David Bell looked almost imploringly at Mollie ; but she kept her seat , with downcast eyes . Over in the big square `` stone pew '' he saw Eben bending forward , with his elbows on his knees , gazing frowningly at the floor . `` I 'm a stumbling block to them both , '' he thought bitterly . A hymn was sung and prayer offered for those under conviction . Then testimonies were called for . The evangelist asked for them in tones which made it seem a personal request to every one in that building . Many testimonies followed , each infused with the personality of the giver . Most of them were brief and stereotyped . Finally a pause ensued . The evangelist swept the pews with his kindling eyes and exclaimed , appealingly , `` Has EVERY Christian in this church to-night spoken a word for his Master ? '' There were many who had not testified , but every eye in the building followed the pastor 's accusing glance to the Bell pew . Mollie crimsoned with shame . Mrs. Bell cowered visibly . Although everybody looked thus at David Bell , nobody now expected him to testify . When he rose to his feet , a murmur of surprise passed over the audience , followed by a silence so complete as to be terrible . To David Bell it seemed to possess the awe of final judgment . Twice he opened his lips , and tried vainly to speak . The third time he succeeded ; but his voice sounded strangely in his own ears . He gripped the back of the pew before him with his knotty hands , and fixed his eyes unseeingly on the Christian Endeavor pledge that hung over the heads of the choir . `` Brethren and sisters , '' he said hoarsely , `` before I can say a word of Christian testimony here to-night I 've got something to confess .
It 's been lying hard and heavy XXXXX my conscience ever since these meetings begun .
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