“Were you present when Satan held that great convocation to devise plans for more efficient work against the church of Jesus Christ on earth?” “I attended every session.” “And did you hear the speech of Fast Devil?” “I heard every word.” “And did Satan give to Mr. World a true account of the address?” “He gave only a condensed and garbled rendering of it.” “Then I command you, O Blackana, to give me a full reproduction of Fast Devil’s speech as far as you are able to translate the language of Hell into words that are intelligible to me. Can you remember each thought?” “I must remember, for I have not the power to forget,” and Blackana groaned aloud. “Oh, that I could bury in oblivion the myriad thoughts that sting me with remorse!” He paused a moment. “Am I to give you the whole--speech as Fast Devil delivered it originally?” “Thought for thought, and gesture for gesture,” I answered with authority. Ere the last syllable fell from my lips Blackana was suddenly transformed into a more terrifying creature than he was himself. I was paralyzed at the sight of the weird monster which I learned was the image of Fast Devil. There he stood, tall and erect, seven times the height of man, with sinews like iron-rope and with a face defying human description. His eyes were fiery with life, and determination marked every movement as he stepped forward to speak. Notwithstanding my consciousness of being sustained by supernatural power, I trembled as Blackana reproduced this noted speech of Fast Devil: “Most honored chief and glorious master,” he commenced, “be thou indulgent as I speak to thee and unto these my comrades who lie in anxious posture over this vast expanse of Hell. I am here to state an issue of which we have heard murmurings for many an age. To prepare for this hour I have taxed my ingenuity to its utmost.” Then with striking gestures of his awful arms he passionately continued: “Hope is no more crushed within me as I view the wide and measureless field of our possibilities, for I see empires within our reach if we but cease brooding over our dismal past and let this bright prospect kindle its flames within us. What spur need we to move us on but to look up and see the resplendent regions whence we fell, till hatred starts afresh within our beings and our every passion moves to its control.” With an outward swing of his great right arm he asked in strong appealing tones: “How can we best succeed against the church in which our enemy glories so unceasingly? What inroads can we make? In what manner shall we advance?”