A Strange Meeting (S)

In a Bowery dance-hall we find Mary Rollins associated with those poor souls who walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. One of their number is a youth whose mother appears and tries to get him away from the place, but appeals are in vain and she goes to the little mission, where she finds Rev. John Stanton, the pastor, who is the good shepherd willing to seek the lost one. Stanton's entrance in the dance hall occasions vile derision from the mob, and, indeed, they would have assaulted him, had he not cowed them by an exhibition of his forced aggressiveness. Here he meets Mary, through whose glance he sees a pure soul which is being forced into the quagmire of crime by conditions. Before leaving with the boy, Stanton hands around cards on which is printed Psalm 23. These lines impress her so deeply that she is drawn to the little mission to hear the words of encouragement preached by the kindly spirited Mr. Stanton. How strongly do the words of holy writ, "Let them be ashamed who ...