Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/88

 dared to question the authenticity of his apostolic call. Her scepticism had aroused Isaac to a frenzy of religious enthusiasm. That the wife of his bosom should be the only voice to question his divine mission was proof positive that she had in some mysterious way become possessed of the devil—perhaps seven devils.

He determined to cast them out—by moral suasion if possible—if not, by the main strength of his good right arm. He must set his own house in order lest the very source of his inspiration be poisoned by lack of faith. He was devoting this morning to the task when Alfred arrived.

He had just finished a long and fervid explanation of the mystery of Sanctification.

"Fur de las' time I axes ye, 'oman, what sez ye ter de word er de Lawd?"

Aunt Julie Ann banged the board with the iron and merely grunted:

"Huh!"

Isaac rose and repeated his question with rising wrath:

"What sez ye ter de word er de Lawd?"

"I ain' heared de Lawd say nuttin yit!"

"An' why ain't ye?"

"Case you keep so much fuss I can't hear nuttin', Isaac Graham!"

"Doan you call me dat name, you brazen sinner