby.

“Why, yes, I guess so.  Sure,” said Robert.  “What kind of a prayer meeting is it?”

“We have a good one,” said Peter, “come and see.”

“All right, we’ll come,” said Robert.

This prayer meeting was held at Fairmount school house, a fine school building situated on the brow of a lilac-covered hill at the bottom of which hill one of the finest and largest springs in the country gushed forth.  It was, as stated, ostensibly a neighborhood prayer meeting, but Peter Newby just about dominated it, and was carrying it on just about to suit himself.  The method pursued was to read a chapter, and follow with a free-for-all exposition of it.  Everybody had a chance to speak and expound the texts, whether he knew anything about them or not.  Some queer theories were advanced in these discussions, which we have neither time nor inclination to speak of now.

Robert Davis and Mary began to attend this prayer exposition meeting as soon as they could.  The Book of Romans was being read and studied at this time, and chapter 5 was up for discussion.  After the reading of the chapter, Peter Newby, as usual, was on his feet ready to tell the class all about it.  He noticed Robert and Mary and, knowing that they were strangers, he put on his most condescending and insinuating air.  Raising himself to his full height, and giving his grizzled head just the right angle for incisive speech, he said: