But the bands of women have entered into an eternal agreement, pledged their faith one to another, and have been calling upon Heaven for help; therefore they declare that no flag will be lowered, and no gun will be silent until the great wall around the city of their foes shall fall, either at a long blast of the horn or a continuous volley from their ramparts.
CHAPTER IX.
THE TOWER OF TEMPTATION.
1. The tower affords the most advantageous view of the world and a most discouraging view of the King’s Highway.
2. The triumphant flight of Mrs. Discouraged from the tower’s top to a place on the King’s Highway called “Victory by Faith.”
3. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member ride from the tower’s top in Satan’s new air ship.
Mr. World and Miss Church-Member continuing on the Broad Highway, entered the Valley of Temptation with all its gaiety and outward happiness. This valley is known by the pilgrims of the King’s Highway as the Devil’s Heaven, for here the tinsel of the world, the pomp of society, and the wealth of material grandeur are manifested in all their glory.
“An exceedingly pleasant valley,” said Mr. World as they drew nearer to the scenes of activity on each side of the way.
“Beyond my anticipation, indeed. Our journey is growing more and more delightful,” she joyously replied.
As they journeyed on Miss Church-Member came into agreeable fellowship with some of her former Christian associates who, by looking over into the territory of the World, coveted its ways and were snared by one or another of Satan’s devices to catch the unwary. The larger portion of these new recruits were firmly convinced that they were still traveling on the road to Heaven, even though they had fully left the Narrow Way.
Miss Church-Member congratulated her comrades of earlier years on their happy choice of a wider and more pleasant path, and they accepted her invitation to spend a season together in the valley.