enjoyment of triumph?  Why should these youths make such unseemly haste?  If they are indeed in earnest to seek the truth and lay to heart the meaning of this experience into which their sinful hearts have led them, let them of their own accord and out of their humble and contrite hearts devote a year to meditation and prayer.  Let them show to others they have learned that to live righteously and soberly, and not to grasp ill-gotten gains or enjoy unhallowed pleasures, is the chief end of human life!  The hour is ripe for such a demonstration.  We have seen other evidences among us of an unholy hungering after the unlawful pleasures of life.  It is time that a halt were called.  If this community is dedicated to righteousness, then let us exalt the standard.  It is at critical moments like this that history is made and character formed.  If we weaken now, if we permit our hearts to overpower our consciences, God will smite us with His wrath, vice will rush upon us like a flood, and we shall be given over to the lust of the flesh and the pride of life!  ’To the law and to the testimony, my brethren.’”

With his long arm extended and his deep-set eyes glowing, he repeated from memory the solemn words: 

“’Behold ye trust in lying words that cannot profit.  Will ye steal, murder and commit adultery and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not, and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name and say, “We are delivered to do all these abominations?” Is this house which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?  Behold, even I have said it, saith the Lord.  But go ye now into my place which was Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel!  And now because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord—­and I spake unto you (rising up early and speaking), but ye heard not, and I called you but ye answered not—­therefore will I do unto this house which is called by my name (wherein ye trust) and unto the place which I gave unto you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh!  And I will cast you out of my sight—­even the whole people of Ephraim!  Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayers for them, neither make intercession to me—­for I will not hear thee!’

* * * * *

“This is my message!  This is the advice ye have invited!  Wait a year!  Watch and pray!  Fit yourselves for the enjoyment of your love by repentance.”

The impression made by these solemn words was tremendous.  It was as if eternity had suddenly dawned in that dim-lit room, and the leaves of the book of doom had been opened.

There had been stillness before, but now there was the silence of the grave, and at this dramatic moment one of the tallow candles whose feeble light had served but to render the darkness visible, spluttered, went out, and intensified the silence with a meaningless and exasperating sound.  No one knew how to break the spell which these intense and terrible words had cast over them.  Their limbs and faculties were both benumbed.