We firmly say, No! If so, the New Testament must be suppressed. The
Divine Teacher spoke plainly both of the sin and the sinner. He had
scathing denunciation for the one, and compassion and mercy for the
other. Shall we enforce His teachings against all other forms of evil,
and not against this deadliest one of all--and that, too, in the
laxity and wide demoralization of our age, when temptation lurks on
every hand, and parents are often sleepless with just anxiety?
Evil is active, alluring, suggesting, insinuating itself when least
expected, and many influences are at work, with the full approval of
society, to poison forever all pure thoughts. And temptation is sure
to come at first as an angel of light.
There is no safety save in solemn words of warning, the wholesome
terror which knowledge inspires, the bracing of principle, and the
ennobling of Christian faith. There are too many incarnate fiends who
will take advantage of the innocence of ignorance.
Zell is not in her grave. She is sinning, but more sinned against. He
who said to one like her, of old, "Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven," loves her still, and Edith is praying for her. The grave
cannot close over her yet.
But as we look upon this long-lost one, as she reclines on a sofa in
Van Dam's luxurious apartments, as we see her temples throbbing with
pain, and that her cheeks are flushed and feverish, it would seem that
the grave might soon hide her from a contemptuous and vindictive
world.
Her head does ache sadly--it seems bursting with pain; but her heart
aches with a bitterer anguish. Zell had too fine a nature to sin
brutally and unfeelingly. Her betrayer's treachery wounded her more
deeply than he could understand. Even her first strong love for him
could not bridge the chasm of guilt to which he led her, and her
passionate nature and remorse often caused her to turn upon, him with
such scathing reproaches that even he, in his hardihood, trembled.
Knowing how proud and high-strung she was, he feared to reveal his
treachery in New York, a locality with which she was familiar; so he
said that very important business called him at once to Boston, a city
where he had few acquaintances. Zell reluctantly acquiesced in this
further journey.
They jaunted about in the North and West through the summer and
autumn, and now have but recently returned to New York.
With a wild terror she saw that his passion for her was waning.
Therefore, her reproaches and threats became at times almost terrific,
and again her servile entreaties were even more pitiable and dreadful,
in view of what a true wife's position and right ought to be. He,
wearying of her fierce and alternating moods, and selfishly thinking
of his own ease and comfort, as was ever the case, had resolved to
throw her off at the first opportunity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account