Chapter One<br >Prelude To Worship<br >INTER.<br >Biting winds whistled through the deserted streets<br >of a quaint， northern town. The temperature con-<br >tinued to drop， but that failed to deter one lone man<br >from venturing outside. Heavily bundled to protect<br >himself against the sub-zero weather， with the ends of his plaid，<br >woolen neck scarf flapping in the wind， Jake Matthews walked<br >with steady， brisk strides. His hunched shoulders and forward<br >lean gave him the appearance of a man on a mission. Who else<br >would be out on such a fearsome night?<br > As Jake pressed onward to a destination known only to<br >himself， he spotted a trembling， emaciated dog cowering for<br >shelter behind a telephone pole. Something drew him a step<br >closer. He couldn t be sure， but it looked like a child had played<br >a cruel prank on the poor dog.<br ><br >