Over to my right rose a young woman who was the most beautiful woman I saw in Brazil.  Her name was Elvira Leal.  She had been favorable to the gospel for some time and had suffered cruel persecution from her father.  The tears streamed down her face as she spoke, saying, “You know my story and what I have been called upon to endure for the gospel’s sake, but this morning I must confess the Lord.  I cannot resist the Spirit longer.”  I learned that her father, in order to force her to give up her faith, had dragged her across the floor by her hair.  He had brandished his dagger over her heart, threatening to take her life; he had forced her to break her engagement to be married to the young preacher, John Larinjeiro, who had brought the horses for us; he had declared he would kill both of them rather than to allow them to marry, and at the time we were there she was compelled to live in the home of a neighbor, so violent had become her father in his opposition to her adherence to the gospel.  That morning, however, she said though she knew it involved suffering, she would follow her Savior at whatever cost.

By the time the missionary had finished examining this woman, a man had crowded near to the front and indicated that he wished to say something.  It was John Larinjeiro’s brother.  He said that for two years he had been impressed with the gospel, but because of the persecution in his own home he had held back.  When years ago his mother had been converted, he went to persuade her to give up her religion.  Persuasion failing, he persecuted her severely.  She finally told him that his efforts were of no avail because she could not give up her faith in Christ, yet if he would take the Bible and show her where she was wrong, she would give it up.  He secured a gospel circulated by the priest and also “The Manual of Instructions for Holding Missions” and both of these confirmted his mother’s faith, and he had no more to say.  The Word impressed itself upon his heart and he became sympathetic to the gospel.  Then trouble arose.  His father-in-law, he said, had threatened to take his wife and children from him and to put him out of his own home.  His wife had persecuted him and declared she would leave him if he made the confession he desired to make.  He said that he did not know what to do, but had come forward to ask us to pray for him.  Then the congregation fell upon its face, as far as such a thing was possible, and prayed.  I could not understand all they said in the prayers because they were spoken in Portuguese, but so mighty was the presence of the Spirit and so irresistible was the appeal sent up to the throne of Grace that I knew before the prayers ended what the result would be.  As soon as the prayers were concluded, the man stood up and said, “News travels quickly in this country.  It may be that when I reach home I shall find my wife and children gone, but whatever may he the cost, I cannot resist the Spirit today.  I must confess my Lord and ask for membership in the church.”  Of course, he was received.  A letter received from the missionary some months later informed me that the father-in-law had carried out his threat and did take away the wife and children.