A TRUE INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF CAROLINE TALBOT.

White Ribbon, Volume 13, Issue 160, 15 October 1908, Page 10

A TRUE INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF CAROLINE TALBOT.

(Concluded.)

(From The Evangelical Friend.)

The Devil’s Pit. “Open the door,” she calmly commanded. “ You’d l»e killed if you enter ! ’ they protested. “ Open the door, was her only reply, and as the policemen forced open the door a sight met her eyes which made even these men, holding their cocked pistols, quake with fear. One instant that grey-haired woman stood in the doorway, with eyes uplifted to heaven; the next, she walked boldly into the midst of that crowd of swearing, drunken, fighting men, and knelt down and prayed aloud. At first her voice was drowned by the oaths and curses and gibes of the besotted wretches, but as one and another became conscious of her presence their astonishment at her un-heard-of temerity silenced them, and for a few seconds th* voice of that praying woman was the only sound heard in that evil den. Rising from her knees and opening her eyes, she instantly knew for whom she had been sent to that

place. A young girl, pale as death, with ter-ror-dilated eyes and hands clasped in agony, sat apart from the crowd of diabolical revellers. Mrs. Talbot quickly crossed the room and grasped the hand of the girl, saying, “ My dear, come with me. I was sent for thee. The Rescue. “ I knew God would rescue me some way,” whispered the poor girl, trembling with horror; and through the amazed crowd of blear-eyed, filthy, brutal wretches those two pure women passed hand-in-hand, unharmed, led by omnipotent power and guarded by angelic hosts; for “ the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him. and delivered* them.’

“ I would have sworn that you’d be torn to piece*,” said the astonished policemen, as they followed Mrs. Talbot ami her young charge out of that den of iniquity, where already th • orgies had been resumed. “ What is thy name, dear, and why art thou here! asked Mrs Talbot of the

quaking girl beside her, around whom she had thrown her protecting arm, as she perceived that the terrible suspense and agony the girl had borne had rendered her too weak to walk without help. Oh, Mrs. Talbot, the Lord sent you ! ” sobbed the anguished young woman. “ I have been at your meetings. 1 knew Cod had heard my prayers for help, as soon as you entered the door. My father is 1 >r. Wenthorn.” “ Why, my dear, I know’ thy parents well. They are faithful Christian people. How came thee here ? ” “I w ill tell you. I was engaged to marry a young man, with the consent of my parents. I thought he was upright and true. My father has lately lost his property, and since then .lack lias seemed somewhat different. I see it now. I know now he was trying to marry me only for money. This evening lie asked me to walk. My mother gave her consent, as she had often before. About two hours ago, as Jack and I were taking a stroll, we met a woman whom he introduced as his friend, dust then a man touched him on the shoulder ; they talked together a moment, and then Jack said to me, ‘Annie, \.y # riend will take you to her house for a little while. I have som 3 important business l must attend to at once. I will call for you there in an hour.’ *‘ Unsuspecting any evil, I went with the woman, who was middle-aged and modestly dressed, I saw by the light of a gas-jet near by ; and, it being so dark a night. I could not recognise the streets through which we so hurriedly passed.

When we reached what she called her home, she opened the door ; we entered, and before I was aware where 1 was I found myself in that awful place where you saw me.” “ Poor child ! what didst thou do? “I sat there praying to Cod to save me some way, I couldn’t see how ; hut 1 knew’ He had all power, and my faith was firm that He would rescue me, and not let those men harm me. I saw’ then the awful treachery of the man 1 had trusted. Oh, there he comes now’ !’’ whispered the frightened girl, as she shrank closer to her protector. “ Never fear, dear. Hut wait, 1 must speak to that man,” said Mrs. Talbot. Thh Warning. 'l'llrough the darkness the mail was now more plainly seen as the lanterns of tin' policemen flashed their light across his deceitful face, and he started back ; but Mis. Talbot said, in firm tones, “ Young man, the Lord has protected the young girl thou didst so basely seek to destroy, and has sent me to rescue her before it whs too late. Remember, Almighty C xl cm defeat all the spirits of evil combined. I warn thee to repent of thy sinful life liefore Cod cuts thee dow nin thy infa ny. I warn thee to leave this city at once, for 1 shall put this young girl’s brother on thy track tonight, and I will give thee just six hours to get out of the town, for 1 must prevent bloodshed if possible, and 1 know the spirit of the young man whose sister thou hast so basely wronged. I could deliver thee up to these policermn at once, hut I will give thee this one chance

to reform thy evil ways. May the Spi-it of God lead thee to repent! ’ Base as the vounz man was. he stood I / * n \ trembling and aghast, confronted by t r uth and purity, as manifested in those tv*o women against whom all his diabolical cunning had availed nothing ; and he slunk away into the darkness, whether to go on in his infamous crimes or to repent like the thief on the cross, is not : known. Thanksgiving and Conversion. The young girl was restored to her parent 0 , and grateful thanks were tendered to Almighty God for her marvellous deliverance. The policeman, Ben, was converted, declaring that “if faith !in God could work such a miracle as I that which took place before his own eyes, he was bound to get it. ’ The devoted evangelist went calmly on her consecrated way, confident that , she had naught whereof to boast, being a weak, timid woman, but knowing that when a child of God reflects in his life the image of the Divine Christ, and by f’aith, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit .ays claim to the title of his inheritance in the power of Almighty Cod, which inheritance is offered by the Infinite Father to all of His children, then just so much of the omnipotence of his Heavenly Father will I*? exercised in his behalf as he shall lay claim to through his title of faith. According to his faith it will lie unto him. And that faith is not a blind belief, but an enlightened apprehension of the omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience of the infinite Creator, Upholder, and Saviour of mankind.