The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-24
WOMAN'S INFL UENOB.
A Revival Indeed A Murderer Turned from
his Purpose.

rom ne Caicd0o Post and Man.
Mrs. Van Colt spent n portion OF last
month In earnest efforts for the Christian
izng Of sundry towns and villages IN Penn
sylvania. Among these villages II the vii
LACE of Freedom, in York county, where sne
met with marked success, and held enthusiastic
meetings. one evening, while canvassing the
house for repontant sinners, she noticed MD
dle-agcd man, the stold expression Of whose
face attracted her attention and excited her
feminine curiosity so. in her usual magnetic
manner. she approached him aud asked MIN
whether he would not like 10 follow In the path
" the righteous. No answer could shO gam,
and with an audible prayer OF May God drive
the dumb devil out Of YOU, my brother she
passed on to interview moro impressiDle sub
jeCts.
Two nights passed, and the stranger again ap-
peared Mt the church; but this time his eyes
we're lighted NJ with an almost maniacal gutter
and his COuntcnaucc seemed tho playground OF
the lveliest emotions. Quickly approaching
tho altar, he knclt among the sobbng and
shouting ones. ana "a the reli giOus ahepherdess
drew nor he asked her II she knew him, why,
yes; you're the man who had the dumb dcvii
the other NIGHT" she replied. lie then begged
Of her tho privilege ~ Swing a few words and,
the request hcing granted. he arose and, delih-
eratelv drawing a revolver from his bren I. held
1t aloft In a thrilling dramatic manner, while no
told his history Of HE to the eager listeners.
He was aresidcnt Of Chicago, where he had Tor
many ycars followed his profession Of photo-
graphcr. For the Last four years he had straycd
far from the path Of right and yirtuous living,
and, IA a consequence OF his dissipation and de-
haucheiy, bis wife had deserted him ana re-
turned to her friends In Pcnnsyly ina,
tp frenzy by this, he sank siill lower
and lower. until, "a n the hcndishness
of hell Itself puesesscd him, he had pur-
chased this weapon Of death and started Tor
the East. determined to murder his wife and
children and then put an end to his own misCr
able existence. only two nights before he sat
In that church rluting over the nendish llot.
the words then spoken To- him had hrou'ed ms
almost lost manhood. aud falling again on his
knees he desired Mrs. Van Colt to pray for him:
She spoke ~ once. cxtcndinl her hand toward
him "Chtld. give me that" and with tho
NEE kucss of "a CHILD he handed her the weap IN,
and then feeling iu his pocket produced box
II cartridge, which he als1 placed IN her hand.
The strange sight was then presented OF tho
WON ln rcyiNpli-t holding In one hand q severn
shooter ana iu tho other box uf death-d,aliug
missiles. while she offered To heaven an earnest
PRAYER for the saving Of this brand from the
burning. A. Mr.. Van Cot nirShed telling the
incident. she said " Never Ia my life did feel
such power In prayer. and never before DID |
offer up "a petition 10 nav Heavenly Father under
such strange Cirt umstances." Tho next day the
man, clothed IN his right mind and happy In
heart. sought the Injured wife, effected rec NJ
citation, ana another will soon be added to tho
list Of happy homes In Chicago.