And then in the midst of his wild tirade, Samuel stopped, and stared with horror in his eyes--realizing that this was Miss Gladys to whom he was talking! And suddenly a storm of sobs rose in him; and he put his hands to his face, and burst into tears, and turned and rushed from the room. He went down the street, like a hunted animal, beside himself with grief, and looking for some place to hide. And as he ran on, he pulled out the faded pictures he had carried next to his heart, and tore them into pieces and flung them to the winds. CHAPTER XXVII When Sophie came home that evening, Samuel had mastered himself. He told her the story without a tremor in his voice. And this was well, for he was not prepared for the paroxysm of emotion with which the child received the news. Miss Gladys had been the last of Samuel's illusions; but she was the only one that Sophie had ever had. The child had made her life all over out of the joy of working for her; and now, hearing the story of her treatment of Samuel, she was almost beside herself with grief. Samuel was frightened at her violence. “Listen, Sophie,” he said, putting his arm around her. “We must not forget our duty.” “I could never go back there again!” exclaimed the child wildly. “I should die if I had to see her again!” “I don't mean that,” said the other quickly--seeking to divert her thoughts. “But you must remember what I have to do; and you must help me.” He went on to tell her of his plan to fight for the possession of St. Matthew's Church. “And we must not give way to bitterness,” he said; “it would be a very wicked thing if we did it from anger.” “But how can you help it?” she cried. “It is hard,” said Samuel; “but I have been wrestling with myself. We must not hate these people. They have done evil to us, but they do not realize it--they are poor human beings like the rest of us.” “But they are bad, selfish people!” exclaimed the child. “I have thought it all out,” said he. “I have been walking the streets all day, thinking about it. And I will not let myself feel anything but pity for them. They have done me wrong, but it is nothing to the wrong they have done themselves.” “Oh, Samuel, you are so good!” exclaimed Sophie; and he winced--because that was what Miss Gladys had said to him. “I had to settle it with myself,” he explained. “I have got to carry on a fight against them, and I have to be sure that I'm not just venting my spite.” “What are you going to do?” asked Sophie. “I am going to put the facts before the congregation of the church. If they will do nothing, I am going to the people.” “But how, Samuel?” “I am going to call a meeting. See, I have written this.” And he took from his pocket a piece of paper, on which he had printed, in capital letters, as follows: TO THE MEMBERS OF ST. MATTHEWS!