3. The terrible experience of the two companions contending with the imps of the dark valley. 4. Their sad and tragic end as they catch a glimpse of what they might have been. After leaving the place of the Last Warning, the Broad Highway grew darker and darker as it steadily diverged from the King’s Highway. The little light that Satan’s pilgrims do enjoy is borrowed from “the path of the just that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Mr. World saw the deepening shadows and endeavored to be as cheerful as usually, hoping thereby to prevent any alarm in the mind of his faithful friend. The path, though wide, was now steeply descending, and travelers often slipped on the steeper inclines. I saw that the two companions descended with difficulty, cautiously watching every footstop, lest they, like many others, should fall to their hurt. They now gave but little attention to the things along the way, and when they did pause for rest on the easier grades, they found the meadows more barren and everything more dark and dank. Miss Church-Member had been painfully conscious of these unhappy contrasts, and asked repeatedly the meaning of all that her eyes beheld and her heart realized, but Mr. World, true to his nature, partly allayed her fears with words of hope and glowing promises. But I heard her again ask with a quivering voice: “Where is the light that so lately lent its blessed cheer, and whither go we stumbling downward in the dark?” “We only go in the darkest hour that comes before the dawn,” he said with a firm voice but a trembling heart. “Be hopeful, my dear, I will not forsake you.” Her heart was not calmed, for she could see his distress which he had hoped to conceal, and no one could minimize the surrounding scenes which now seemed like omens of death. They stood still, and learned, upon inquiry, that they were standing in the Shadows of Premonition. Mr. World could no longer endure the strain. His bold attitude gave way to his rising fears, for he saw that his wasted life was ending with no opportunity of redeeming its days. His whole body quivered as they walked still farther in a desperate effort to find relief. Miss Church-Member was almost overcome as she continued looking upon the ominous darkness around. She soon realized that her only refuge whom she had seized by the arm proved miserably weak in this hour of great need. “Oh! Mr. World,” she cried, in utmost agony of mind, “where have you led me? Save me ere I perish!”