Yes, that was it. A City of Fire. He dwelt in a City of Fire! Hell!
There was a hell on earth to-day and mortals entered it and dwelt
there. He lived in that City of Fire continually now. He expected to
live there forever. He had sinned against God and his better self, and
had begun his eternal life on earth. It was too late ever to turn back.
"All Hope abandon, ye who enter here." He had read it and defied it. He
had entered knowing what he was about, and thinking, poor fool that he
was, that he was doing a wise and noble thing for the sake of another.
Over in the little parsonage, the white souled girl was walking in an
earthly heaven. Ah! There was nothing, nothing they had in
common now any more. She lived in the City of Hope and he in the City
of Fire.
He flung out the book from him and dropped his face into his hands
crying softly under his breath, "Oh, Lynn, Lynn--Marilyn!"