"Dare to strike me, and my Jehovah God will punish you. He protects us,
and will punish you for burning His Church, for hatred to His Worship
and people, and for all your bad conduct. We love you all; and for doing
you good only, you want to kill us. But our God is here now to protect
us and to punish you."

They yelled in rage, and urged each other to strike the first blow, but
the Invisible One restrained them. I stood invulnerable beneath His
invisible shield, and succeeded in rolling back the tide of flame from
our dwelling-house.

At this dread moment occurred an incident, which my readers may explain
as they like, but which I trace directly to the interposition of my God.
A rushing and roaring sound came from the South, like the noise of a
mighty engine or of muttering thunder. Every head was instinctively
turned in that direction, and they knew, from previous hard experience,
that it was one of their awful tornadoes of wind and rain. Now, mark,
the wind bore the flames away from our dwelling-house; had it come in
the opposite direction, no power on earth could have saved us from being
all consumed! It made the work of destroying the Church only that of a
few minutes; but it brought with it a heavy and murky cloud, which
poured out a perfect torrent of tropical rain. Now, mark again, the
flames of the burning Church were thereby cut off from extending to and
seizing upon the reeds and the bush; and, besides, it had become almost
impossible now to set fire to our dwelling-house. The stars in their
courses were fighting against Sisera!

The mighty roaring of the wind, the black cloud pouring down unceasing
torrents, and the whole surroundings, awed those savages into silence.
Some began to withdraw from the scene, all lowered their weapons of war,
and several, terror-struck, exclaimed, "That is Jehovah's rain! Truly
their Jehovah God is fighting for them and helping them. Let us away!" A
panic seized upon them; they threw away their remaining torches; in a
few moments they had all disappeared in the bush; and I was left alone,
praising God for His marvelous works. "O taste and see that God is good!
Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!"

Returning to the door of the Mission House, I cried, "Open and let me
in. I am now all alone."

Mr. Mathieson let me in, and exclaimed, "If ever, in time of need, God
sent help and protection to His servants in answer to prayer, He has
done so to-night! Blessed be His holy N