All through the heat of summer he had been writing.  His book was nearly done now.  He had thrown himself into its construction with a feverish strength that threatened at any moment to desert him and leave him helpless.  He had not forgotten his pledge made with the other church members at the First Church.  It had forced itself upon his notice all through his writing, and ever since Rachel had said no to him, he had asked a thousand times, “Would Jesus do this?  Would He write this story?” It was a social novel, written in a style that had proved popular.  It had no purpose except to amuse.  Its moral teaching was not bad, but neither was it Christian in any positive way.  Jasper Chase knew that such a story would probably sell.  He was conscious of powers in this way that the social world petted and admired.  “What would Jesus do?” He felt that Jesus would never write such a book.  The question obtruded on him at the most inopportune times.  He became irascible over it.  The standard of Jesus for an author was too ideal.  Of course, Jesus would use His powers to produce something useful or helpful, or with a purpose.  What was he, Jasper Chase, writing this novel for?  Why, what nearly every writer wrote for—­money, money, and fame as a writer.  There was no secret with him that he was writing this new story with that object.  He was not poor, and so had no great temptation to write for money.  But he was urged on by his desire for fame as much as anything.  He must write this kind of matter.  But what would Jesus do?  The question plagued him even more than Rachel’s refusal.  Was he going to break his promise?  “Did the promise mean much after all?” he asked.

As he stood at the window, Rollin Page came out of the club house just opposite.  Jasper noted his handsome face and noble figure as he started down the street.  He went back to his desk and turned over some papers there.  Then he came back to the window.  Rollin was walking down past the block and Rachel Winslow was walking beside him.  Rollin must have overtaken her as she was coming from Virginia’s that afternoon.

Jasper watched the two figures until they disappeared in the crowd on the walk.  Then he turned to his desk and began to write.  When he had finished the last page of the last chapter of his book it was nearly dark.  “What would Jesus do?” He had finally answered the question by denying his Lord.  It grew darker in his room.  He had deliberately chosen his course, urged on by his disappointment and loss.

Chapter Eighteen

“What is that to thee?  Follow thou me.”

When Rollin started down the street the afternoon that Jasper stood looking out of his window he was not thinking of Rachel Winslow and did not expect to see her anywhere.  He had come suddenly upon her as he turned into the avenue and his heart had leaped up at the sight of her.  He walked along by her now, rejoicing after all in a little moment of this earthly love he could not drive out of his life.