imes　he　did　notstop　until　he　fell—until　he　dropped　like　some　animal　felled　by　a　hammer—moaning；　on　his　face。

And　then　a　great　moaning　filled　the　church。

There　was　sin　among　them。　One　Sunday；　when　regular　service　was　over；　Father　James　haduncovered　sin　in　the　congregation　of　the　righteous。　He　had　uncovered　Elisha　and　Ella　Mae。　Theyhad　been　‘walking　disorderly’；　they　were　in　danger　of　straying　from　the　truth。　And　as　Father　Jamesspoke　of　the　sin　that　he　knew　they　had　not　mitted　yet；　of　the　unripe　fig　plucked　too　early　fromthe　tree—to　set　the　children’s　teeth　on　edge—John　felt　himself　grow　dizzy　in　his　seat　and　couldnot　look　at　Elisha　where　he　stood；　beside　Ella　Mae；　before　the　altar。　Elisha　hung　his　head　as　FatherJames　spoke；　and　the　congregation　murmured。　And　Ella　Mae　was　not　so　beautiful　now　as　she　waswhen　she　was　singing　and　testifying；　but　looked　like　a　sullen；　ordinary　girl。　Her　full　lips　were　looseand　her　eyes　were　black—with　shame；　or　rage；　or　both。　Her　grandmother；　who　had　raised　her；　satwatching　quietly；　with　folded　hands。　She　of　the　pillars　of　the　church；　a　powerful　evangelistandverywidelyknown。Shesaidnothi（was）　ngin（one）　Ella　Mae’s　defense；　for　she　must　have　felt；as　the　congregation　felt；　that　Father　James　was　only　exercising　his　clear　and　painful　duty；　he　wasresponsible；　after　all；　for　Elisha；　as　Praying　Mother　Washington　was　responsible　for　Ella　Mae。　It　was　not　an　easy　thing；　said　Father　James；　to　be　the　pastor　of　a　flock。　It　might　look　easy　to　just　situp　there　in　the　pulpit　night　after　night；　year　in；　year　out；　but　let　them　remember　the　awfulresponsibility　placed　on　his　shoulders　by　almighty　God—let　them　remember　that　God　would　askan　accounting　of　him　one　day　for　every　soul　in　his　flock。　Let　them　remember　this　when　theythough　he　was　hard；　let　th