Will not the reader, as he takes one step after another in the progress of the story, realize more keenly than ever the unspeakable deceptions of Satan, so bewitchingly robed in the garments of subtle treachery? The course of Miss Church-Member is a sad comment on the moving masses who are so thoroughly led captive by the Devil as to imagine that they are traveling on a more convenient way to Heaven while they are actually on the Broad Highway to destruction. The logical ending of such a life is pictured in the remorseful and tragical experiences of Mr. World and Miss Church-Member in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is our prayer that each reader may be saved from such a terminus of life by journeying on the King’s Highway and taking Christ as his all in all. Then when he comes to the place made shadowy by the power of sin and death, he will be surrounded with a light from the sure city of God, and by a convoy of angels whose music will quell his rising fears and by whose power he will be transported to his never-ending home.
THE AUTHOR.
Contents
[1. The Meeting of Mr. World and Miss Church-Member]
[2. The By-Path]
[3. The Devil’s Optical College]
[4. Satan Interpreting Scripture]
[5. The Devil’s Pawn Shop]
[6. Satan’s Law Departments, (Underground)]
[7. The Hill of Remorse]
[8. The Valley of Temptation]
[9. The Tower of Temptation]
[10. Dark Schemes of Satan]
[11. Schools of Literature,—First and Second Divisions]
[12. The Theatre]
[13. Schools of Literature,—Third Division]
[14. The Devil’s Temperance College]
[15. Infernal School System]
[16. Expert Inventors of the Broad Highway]
[17. The Wizard City]
[18. The Festival]
[19. The Missionary College]
[20. The Rival Churches]
[21. From the Valley of Conviction to the Devil’s Auction]
[22. The Devil’s Hospital]
[23. Satan’s Secret Service]
[24. The Last Warning]
[25. The Valley of the Shadow of Death]
List of Illustrations.
[1. Looking through the open door of the Twentieth Century]
[2. Miss Church-Member hurries to the rescue of an unfortunate victim]
[3. “Let us follow this shining path,” hopefully urged Miss Church-Member]
[4. Leaving the Optical College]
[5. A scene in the Devil’s Pawn Shop]
[6. The Shorter and Broader Way to Heaven]
[7. The final triumph of right over the black hordes of civil iniquity]
[8. On the Hill of Remorse]
[9. The victory of Mrs. Discouraged on the Tower of Temptation]
[10. The Devil’s substitute for the prayer-meeting]
[11. A scene in the Devil’s Temperance College]
[12. The Wizard City]
[13. The Festival]
[14. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member entering the Valley of Conviction]
[15. The Devil’s Auction]
[16. Miss Church-Member carried to the Devil’s Hospital]
[17. Struggling with the real and imaginary imps near the Black River]
[18. The glorious end of the righteous]
Introduction
BY BISHOP RUDOLPH DUBS, D. D., LL. D.
In response to the earnest request of the author of this book I have written these introductory words, after a careful, deliberate reading of the allegory. What I have written expresses my own opinion of the book, uninfluenced by motives of friendship for the author or any other consideration.
The book is a powerful allegory, somewhat after the style of Pilgrim’s Progress, but in no sense is it an imitation of any existing work of the kind. It is a masterful presentation, wrought out with excellent judgment and consummate skill.