“It is simply overwhelming. I can understand now why it was not necessary for Jesus to live a long period of years on the earth in order to leave a deathless influence. Do you realize what courage and power the visit of Jesus put into the ministers? All over town yesterday, everyone was talking about the wonderful sermons heard on Sunday. People said there was nothing like it in all church history in Raymond.”

“I’m sure,” Stanton said warmly. “We had a wonderful sermon in our church. Mr. Maxwell, I never heard such a powerful sermon in all my life as you preached the day before yesterday.”

Mr. Maxwell’s eyes glistened. He had already had great love for his assistant, and his words of praise pleased him. “Thank you, Stanton. But what man could help preaching, after all we have seen and heard? The coming of Jesus and his message put such heart and hope into the church and into all Christian discipleship that it is not possible to measure its value. It will all lead shortly to a real and powerful union of the denominations in Raymond and all over the country. And that will mean a new and wonderful chapter in Christianity.”

“But how can we live without him, Mr. Maxwell? In the short week he was with us, how we all learned to love him! I would give anything right now to see and hear him. What will befall him in New York and Washington? How will he be received there?”

“It is impossible to say. I cannot help thinking of the quiet, unconcerned way in which he simply ignored the press representatives who crowded into Raymond. And they hardly realize yet that, without in any way seeming to avoid them, he succeeded in foiling all their impertinent efforts to exploit him for their own sensational purposes.”

“It was the rarest possible exhibition of wisdom and calm indifference to publicity I ever saw,” added Stanton. “Mr. Carter, especially, seemed to be disturbed greatly on account of Jesus’s indifference to his paper and all attempts to interview him. Did you hear a rumor to the effect that Mr. Carter was going to New York to follow up his career and expose him if possible?”

“I have heard something of the sort, but paid no attention to it. Carter is a violent, egotistic man centering all his ambition about his paper and its influence. I know he was deeply disappointed because neither he nor any of his reporters could get a picture of Jesus for his paper.”

“Nor any of the other press representatives. Mr. Maxwell, do you put that down as a miracle?”

“I don’t attempt to explain it. But my faith in him after the first few doubtful hours seemed to me to rest on who he was. His power, his sinlessness, and his superiority to all men impressed me irresistibly. I could not escape that for a moment.”