Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis

CHAPTER I

For years the state of sin in which dwelt Elmer Gantry and Jim Lefferts had produced fascinated despair in the Christian hearts of Terwillinger College. No revival but had flung its sulphur-soaked arrows at them -- usually in their absence. No prayer at the Y. M. C. A. meetings but had worried over their staggering folly.