Barriers Burned Away · Chapter
An Apparition explained
Christine, believing Dennis dead, returns to the Art Building and is overwhelmed by memories of him.
What happens
Christine, believing Dennis dead, returns to the Art Building and is overwhelmed by memories of him. When Dennis appears alive, she is terrified, thinking him a ghost. Their tense reunion reveals her assumption of his death, leading to bitter words. Later, Dennis recovers, returns to work, and moves his mother to Chicago, while his mother counsels him to pray for Christine and trust in divine providence.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Dennis's enduring love for Christine persists despite her rejection, and his mother's counsel emphasizes sacrificial prayer.
Faith and Doubt
Dennis struggles with doubt about Christine's character, while his mother urges faith in God's transformative power.
Suffering and Providence
Dennis's illness and Christine's guilt are seen as part of a divine plan; the mother speaks of 'fiery trials' and the 'crucible of affliction.'
Characters to notice
- Christine Ludolph
Believing Dennis dead, she returns to the store and is startled by his apparition; she is overcome with guilt and fear.
- Dennis Fleet
Returns to the store after illness, confronts Christine's belief he is dead, and later moves his mother to Chicago.
- Mr. Ludolph
Accompanies Christine to the store and later greets Dennis with less cordiality.
- Mr. Fleet
Dennis's mother, who counsels him to pray for Christine and trust in God's providence.
- Mr. Bruder
Welcomes Dennis back with joy; Dennis resumes art studies under his direction.
- Dr. Arten
Advises Dennis on health and warns against overwork.
Key passages
“She dreaded going to the store, especially for the first time, for everything would irresistibly remind her of him whom she could not think of now without a pang.”
Christine feared returning to the store because every object would trigger painful memories of Dennis.
Highlights Christine's guilt and unresolved grief.
“If a sculptor had wished to portray the form and attitude of one startled by the supernatural, never could he have found a more fitting model than Christine at this moment.”
Christine's terrified pose was so perfect that a sculptor could use her as a model for a statue of supernatural fright.
Emphasizes the dramatic shock of seeing Dennis alive.
“The crucible of affliction, the test of some great emergency, will often develop a seemingly weak and frivolous girl into noble life, where there is real gold of latent worth to be acted on.”
Suffering and crisis can transform a shallow person into someone of true character, revealing hidden value.
Foreshadows Christine's potential change through hardship.