After a brief interval, a pale boy under the gallery rose,
followed by an old man at the top of the church. A frightened,
sweet-faced child of twelve got tremblingly upon her feet, and a
dramatic thrill passed over the congregation when her mother
suddenly stood up beside her. The evangelist's "Thank God" was
hearty and insistent.
David Bell looked almost imploringly at Mollie; but she kept her
seat, with downcast eyes. Over in the big square "stone pew" he
saw Eben bending forward, with his elbows on his knees, gazing
frowningly at the floor.
"I'm a stumbling block to them both," he thought bitterly.
A hymn was sung and prayer offered for those under conviction.
Then testimonies were called for. The evangelist asked for them
in tones which made it seem a personal request to every one in
that building.
Many testimonies followed, each infused with the personality of
the giver. Most of them were brief and stereotyped. Finally a
pause ensued. The evangelist swept the pews with his kindling
eyes and exclaimed, appealingly,
"Has EVERY Christian in this church to-night spoken a word for
his Master?"
There were many who had not testified, but every eye in the
building followed the pastor's accusing glance to the Bell pew.
Mollie crimsoned with shame. Mrs. Bell cowered visibly.
Although everybody looked thus at David Bell, nobody now expected
him to testify. When he rose to his feet, a murmur of surprise
passed over the audience, followed by a silence so complete as to
be terrible.
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