“No, I won’t, if you promise to be careful not to get into danger,” she said, with some hesitation; and he hurried after the others.

Alma and Christine, looking pale and anxious, asked Zoe what was the matter.

She explained that there had been an accident—­collision of cars—­and that the broken fragments were lying on the track, and would have to be cleared away before their train could go on.

Then Edward came back with the news that there would be a detention of an hour or more.

Zoe uttered a slight exclamation of impatience.

“Let us not grumble, little wife,” he said, cheerily, “but be thankful that things are no worse.  And, do you know, I trust it will prove to have been a good providence; inasmuch as it gives us an opportunity to make an effort to rescue these poor dupes from the Mormon net.”

“Oh, yes,” she said, her countenance brightening; “I do hope so!  Let us tell them all about it, and try to persuade them not to go to Utah.”

“I shall do my best,” he said; then addressing Christine again—­in German as before—­you tell me what are the teachings of Mormonism, according to your missionary?”

“They believe the Bible,” she answered; “they preach the gospel of Christ as the Bible teaches it; else how could I have listened to him? how consented to go with him? for I know the Bible is God’s word, and that there can be no salvation out of Christ.”

“Did he not tell you that they teach and practice polygamy?”

“No, sir; no indeed!  It surely cannot be true?”

“I am sorry to say it is only too true,” said Edward, “that the Mormon priesthood do both teach and practice it.  One of them, Orson Pratt, in a sermon preached August 29, 1852, said:  ’The Latter-day Saints have embraced the doctrine of a plurality of wives as a part of their religious faith.  It is incorporated as a part of our religion, and necessary for our exaltation to the fullness of the Lord’s glory in the eternal world.’”

Christine looked inexpressibly shocked.  “Oh, sir, are you quite sure of it?” she cried.  “Not a word of such a doctrine was spoken to us.  Had it been we would never have set out for Utah.”

“It is a well-established fact,” replied Edward; “and it is well known also that they conceal this doctrine from those whom they wish to catch in their net; to them they exalt the Bible and Christ; but when the poor dupes reach their promised paradise, and are unable to escape, they find the Bible kicked into a corner, the book of Mormon substituted for it, and Joe Smith exalted above the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Dreadful!” exclaimed Christine.

Alma too looked greatly shocked.

“But women may remain single if they choose?” she said, inquiringly.

“No, indeed!” replied Edward; “Mormon theology teaches that those who are faithful Mormons, living up to their privileges, and having a plurality of wives will be kings in the celestial world, and their wives queens; while those who have but one wife—­though they will reach heaven, if they are faithful to the priesthood and in paying tithes—­will not have a place of honor there; and those who are not married at all will be slaves to the polygamists.