you
swallered it down, smiling and happy; an' it ain't done you-all no mo'
good than stick candy does do a person that done taken poison an' needs
wahm water an' mustard. What you-all needed didn't be'n loving kindness,
but the terrors of the law, an' not _strained_, neider. An' if it takes
the las' day of my pilgrimage, you'll git 'em till you _begin_ to repent
an' show works _meet_ for repentence. But when you _begin_ to repent,
the word of mercy will come. 'Cause when the prodigal son be'n a _long
way off_, his father come a-runnin' to him. Now, hark to me: I went this
evening to the cunnel. He explained to me about the Baptis'
dis-_cip_-line." (A ripple of excitement in the audience.) "In
consequence, this chu'ch will hereayfter be the _Methodis'_ Zion Chu'ch.
That is why I am speaking fo' the las' time to Zion _Baptis'_ Chu'ch.
Ayfter to-night there won't be no Zion Baptis' Chu'ch. There ain't no
great differ_ence_ in doctrine, an' the dis-_cip_-line is more
convenient. Any brother or sister desiring it, an' not in danger of
catching col', can be immersed. The cunnel an' I done talked this over;
an' he done rented this chu'ch-house to _me_. If the congregation ain't
satisfied, they got to take to the woods. I also got one word mo' to
say: it is that the work of grace in this community is a right smart
hampered by the evil doings of Sister Susannah Coffin."

Susannah and her husband were both on their feet, both ready to speak;
but something in the attitude of the figure on the platform to which the
long lines of the mourning-veil gave a strange suggestion of sibylline
dignity, held speech away from them. Solemnly and not with any anger,
Sister Humphreys' eyes searched the eyes of the man and woman before
her, while the spectators held their breath. "Wherefo' it is bettah
ever' way," she said slowly, "that both her an' her husband go out from
us fo'evermo'. Bruddah Coffin, the cunnel has got another blacksmith,
an' you ain't got no mo' reason fo' stayin' on longer. And as fo' you,
_Sister_--"

"I won't go!" shrilled Susannah, hysterically weeping; it was with no
pretense now. "You cayn't fo'ce me!"

"You _will_ go, _Sister_, fo' you don' wanter lose the young man you got
now. You will go; an' you will take him along of you; an' you will go
_so far_ he cayn't heah no word of my sermons. Go in peace."

Susannah faced about, writhing between fear and rage. "You cowards! you
ornery, pusillanimous cowards!" she flung