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Show 94 THE MORMON LION across lots any tithe cheat or apostate I catch. I ain't lost my bowie knife- my good old Nauvoo stickpin. Let me git at any one of the apostate cusses amongst you and I 'll cut his throat from ear to ear. " You hear what I say! I've give you fair warning. Now, not to-morrow, is the acceptable t ime of the Lord. I 'm speaking now to every man and woman amongst you what has sinned. Unless ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.' Repent and confess, lest you dte and go to eternal damnation. All you what have broken your covenants prepare t o stand up and conf~ss, that your sin~ may be ":ashed away by rebaptism and you rece1ved back mto the fellowship of the Saints. "Despair not of salvation, even them of you what've committed sins that ain't to be washed away by the water of baptism. You can still make atonement. Where water fails, you can yet be saved by the shedding of your blood. 'He who lays down his life shall save it.' Better death and a kingdom of eternal glory as a god in Heaven, :-vaited upon and served by the angels, than a few bnef years of earthly life with the certainty of hell to follow. " So you what've transgressed beyond purif1cation by water, I say, seize upon your only hope of salvation. Make preparation to have your blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof may ascend to Heaven for the remission of your sins! "-- Somethmg soft fell against my rigid shoulder. The shock broke the spell of horror that bound me to the speaker. Quivering and shuddering, I forced my gaze away from his fearful face and looked down. Lucy lay agamst me, mert. I mmst ened my stiff lips and leaned over to touch Mrs. Sen by, who sat glaring at that terrible speaker as I had glared. " She- has- swooned!" I whispered. When the lady looked at Lucy I thought that she too would faint. Her agitated movement drew the attention of Mr. Senby. He bent over to look at THE MORMON LION 95 Lucy and with instant decision, signed for me to carry' her out. As I took her up in my arms, he leaned towards the few persons who had observed us. " A poor sister of the handcart party," he whis-pered. "Not yet recovered." . Repeating this explanation to the cuneus, he Jed us up the aisle and noiselessly opened the door. Most of the congregation were far too intent _upon the ranting Prophet to heed us. Lucy lay m my arms so white and still that I feared she would d1e before we could revive her. Once outside the Tabernacle I ran with her straight to the place where I had seen hitched the bays of Ch1lcott s carnage. There was no one to hinder us. Mr. and Mrs. Senby hurried after me and obeyed my curt order for them to enter the carriage. Placing Lucy in their arms, I untied the horses and sprang upon the box. I doubt if the bays had ever before galloped so fast through the broad streets of the city. On the way Lucy revived from her swoon, only to cry out OLnd again lose consciousness. But the recovery though for so short a time, eased my agonized' fear that she was dying. As I carried her into the Sen by home, her aunt darted ahead of me. " Place her on the lounge, Brother DaVld, and go back at once," she directed. " You must explain our leaving in the midst of Brigham's exhortation. They'll consider it a dreadful thing. Do not fear for Lucy. It was the shock. For her to Jearn that the Prophet whom she revered, almost worshipped- - " " The Lion of the Lord- the Lion of the Mormon Lord!" spluttered Mr. Senby, his face purple with wrath. ' Aye! aye! ' Satan goeth forth as a lion, seeking whom he may devour! '- Satan?" " Brother apostate! " I cried. " God grant that we may save our dear ones out of this pit of infamy! " I kissed Lucy's cold white cheek, and hastened out to drive back to the Temple Block. |