“Oh! Mr. World, have pity on me! I had help when I had means and vitality. Oh! give me some relief now.”
Mr. World was so terror-stricken that he could not speak, but struggled with all his might to escape from the place.
He gained double strength, but of no use. These two men imagined that they had a claim on him by reason of his name, and therefore held on with tightening grasp. For a moment Mr. World ceased his struggling and looked at his two pitiable beseechers.
“I can give you nothing. Why torment me thus?” he tremblingly gasped with abated breath.
“In our better days we gave all we had to the world and now we need help. Surely you can give it.” They became furious and ranted the more at the thought of their past folly.
“Why come to me? Go to Mr. Flesh, or ask the Devil for help,” pleaded Mr. World.
“We have served the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. All have failed us miserably. To whom else can we go but to anyone within our reach? Oh! forsake us not in this awful plight!”
Poor Mr. World, unable longer to bear the sickening and threatening attack, sank to the filth-covered floor and groaned aloud.
At once a fierce and powerful being came to the rescue and, flinging the two unfortunates aside, lifted Mr. World to his feet and looked down upon him with his awful eyes.
Mr. Intemperance lay crouching near the side of Mr. Lust, each smarting under the pain of his fall.