The Man From Glengarry

e Sabbath of her home, which, after the formal "church parade," as Harry called it, in the morning, her father spent in lounging with his

were brought in, clothes were brushed, boots greased or polished, dinner prepared, and in every way possible the whole house, its dwellers, and its belongings, made ready for the morrow. So, when the Sabbath morning dawned, people awoke with a feeling that old things had passed away and that the whole world was new. The sun shone with a radiance not known on other days. He was shining upon holy things, and lighting men and women to holy duties. Through all the farms the fie

nd healing, and the heart was summoned to look forward to new life and to hope for better things, and to drink in all those soothing, healing influences that memory and faith co

nister was preoccupied and impatient of any interruption of his thoughts. But his wife came to the table with a sweeter serenity than usual, and a calm upon her face that told of hidden strength. Even Maimie cou

, and they all made speed to pack themselves in, Maimie and her aunt in front, and Hughie on the floor behind with his legs under the seat; for wh

hich was to devour the space that stretched out before him, with a fine disregard of consequence. The first part of the road up to the church hill and down again

s. Murray's steadiness of nerve to repress an exclamation of terror at critical moments. The corduroy was Black's abomination. He longed to dash through and be done with it; but, however much the minister sympathized with Black's desire, prudence forbade that his method should be adopted. So from lo

woods, he tossed his great mane back from his eyes, and getting his head set off at a pace that foreboded disaster to anything t

ently to speak, "is that the church?" She pointed to a huge

ughie; "but we will soon be

hideous. No steeple or tower gave any hint of its sacred character. Its weather-beaten clapboard exterior, spotted with black knots,

s. But the gallery that ran round three sides was fitted with simple benches. Immediately in front of the pulpit was a square pew which was set apart for the use of the elders, and close up to the pulpit, and indeed as part of this structure, was a precentor's desk. The pulpit was, to Maimie's eyes, a wonder. It was an octagonal box placed high on

bosomed, and with faces of calm content, worthy to be mothers of their husbands' sons. The girls and younger children sat with their parents, modest, shy, and reverent, but the young men, for the most part, filled the back seats under the gallery. And a hardy lot they were, as brown and brawny as their fathers, but tingling with life to their finger-tips, ready for anything, and impossible of

tainless character, no one thought of him as an eminently godly man. In public prayer he never attained any great length, nor did he employ that tone of unction deemed suitable in this sacred exercise. He seldom "spoke to the question," but when he did people leaned forward to listen, and more especially the rows of the careless and ungodly under the gallery. Kenny had not the look of an elder, and indeed, many wondered how he had

erever he went. What a man he must have been in his day! Six feet four inches he stood in his stocking soles, and with "a back like a barn door," as his son Danny, or "Curly," now in the shanty with Macdonald Bhain, used to say, in affectionate pride. Then there was Farquhar McNaughton, big, kindly, and good-natured

, almost as big as Donald Ross and quite as kindly, but with a darker, sadder face. Something from his wilder youth had cast its shadow over his life. No one but his minister and two others knew that story, but the old man knew it himself, and that was enough. One of those who shared his secret was his neighbor and c

and which were sung at Mrs. Murray's Sabbath evening Bible class in the Little Church. Straight Rory had been educated for a teacher in Scotland, and was something of a scholar. He loved school examinations, where he was the terror of pupils and teachers alike. His acute mind reveled in the metaphysics of theology, which made him the dread of all candidates who appeared before the session desiring "to come forward." It was to many an impressive sight to see Straight Rory rise in the precentor's box, feel round, with much facial contortion, for the pitch-he despised a

nd steadfast regard to the minister's pew, Hughie nudged her and whispered: "There's Don.

dson of "Peter the Elder." Ther

nting with terrible directness str

ie," said his

nowing well that his mother would rejoice to hear that

r pointed straight into the f

" said his mot

he knew that the people were all wondering at her furious blushes. Of course the story of the sugaring-off had gone the length of the land and had formed the subject of conversation at the church door that morning, where Ranald had to bear a good deal of chaff about the young lady, and her dislike of forfeits, till he was ready to fight

lpit, and all waited with earnest and rev

b. He was above the average height, of faultless form and bearing, athletic, active, and with a "spring in every muscle." He had coal-black hair and beard, and a flashing blue

g to His praise in the one hu

lls will lif

doth come

ike a silver bell, and Maimie thought she

g his face and shoulders in a manner that threatened to ruin the solemnity of the worshipers under the gallery, till finally he seemed to hit upon the pitch desired, and throwing back his head and closing one eye, he proceeded on his way. Each lin

nmistakable delight in that part of "the exercises" of the day in which they were permitted to audibly join. But of all the congregation, none enjoyed the singing more than the dear old women who sat in the fro

n Lands congregation that day. The extraordinary slides and slurs almost obliterated the notes of the origin

ispered, "isn't

s way reached the deep places in her heart, and before she knew, she had found the tears coursing down her cheeks and her breath catching in sobs. Indeed, as she listened to-day, remembering these old impressions, the tears began to flow, till Hughie, not understanding, crept over to his mother, an

ging with all their hearts-awakened echoes from great deeps within her as yet unsounded. The days for such singing are, alas! long gone. The noble rhythm, the stately movement, the continuous curving stream

t, and indulged a habit of ponderous joking, trying enough to most people, but to one of Ranald's temperament exasperating to a high degree. His theme was Ranald's rescue of Maimie, and the pauses of the singing he filled in with humorous comments that, outside, would have produce

andered long from Ranald's direction, uttered a sharp "Oh, my!" There was a shuffling confu

ing up for prayer. His eye, too, ca

e in God's house. Let me not have to mention yo

aming between his fingers; and though Ranald was standing up straight and stiff in his place, Mrs. Murray could read from his rigid look the explanation of Peter's bloody face. She gave

and to come, and buttressing its petitions with theological argument, systematic and unassailable. Before the close, however, the minister came to deal with the needs of his own people. Old and young, absent and present, the sick, the weary, the sin-burdened-all we

eauty and impressiveness of the reading was lost by the frequent interruptions caused by the entrance of late comers, of whom, owing to the bad roads, there were a larger number than usual. The minister was evidently

to the reading of God's Word, and if you must know who are entering, I will tell you. Yes," he

re than a few verses when "click" went the door-latch. Not a head turned. It was Ma

here comes our friend Malcolm Monroe, and his good wife with him, and a long

to his seat. No sooner had the reading began again when once more the door clicked. True to his promise, the minister paused and cheerfully announced to his people: "This, my friends, is John Campbell, who

about him as if to discover where he was. He had no sooner taken his seat than the door opened again, and some half-dozen people entered. The minister stood looking at them for some moments and then said, in a voice of resi

mie sat in utter astonishment during this extraordinary proceeding would give but a faint idea of her state of mind. Even Mrs. Murray herself, who had become accustomed to her husb

extraordinary production. Calm, deliberate reasoning, flights of vivid imagination, passionate denunciation, and fervid appeal, marked its course. Its subject was the great doctrine of Justification by Faith, and it contained a complete system of theology arranged with reference to that doctrine. Ancient heresies were attacked and exposed with completeness amounting to annihilation. Modern errors, into which our "frien

"awake and give heed to the message," which for the next few minutes would have an application so personal and pungent that it would effectually prevent sleep for that and some successive Sabbaths. The only apparent lapse of attention occurred when Donald Ross opened his horn snuff-box, and after tapping solemnly upon its lid, drew forth a huge pinc

t limits of the alloted time had been passed, and announcing that the subject would be concluded on the following Sabbath, he summarily

ect and affection. Young men and old men, women and girls alike, were glad to get her word. To-day, however, the young men were not at first to be seen, but Mrs. Murray knew them well enough to suspect that they would be found at the back of the church, so she passed slowly around the church, greeting the people as she went, and upon turning the corner she saw a crowd under the big maple, the rendezvous for the younger portion of the congregation before "church went

heard Don interject, in a triumphant tone,

you are not ta

unmoved, and as Mrs. Murray drew slowly near, said, in a quiet voice of easy good-humor, to Aleck, who was standing with a face like that of a detected criminal: "Well, we will see about it to-

ou just come with me a little; I want to ask you about something." And M

eenth, and had a reputation for wildness. Fighting was their glory, and no one cared to enter upon a feud with any one of them. Murdie had interfered on Ranald's behalf, chiefly because he was Don's friend, but also because he was unwilling that Ranald should be involved in a quarrel with the McRaes, which h

their reputation, but that only made it more impossible for him to retreat. But Murdie knew better than to argue with him, so he turned away from him with an

to you, then?" ask

need to know, but she said this, whatever,

alking straight over to Peter, he offered his hand, saying, "I was too

and seizing Ranald's hand, said, heartily: "Never mind, Ranald

boys," said Murdie. "Co

w turn his face toward the minister's pew, without shame. And as he took his place in the back seat, with Peter Ruagh beside him, the glance of pride and gratitude that flashed across the congregation to him from the gray-brown

way through Coleshill, the Gaelic rhythm of the psalm

gry voices from without. More than Murdie heard that sound. As Murdie glanced t

w-findeth-out-" ch

s making up his mind to slip out, the minister was before him. Quickly he stepped down the pulpit stairs, psalm-book in hand, and singing as he went, walked quietly to

man whose strength thou art," marched up to the pulpit again, with only an added flash in his blue eyes and a little more triumphant swing to his coat-tails to indicate that anything had taken place. But Murdie looked in vain for Ranald to appear, and waited, uncertain what to do. He had a wh

rship, when the minister had gone to his study for a smoke, Hughie, who had heard t

served him right, too. But they made it all up, and they were just going into the church again, when that Aleck McRae pulled

mie. "You're not making

t Aleck by the neck and shook him just like a baby, saying, all the time, 'Would ye? I will teach you to fight on the Sabbath day! Here! in with you, every one of you!' and he threw him nearly into the door, and then they all skedaddled into the church, I tell you

boy's ethics or grammar, was as nearly overcome as he. She wished she knew where Ranald was. He had

aw Maimie to her room. But Maimie

od night, "I cannot go to sleep!" And then, after a pa

g keenly into the girl's face, m

e least part of his trouble. You need not worry about that. Good night, my dear."

luxuriating in the satisfaction of a good day's work behind him, and his first pipe nearly done. She at once ventured upon the thing that lay h

nts he lay si

is pipe, "perhaps I was a little severe with t

ou do?" said his wife

rascal had struck Aleck McRae first, and a very bad blow it w

gnant tears. "It was far more the fault of

r Ranald. I do not suppose he cares much. Besides, his f

"great, brutal fellow, t

re to face him." Then he added, "I wish I had known-I fear I spoke-p

d his wife, "wh

by fighting, and in the very shadow of the Lord's house, when Christian people were wo

f the second pipe he began to feel that, after all, Ranald had got no more than was good for him, and that he would be none the wor

re her own son or brother kept crowding in upon her. The vision of his fierce, dark, stormy face held her eyes awake and at length drew her from her bed. She went into the stu

tartled, she was about to waken her husband, when the man turned his face so that the moonlight fell upon it, and she saw Ranald. Hastily she threw on her d

ied, breathlessl

imply. "And I was just passin

m glad you came this way. Now

ad started a new idea in his mind

you going to

plenty to do.

r father

well, and he will not be needing me, and he said I could go." His

g, Ranald?" she said,

boy stoo

r home and your father, and-

m not for decent people. I am not for decent people. I kn

adly. "I thought-" she paused,

our door again before I went. Oh, I will never forget you! Never, never, and I am glad I am seeing you, for now you will know-how much-" The boy was unable to proceed. His sobs were shaking his whole frame, a

to find her voice, and the right words to say. She had no need of words, for in her face, pa

ay, and I will be ashamed before them all, and

, commanding her voice to speech. "I want you to be

scornful surprise. "Not if they wer

her advantage, a

e whole truth, Ranald, and he was

to any one in that community, a terrible thing to fall under

d be sorry if you should go away.

That the minister should think himself

ntinued, earnestly, "to see you pr

head. "I would

who marches bravely enough in the front ranks until the battle begins, but who shrinks back and seeks an easy place when the fight comes on, till his face fell before he

ing the effect of her words

ster's wife stood looking the way he went long after he had passed out of sight, and then, lifting her eyes to the radiant sky with its shinin