I saw another book thrown to the edge of the Pilgrim's Path. This was
taken by a woman who opened its pages and saw its evil tendencies.
Although drawn by the invisible chord, she did not step from the path,
but threw the book as far to one side as she could, and proceeded on
her journey happily singing:
"Yield not to temptation,
For yielding is sin.
Each vict'ry will help you
Some other to win."
This only enraged the wily foes, and they became more determined than
ever to continue their work of deception and ruin.
From one point or another I saw this dreadful work progressing. Each
station used a different kind of bait, pleasing or attractive to some
passing pilgrims. Here the enemy reaps a continual harvest
notwithstanding all the preaching, advice, and influence brought to
bear upon pilgrims to induce them to eschew all attractions not plainly
found upon their own pathway.
Some, whom Satan could not attract by a bait, he would catch with
snares, many of which I saw in operation, each guarded continually by
trusted servants of the Evil One.
One of the subtlest of these snares consisted of a series of small,
curiously shaped buildings. They stood as near to the King's Highway
as Satan could place them, while glaring signs informed the pilgrims
that they could here obtain knowledge upon any subject. Each building
was so constructed that, at the will of a secret operator, it could
be moved noiselessly from its resting place.
Many an unsuspecting traveler who craved for a solution to some mystery
would step into one of these neat rooms, and meet with a most cordial
reception.
I saw a man of more than usual intelligence, who had been faithful to
his Master, stop and read the sign over these buildings: "Bureau of
Information: All Mysteries Solved."
"Here," thought he, "in this humble place I can perhaps find some
pearls of thought which more inviting waters never yielded to me." He
stepped in, not noticing that he thereby stepped to one side of the
way.
"Can I have a mystery solved here?" asked the visitor.
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