The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
conviction never wavered.
The light burned steadily before tho

conviction never wavered.
The light burned steadily before tho
altar.
He had been ono OF the faithful thou
sands, learned, simple, Methodist, ritual
ist. who knew that this thing could
not DO. @fge.'t n XIX
Nevertheless his courage had 2boci. foil-
ing him. Life seemed to fnve lost "its
Sweetness and often he hulnbly Won
dered when he should die, hoping that
the time was not too long-not without
n tren,ulous belief that God would recog-
nize that he had fought tho good fight
and kept tia faith.
II, his own Immediate neighborhood the
consequences OF the discovery nearly
broke his heart. He Ind no need to look
beyond Walktown. Even tho great po-
lticnl events which were stirring tho
world had left him unmoved. Ills own
small corner OF the vineyard. now, alas!
so choked with rank, lnxuriant growth,
was enough for this faithful pastor. Hero
no saw nothing but vice suddenly rearing
Its head and threatening to overwhelin
all else. He heard tho holy names BIAS
phemcd with all tho Inventions OF OBJ
scene lamentations, assnlled with all the
wit OF full-booded men, amazed and;
rejoiced that they could stife their con-
sciences ut last. And this, after, all his
life work among these folk! Hc had given
them OF his best. Ills prayers, his intel
lect, much OF his money had been theirs.
How insolently they had cxultcd over
him, these coarse and vulgar hearts!
When Basil had first told Mr.. Dyars
OF his suspicious the vicar can hardly
have been blamed for regarding them
sadly as tho generous effects OF young
r inv RI find
date way out OF the impnsse.
Tho elder man knew that fraud had
been at work. but he suspected no such
modern and nsolent attempt as Basil
indicated. It was too much to believe.
Gortre had left him most respondent.
But his interest had soon become quick
ened and alive, as the private reports
from London reached him.
When he knew that great people We're
moving quietly, that the weight OF Sir
Michael was behind Gortre, he knew at
once that in all probability Basils sus-
picions were right.
A curious change came over the Wears
public appearances and utterances. His
sermons were full of fire. almost Pauline
in their strength. People began to flow
and flock into the great empty church at
Walktown. Mr.. Byars's fame spread.
Then, swiftly, after the first week or
two, had come the beginning OF the
great financial depression.
1t was felt acutcy in Manchester.
All the wealthy. comfortable, easygoing
folk who grudglngly paid small pew
rent out OF their superfluty, became
alarmed. horribly alarmed The Chris
tinnity which sat SO lightly upon them
that at first opportunity they had rushed
into the Unitarian ting houses. be-
came suddenly very desirable thing.
In the fall OF Christianity they saw
their own fortunes falling. And these
self-deccvers would be swept back upon
the tide Of this reaction into the arms OF
the Anglican mother they had despised.
The vicar saw all this. He was a keen
expert in and student OF human affairs,
and witlal psychologist. He saw his
opportunity.
His words dashed and stung these rem
egades They were made to see them.
selves as they were: the preacher cut
away all the ground from under them.