Playing With Fire

n and t

f her love thr

es of th

y heads glow

t asked

as the hawt

fe lay

s of a long

f reading it to Lady Cramer. Sometimes, also, he alluded to other company who were present, most frequently to the elderly Earl Travers, whom he described as an ultramontane Presbyterian. "He sits in a Free Church," he would say, with a slight tone of anger, "but his place is in one of the churches yet subject to C?sar, not

acrae that, on the very first night he met him at the Hall, Lady Cramer referred questions to the Earl that might have been left to his judgment. Even then, Dr.

mer to go with her to the service. She was delighted with the proposal and, with an intimate look at Dr. Macrae and a private handclasp as she passed him, vowed it would be the gr

thering together his personality, so largely diffused by his late happiness, and flooding the sermon he was to deliver with streams of his own feeling and intellect. And, oh, how good h

in itself sacrament

so calm,

of the eart

re standing at the field gates, idle and happy. In the pale sunlight the moor stretched away to the mountains, and si

im the congregation was gathered, he opened the vestry door. Then a very aged elder set wide the pulpit door, and Dr. Macrae-tall, stately, long-gowned and white-banded-walked with a serious deliberation unto that High Place from which he was to break the Bread of Life to the waiting

action when Dr. Macrae read with clear, powerful enunciation the last four verses of the sixth chapter of Hebrews, a

and entered into their enforcement with an overwhelming insistence. Something was to be donerather than explained. The sermon was almost fiercely theol

gs in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." And, again, very pointedly, he asked: "When we have done wrong, how shall we remedy the wron

does this clasps the heart of his people to him. He preached an hour and the time was as ten minutes.

on longed to speak to him and to touch his hand, but he walked through the gazing throng with uplifted face and towering form, silent and enwrapt with his own power and eloquence, and, going into the little vestry to unrobe, remained there until the Earl and Lady Cramer had departed, and only a few hu

ke you!" His heart beat pleasantly to her love and admiration, and, though Mrs. Caird only looked at him as he took his place at the table, he was as well satisfied as he had b

nd finds the Divinity did not respond to his call. Yet he knew well that we have our being in God, that God's ear lies close to our lips, that it is always listening, that we sigh into it, even as we sleep and dream. Why did not God give him again the personal joy of His salvation? He walked hour after hour all Monday up and down his study, e

calling in a regretful mood the power and splendor of its promises and assurances. He was "feeling after God, if haply he might find Him," trying to call up arguments for his existence, his personality, His loving and constant interflow into the affairs of men. But he had lost the habit of Faith, and was continually fi

elligible religious system; nor yet any belief which he could profess, or which he could defend from an assailant. He could find in it nothing that a man could have recourse to in the hour of trouble, or the

God is so terribly

swered. "When men know nothing, how

hough vast

intellec

to the hea

sand tend

ister, I am

rom that circle within which the Bible is

hy

er down negation? And I assure you it would become easy to repeat this descending movement

nt

e e

he

liding away toward the brink-and

a man who has taken this ro

answered, "There is the breadth, the depth, the boundless length,

Mrs. Caird, walking to the window,

ng," she said. "I wi

ts in her hand. He thought he had not been looking for her visit, but Mrs. Caird could have told him a different story. She knew by the care b

as such good taste-and I thought you would like the apricots-I expected you yester

did not speak. He was trying to recall the words he had resolved to say to her, but, when she lifted her eyes, they hastened out of

