Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-10-11
MRS. VAN CoTT'S LATEST EX-
PLOT.

Mrs. Van Colt has been spending a
portion Of the last month in earnest eff
forts for the Outstanding Of sundry
towns and villages in Pennsylvania =
Among these places is the village of
Freedom, in York county, where she
met with marked success, and held en-
thusiastic meetings. One evening, while
eanvassing the house for repentant sin
ners, she noticed a middle-aged man,
the stolid expression of whose face at
traeted her attention and excited her
curiosity; so. in her usual magnetic
manner, she approached him and asked
HIM whether he would not like to follow
in the path Of righteousness. No an
swer could she gain. and with an audi.
bic prayer of "May God drive the dumb
devil out Of you, my brother" she
passed on to interview more impressive
subjects.
Two nights passed. and the stranger
again appeared at the church but this
time his eyes we're lighted up with al
most maniacal glitter. and his counte-
nance seemed the play ground of the
hveliest emotions. Quickly approach
ing the altar, he knelt among the sob.
bling and shouting ones, and as the re-
ligious shepherdess drew near be asked
her if she knew him. "Why, yes. you
are the man that had the dumb devil,
the other night, she replied. He then
begged Of her the privilege of saying a
few words, and the request being grant
ed. he arose and. deliberately drawing a
revolver from his breast held it aloft in
a thrilling, dramatic manner, while be
told his history of life to the eager lis
teners. He was a resident of Chicago,
where he had for many years followed
the profession of photographer. For the
last four years he had strayed from the
path of right and virtuous living, and,
as consequence Of his dissipation and
debauchery, his wife had deserted him
and returned to her friends in Pennsyl.
vania, taking his three children with
her. Driven to frenzy by this, he sank
still lower, and lower, until as if the
fendishness OF hell itself possessed him
be had purchased this weapon of death
and started for the East, determined Il
murder his wife and then put an end t.
his own miserable existence. Only twt
nights before, be sat in that churcl
looking for his wife, and gloating owe
the 6endish plot. The words then spok
en- to him had aroused his almost los
manhood, and falling again on his knees
he desired Mrs. Van Colt to pray 70
him. She spoke at once, extending he
hand toward him, "Child, give me that.
and with the meekness of a child B.
handed her the weapon and then feel
ing in his pocket produced box of car
tridges, which he also placed in he
hand. The strange sight was then pre-
sented Of the woman revivalist holdin
in one hand seyen-shOoter, aud in tn
other box Of death-dealing missiles
while she offered to heaven an earnes
prayer for the saving of this brand fror
the burning. As Mrs. Van Colt finish
ed telling the incident, she said: "Ney
er in my life did feel such power i
prayer, and never before did offer n
a petition to my Heavenly Father un
der such circumstances The next da
the man, clothed in his right mind, an
happy in heart, sought the injured wife
effected reconciliation, and anothe
will soon be added to the list of happ
homes in Chicago.