In the strife of a great city two sisters take different paths, one a humble home with honest hearts, the other, a gilded life of luxury and ease, without the holy name of wife. At the opening of the story the contrast of their lives is ...See moreIn the strife of a great city two sisters take different paths, one a humble home with honest hearts, the other, a gilded life of luxury and ease, without the holy name of wife. At the opening of the story the contrast of their lives is shown. Tom and Alice, although poor, find much to be thankful for and are happy with their family of four small children. One night the husband, while in faithful execution of his duties as night watchman, discovers burglars at work upon his employer's safe. He unfortunately reaches the scene the moment the safe explodes and is killed by the heavy door. The next morning his dead body is found and taken to the home of his wife. Helen, while taking her chocolate in bed, reads of the disaster that has befallen the home of her sister. Being deeply touched, she dispatches a message, offering assistance, which is firmly resented by the widow, together with her offering of flowers. Alice, unprovided for by the death of her husband, secures employment. Helen, penitent of her sins, goes to the humble rooms of her sister to ask forgiveness. She finds Alice absent, but her call is made agreeable by the children, who mistake her for the mission worker. While fondling them the mission attendant arrives, and is dismissed by Helen, who decides to assume the care of the children under the guise of a mission worker. This deception is practiced for a long time, much to the pleasure and enjoyment of the children, but to the discomfort and suspicion of Phil, who, upon one occasion, follows her to ascertain the cause of her habitual absence in the afternoons. Helen, in her leave, picks up a half finished letter to the mission workers in which her sister expresses her appreciation and thanks to the angel that has made here household so happy. The thought of giving up the children fills her with pain as she goes away. Instances of the life which had heretofore tempted and pleased her are now repulsive and fail to satisfy and she is deeply moved to shame. Phil, unable to appreciate the awakening of her soul, is silent to her appeal for the right to he called "wife." Unable to forbear any longer, she leaves the home of luxury and seeks refuge in the sanctuary of the mission workers, where she is received kindly and made one of them. Her sister, upon availing herself of her chance to personally thank the mission workers, calls and nearly encounters Helen, Phil, upon learning of Helen's leave, is deeply moved and love finds expression in a note he pens, offering any concession if she will again come back. He decides to leave it with the children, who had occupied so much of her time. Helen, who in the meantime, having resumed her calls, unexpectedly encounters Alice, who orders her from the house. She goes to the mission where she unburdens the bitter truth to an old minister, who, in sympathy, requests that she return with him. Phil, in the meantime having arrived at Alice's home, is told by the children that their angel would come no more. Alice enters, and upon learning Phil's relation with Helen, demands that he leave. They are, however, interrupted by the arrival of the minister with Helen, who quotes from the Bible, "that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Alice is awakened to a fuller understanding, and the minister is called upon to perform the marriage between the repentant Phil and Helen. Written by
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