in the face most unmercifully. Poor Benton struggled and groaned, but
did not endeavor to hurt his antagonist. The Deacon's hired hand was all
his time a looker-on, but he finally mustered up courage, and with great
difficulty succeeded in pulling the enraged Deacon off the poor man.
When the hired man had finally persuaded Gramps away from the scene,
Benton, bruised and bleeding in body, but victorious in soul, struggled
to his feet and went home, glad that he was counted worthy to suffer for
Jesus' sake.




CHAPTER VII


The community was stirred, no doubt about that. These were stirring
days. Not since the days when Union and Southern marauding parties
scattered terror in these woods had public excitement run so high as
now. The gossip of Benton's beating was on everybody's lips before the
sun went down that day. Everybody talked about it. Jake's friends were
warmer friends and his enemies were hotter enemies. Those who had been
neutral were neutral no more. There were just two parties now, those
against and those for holiness as taught and lived by Jake Benton. As
for old Jake, he kept sweet in his soul and talked little and prayed
much. His victory was complete.

In the midst of this excitement Jake received a short but significant
letter from Evangelist Blank. It ran thus:

Dear Brother Benton: