"'Yes, father, I have become a 'Mormon.' God knows, I am a better man.'
"At this he became enraged to madness. 'My son a "Mormon!" he exclaimed fiercely. 'Never! I command you to drop this evil and come to your senses. 'Mormons!' they are the scum of the earth, coming here to contaminate decent people in this country.'
"For a moment there was silence and my mother came to me and put her arms around my neck, beseechingly looking into my eyes with a mother's fear.
"'O Mon,' she said trembling, 'obey your father, boy! give up these evil companions, do, Mon!'
"'But, mother dear, if you would only let me explain I'll show you all that they are not evil.'
"Angrily, my father separated us. 'Do you dare, Mon, to make your father out a liar?'
"I stood stupefied, hardly knowing how to take his unlooked for passion.
"'No, father,' I at last ventured, 'but you don't understand.'
"'Then I'm a fool! to be taught by a fanatical youngster of eighteen!' he returned hotly. 'Again, will you drop this thing, or not?'
"I felt a great strength surge up in me, and I stood erect.