Then came the monstrous creature again and sternly commanded them:
"Tarry no more on this side of the river's brink."
[Illustration: Struggling with the real and imaginary imps near the
Black River in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.]
They tasted the bitter fruits of opportunities lost, and felt the awful
pangs of a soul without hope as their reluctant footsteps carried them
on through the valley made dark by the shadow of their own deeds.
I then heard the discordant and agonizing wails of poor Miss
Church-Member and her wretched companion; but the sounds fell
harmoniously on the ears of Satan who listened to them chiming with
the music of Hell, in its deathlike rhythm, as it reverberated forever
from the depth beyond them, and from the throngs passing by.
Miss Church-Member could no longer hold fast to Mr. World. It took
both arms to contend with the real and imaginary imps who stood grinning
at her folly, and grievously tormented her from all sides.
"O mercy! mercy! Where am I?" she shrieked. "How can you be so
heartless, Mr. World? Why not rid me of these fiends?"
"Cry to me no more!" he groaned out in anguish.
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