Guilt comes not, thundering on the wings of time, With vice-distorted feature and the leer of crime, But like enchanting vision from a pagan dream, Or softly echoed cadence of a whispering stream, She steals upon us gently, with ever-changing art, And usurps an empire--the waiting human heart! Her outward form is beauty, her voice with Passion tense, She only craves the privilege to gratify each sense; All apparent pleasures 'round her path are spread, But, alas! you seize the flower to find its fragrance fled; But still pursuing, row with bated breath, You clasp her to your bosom and--embrace a death! Then, conscience stricken, you the wreck survey, And with shuddering horror--humbly kneel to pray; While the pitying angels on their pinions bear The ever sacred burden of repentant prayer, And almighty love descending reasserts control, And mercy in the guise of grace has won a human _soul_. --_A Prisoner._ CHAPTER X. Remarkable Conversion and Experience of George H. Colgrove. Among the others who were saved that fourth day of November, 1888, at Waupun, Wis., was the very remarkable case of Geo. H. Colgrove. Years afterwards the chaplain said of him, "I regard him as an ideal--one of whom you would expect this report: 'If ever there was a good Christian man on earth he is one.'" At one time he had three Bible classes in prison each week--one in English and two in German--and was the means of the accomplishment of much good in the conversion of prisoners. [Illustration: GEO. H. COLGROVE.] HIS OWN STORY. The story of his life and conversion is given, as nearly as possible, in his own words, but as found in two different statements--some particulars being given in one that were not in the other--in order to make the account as complete as I can. It is very difficult for one in prison, especially, to write of themselves without giving to strangers the impression of either vanity and conceit on the one hand or of craft and deception on the other. Therefore, it is with considerable hesitation that I write. Yet my greet indebtedness to "Mother" Wheaton, who was chosen of God as the agent through whom His wondrous work should be made manifest to the world in my salvation, as also of many others, has at last led me to make the following statement: Just on the verge of manhood, at the age of nineteen, I obtained some _infidel literature_ of the mild stamp, yet scholarly and persuasive withal, containing no harsh criticism of Christian people and principles. This aroused my interest and admiration and led to my obtaining more of a like nature, until under their combined influence my youthful mind was entirely surrendered to such doubts and disbelief as they advocated.