is
ears might be opened to hear the truth, and his eyes to see how near
was the great and terrible day of the Lord, and that, as in ancient
days chosen women were raised up to do mighty works, even so Faith
might be made an instrument to proclaim His power abroad.

As the three rose from their knees, a change seemed, during the
prayer, to have passed over the little circle. Holden was invested
with an authority not felt before. Neither his speech nor dress was as
strange as formerly. He had become a teacher to be honored. It was the
influence of a mind originally powerful, and which, though shattered,
exercised the control of a strong will, guided by an earnest
fanaticism.

CHAPTER X.

Thus as he spake, his visage waxed pale,
And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray,
Yett still he strove to cloke his inward bale,
And hide the smoke that did his fire display.

SPENSER'S FAERY QUEENE.

The request of Mr. Armstrong, supported by the pleadings of his
daughter, prevailed upon Holden to remain to tea, and afterwards
to accompany them to the "conference," as a meeting for religious
purposes held usually on some particular evening of the week, was
called. Upon the conclusion of the service he was to return with
them and pass the night at the house of his host. It was not without
difficulty he allowed his objections to be overruled, nor was he ever
known before to have accepted such an invitation. But it had seemed of
late that as his influence with Miss Armstrong increased, so did hers
over him, until he became unable to deny her slightest wish. Perhaps,
too, the events of the afternoon, by bringing him more intimately into
communion with sufferings like those through which he had passed, had
softened his sternness and disposed him more for human companionship.

The little building where the "conference" met was of the humblest
pretensions. It was a weather-stained, unpainted wooden edifice of
one story, standing at no great distance from the meeting-house, and
capable of containing comfortably, probably a hundred people. The
interior was almost as rude and unattractive as the exterior, the
walls being coarsely plastered and dingy with smoke that had escaped
from a cast-iron stove which stood in the centre of the room. Benches
with backs were placed parallel to one another, and facing a sort of
rostrum or reading-desk, to which a passage betwixt the benches led.
The inside