Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-17
CHAPTER XvIII.-(Continued.)

tener was totally u~nprepared. Tn
speaker who had been exhortinS hi
audience upon the testimony of pro
phet and apostle now appealed to hi
own personal experience.
Look at mel" he said. laying hi
great hand on his broad chest. Il wa
once as hardened and desperate a ma
as any of you; but God saved me! Sc
this book!" he added, holding up tn
old volume. Il Will tell you a stor!
about it. / found it in a log cabii
away cut in the frontier State of Ohio
Listen, and will tell you how. | hat
left n lumber camp with a compan
of frontiersmen one sunday morning
to go to a new clearing which VIZ were
making In the wilderness. when l sud
denly discovered that l had Forgotten
my axe. Swearing at my misfortune
/ returned to get 1t. AS / approached
the cabin which I had left a few min
utes before, / heard a human voice.
paused in surprise, crept quietly to the
doc rand listened Some one was
talking In almost the very
in which have spoken to you, was
frightened and fled! Escaping into
the depths of the forest. l lay down al
the root of a great tree, n Tor the
first time in my life | made a silence
in my soul and listened to the voice
of God. | know not how long ] lay
there; but at las when l
my consciousness / returned to the
cabin. 1t was silent and empty; but
on the floor / found this book
Great heaven." exclaimed a voice.
So rapt had been the attention of
the hearers that at this unexpected in
terruption the women screamed ana
the men made a wide path for the fig
ere that burst through them and rush
ed toward the platform. The speaker
paused and fixed his eye upon the man
who pressed eagerly toward him.
Tell me whether a red line is drawn
down the edge of a certain chapter!"
he cried.
1T is" replied the lumberman.
Then let me take it," exclaimed
David, reaching out his trembling
hands.
What for?"
Because it is mine! I am the mar
who proclaimed the holy faith. and,
God forgive me. abandoned it even as
you received it,"
The %astonished lumberman handed
him the Bible, and he covered it with
kisses and tears. In the meantime, the
crowd. excited by the spectacular ele-
ments of the drama, surged round the
actors, and the preacher. reaching
down. took David by the arm and
raised him to the platform.
BE quiet. my friends" he said, with
q gesture OF command, land when this
prodigal has regained his composure
we will ask him to tell us his story"
Or what was Transporting around him
David seemed to be entirely uncon-
scious and at last the tickle crowd Le-
came impatient.
Whats de matter wild your" said a
sarcastic voice.
Speak out! Don't snufie," exclaim.
ed another.
Tip us your tale" cried a fourth.
go on. Go on. We're waiting"
called many more.
These impatient cries at last nrous-
cd David from his waking dream, he
drew his hand over his eyes. and be-
gan his story. For a time the strange
narrative produced a profound impress
sion. Heads dropped as if in medi-
tation upon the mystery and meaning
of life; significant glances were ex-
changed; tears trembled in many eyes;
these torpid natures received a shock
which for a moment awakened them to
a new life.
But 1t was only for a moment. They
were incapable Of the sustained effort
of thought, of ambition, or OF Will. I'm
pressions made upon their souls were
Xix those made on the soft folds of a
garment by h passing touch OF a
hand.
To their besotted perceptions this
scene was like a play in a Bowery
theater, and now la the dramatic de-
nouement had come, they lost their in
terest and saunterod away singiy or in
little roups In a few moments there
were only three figures left In the light
OF h flaming torch. They were those
of the lumberman, David, and Mantel.
who now drew near. took his friend by
the hand and pressed 1t with a gentle
sympathy.
Where did you come from ?' asked
David, in surprise, as he for the first
time recognized his companion.
Il have followed you all the even
Mantel replied.
Then you have heard the story Of
this book?'
Il have, and I could not have beiiev-
ed 1t without hearing"
Can . spare us a little Of your
time?" said David, turning to h lum-
herman.
81 owe you all the time you wish
and all the service I al render" he
You have more than paid your debt.
by what o have lone for me to-
but who are your"
Il am only another voice crying in
the wilderness"
How co you support yourself: 80
asked Mantel, to whom such a man
was a phenomenon.
We do not any of us support our
so much as we are supported"
replied.
And this life of toll and self denial
had It's origin in those words 1 spoke
In the empty lumber camp" asked
David. incredulously.
1T is not a life of ~self-denial, but
that was its beginning"
1T is q mystery. 1 lost my faith
and you found 1t, and now perhaps
you are going to give 1t back again"
David said.
The lumberman turned his search-
ing eyes kindly on Manters face and
said, And how Is 1t with thee. my
friend; hast thou the peace of God?"
The directness OF the question star
tied the gambler. II have no peace OF
any kind; my heart is Ill of storms
md my life u . ruin" he answered,