He had just come back from the hall where he had now been going every Thursday evening, and where he had spoken on his favorite theme, "the meaning and responsibility of power, both financial and mental." He had treated the subject from the Christian point of view entirely.

He had several times roused his rude audience to enthusiasm.

Moved by his theme and his surroundings, he had denounced, with even more than usual vigor, those men of ease and wealth who did nothing with their money to help their brothers.

He had mentioned, as he went along, what great responsibility any great power puts on a man, and had dealt in a broad way with the whole subject of power in men as a thing to be used, and always used for the common good.
He did not recall his exact statements, but felt a little uneasy as he walked home, for fear he might possibly have influenced his particular audience against the rich as a class.

He had not intended anything of the kind, but had a vague idea that possibly he ought to have guarded some words or sentences more carefully.
He had gone up into his study to finish some work, when the bell rang sharply, and he came down to open the door just as Mrs.Strong came in from the other room, where she had been giving directions to the girl, who had gone upstairs through the kitchen.
The minister and his wife opened the door together, and one of the neighbors rushed into the hall so excited he could hardly speak.
"Oh, Mr.Strong, won't you go right down to Mr.Winter's house?
You have more influence with those men than any one around here!" "What men ?" "The men who are going to kill him if some one doesn't stop it!" "What!" cried Philip, turning pale, not from fear, but from self-reproach to think he might have made a mistake.