When it gives a charity ball, does it not spend twice as much in getting up the entertainment to please itself as it makes for the poor in whose behalf the ball is given?  Do you think I am severe?  Ask yourself, O member of Calvary Church, what has been the extent of your sacrifice for the world this year before you condemn me for being too strict or particular.  It is because we live in such times that the law of service presses upon us with greater insistence than ever.  And now more than during any of the ages gone, Christ’s words ring in our ears with twenty centuries of reverberation, ’Whosoever will not deny himself and take up his cross, he cannot be my disciple.’”

Of all the sermons on Christ and Modern Society which Philip had thus far preached, none had hit so hard or was applied so personally as this.  The Goldens went home from the service in a towering rage.  “That settles Calvary Church for me,” said Mrs. Golden, as she flung herself out of the building after the service was over.  “I consider that the most insulting sermon I ever heard from any minister.  It is simply outlandish; and how the church can endure such preaching much longer is a wonder to me.  I don’t go near it again while Mr. Strong is the minister!” Philip did not know it yet, but he was destined to find out that society carries a tremendous power in its use of the word “outlandish,” applied either to persons or things.

When the evening service was over, Philip, as his habit was, lay down on the couch in front of the open fire until the day’s excitement had subsided a little.  It was almost the only evening in the week when he gave himself up to complete rest of mind and body.

He had been lying there about a quarter of an hour when Mrs. Strong, who had been moving a plant back from one of the front windows and had been obliged to raise a curtain, stepped back into the room with an exclamation.

“Philip!  There is some one walking back and forth in front of the house!  I have heard the steps ever since we came home.  And just now I saw a man stop and look in here.  Who can it be?”

“Maybe it’s the man with the burglar’s lantern come back to get his knife,” said Philip, who had always made a little fun of that incident as his wife had told it.  However, he rose and went over to the window.  Sure enough, there was a man out on the sidewalk looking straight at the house.  He was standing perfectly still.

Philip and his wife stood by the window looking at the figure outside, and, as it did not move away, at last Philip grew a little impatient and went to the door to open it and ask the man what he meant by staring into people’s houses in that fashion.

“Now, do be careful, won’t you?” entreated his wife, anxiously.

“Yes, I presume it is some tramp or other wanting food.  There’s no danger, I know.”

He flung the door wide open and called out in his clear, hearty voice: