In "The Devil and Tom Walker," why didn't Tom's religious efforts aid him when it was time for the devil to come for him?

It is important to realise that Tom's religious conversion
is yet another example of satire. Irving is making a very critical comment about those
who try to mask their sin or to conceal it by a show of insincere piety. Let us note
that Tom only becomes interested in religion as he grows older, and obviously, religious
matters become more of a concern as he has to face the consequences of his tryst with
the devil. In addition, note how the narrator describes his
conversion:

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He became, therefore, all of a sudden, a violent
churchgoer. He prayed loudly and strenuously, as if heaven were to be taken by force of
lungs. Indeed, one might always tell when he had sinned most during the week, by the
clamour of his Sunday
devotion.

So great is his
show of piety that other members of the church find themselves suddenly "outstripped" by
his violent show of repentance. Clearly, the humorous tone of this quote reveals Tom's
insincerity. The thought of heaven being "taken up by force of lungs" is clearly
ludicrous, and just reinforces the desperate fear that lies at the heart of Tom's
conversion and its insincerity. Thus this conversion does not work because it is false
and not based on truth. Tom remains the same kind of sinner that he always was, but his
sin becomes all the more abhorrent by the way he tries to cover it up with fraudulent
piety.