In joyful spirits they sauntered forth on the wide and pleasant path, away from the Hospital and toward their imaginary Heaven. Miss Church-Member’s face was more cheerful and her footsteps more buoyant than at any time since she left the Valley of Conviction. Mr. World, observing her favorable condition, complimented her with these words: “Blessed be the memory of that Hospital, for I can see that your face is no more covered with the cloud of care that once robbed you of so many joys. The unkind intruder has drifted away, and now the light radiates from your every feature. It is also plainly evident that you are no more tormented by a troubled conscience.” “I am glad that my sufferings have not been in vain,” she modestly declared. “May the new light which you so readily notice in my face add to the pleasantness of our journey and the profit of our lives.” Their conversation grew more and more pleasant as they passed through a long stretch of woodland. They could see beyond, them, and in the rear, the legions that were traveling the same path and in the same direction. Emerging from the woodland they saw that their path came again in close proximity to the King’s Highway. The intervening space between the two paths, called the Wicked Valley, was all astir with every form of evil as practiced in the world of sin. In this vale nearly every traveler on the Broad Highway tarries awhile, and many are lured away from the Highway of the King here to mingle with the servants of Mammon. Mr. World and his friend paused opposite a cluster of magnificent buildings with frontage toward the Heavenly Way. Some were used by vulgar theatricals; some devoted to the sensual dance; some were occupied by the Devil’s maid-servants in prostitution, and many others were used as haunts of intemperance and personal pollution. All along the road to perdition at thousands of places stand such clusters of buildings, each under the command of one of Satan’s most efficient leaders. “Here,” said Mr. World, “let us take a long rest. If you have your glasses properly adjusted you can see new beauty behind magnificent walls.” She looked at first doubtfully. “Ah! I never frequented such places before. I would not as much as look at them.” “I doubt not your word, Miss Church-Member, but remember you are growing older and wiser. You are no more a narrow-minded creature influenced by prejudice and sophistry.” She was now in a condition to imagine that much of her earlier instruction was erroneous. She had not forgotten the teaching of the sermon in Mr. World’s church. Subsequently she reasoned that the only way to learn the taste of forbidden fruit was to eat of it. “I will enter these buildings as a student,” she soliloquized. “I will be cautious. Surely I have sufficiently clear judgment to discern between good and evil.”