, passionate voice, "My God! I l

ne with me t

g, yes, yes,

scruples-if you

in the sweetness of your embrace, to know the miraculous joy of your

he answered. "The Earl says you have the eloqu

you,

ever since Sunday. Help me, dear

laughing into the room. And it is needless to say that in the evening Dr. Macrae took dinner as usual with Lady Cr

took an easy chair by an open window. The secret silence of the night was what she wanted. It was the fifth day of the moon, and its crescent moved with a melancholy air in the western heavens, while the exquisite perfume of the double velv

lish. This affair must be stopped. I will not allow it to go further. I dare not. I should become a Minister's wife if I did. Could I think of that? Decidedly not. I love him, yes. I love him, but I cannot sacrifice my life to make his life sweeter. Should I make it sweeter? I am sure I would not. Religion is very well on a Sunday m

ight; then the still, sweet atmosphere was invaded by the sudden impetuous trample of

so she nervously continued her soliloquy. "I dare say this is the hour that liberates ghosts; such a wind would open all the old doors in

e that his walking was not walking; he trod upon the air, the earth was buoyant under his feet. He knew not, he asked not, whether he was in the body or out of the body. The exquisite Ada

vens, "and I have blamed and punished those who have fallen th

a year's honeymoon among the storied cities and churches of the Mediterranean, and he began to consider what this proposal meant. Certainly it implied his resignation from the pulpit of the Church of the Disciples. Could he bear that? Would he like to sit and

n order to remain with helpless parents and succor them. They had received from their fellow creatures no particular praise nor indemnity, they had quietly resigned love for the nobler virtue of duty. Women without number were constantly making

er-in-law's voice and the tinkle of the breakfast china. Then came the call for co

ew you were awake, and thought

pleasantly she met them with a smile and, as he seemed

Marion?"

leep and Dreams,

uch we do not know, and never can know,

triving for Truth we begi

, Jessy. Have yo

and, also, the will of genius. When you were preaching last Sunday your words were arrows of the Almighty, they did not fly according to the rules of logic; if they had would they have found the hearts of the peopl

there is a minister in my pla

nd of a

Church m

an is he sure on Moses and reverent with the Gospels

doubts, he does not babble

you doing

ow. When I was a lad, Joseph Milner's 'Church History,' and Newton on the 'Prophecies' were in every ho

a book against the Bible lying on the pa

but God is directing it. We can do nothing.

end. I heard Dr. Wardlaw say that, and, also, that what is done is done, and it will work with the working universe, openly or secretly, forever. When Jethro, the Midianitish priest and grazier, hired an Hebrew outlaw as his h

powered by any circumstance, I should be the sport of Fate. I should indeed be then Not Elect." With these words he rose, stra

derstanding the fact that marriage could not separate him from his spiritual work. He was dressed and waiting long before he could reasonably expect the carriage, but at three o'clock it had not arrived, and he was so

y business letter, dear, but you know we cannot neglect business, especially as our contemplated year's travel will draw deeply on our resources. I shall not f

r A

with sable fur. The small blue and brown toque above her brown, braided hair gave her quite a new look. She was so chic, so radiant, so loving. And, in some of the occult ways known to women, she managed in those few minutes to make him bo

id to Mrs. Caird, and she looked into h

d, also, that the minister who had been filling the pulpit of the Church of the Disciples during his month's rest proposed to come to Cramer and stay part of the last week with him.

course of self-indulgence. His stoutness reduced his height, he had become slightly bald, and he wore glasses; so Dr. Macrae'

as you, Macrae," he said, "but a

, and he admired the turnout very much. "That is a fine mac

"It belongs to Lady Cramer. I have, by

unusual k

ts beautiful furnishings. Very littl

There are a few wealthy families-but-but they do not lift themselves

es

ir donations. I suppose you are on a very eas

are good

ongs to the best period, having the square mark on it." The light shone on olives and grapes, on cut glass and silver, and specially on a claret jug of Worcester, with its exotic birds, its lasting gold, and its scale-blue ground lik

trip himself bare of all the beauty around him. "Not one of these lovely things is mine," he said.

nswer. "The possession of artistic beauty de

never b

e a fine

es to save both his money and his soul

important he and his visitor should go to Glasgow on Thursday. "Take him to Bath Street," she said. "Maggi

of the exigencies of their prolonged conversations Dr. Macrae unfortunately referred to the p

-day, with our 'tendencies' and 'streams of influence' and o

usly. "Streams of influence imply spiritual beings

eousness,' God. No, sir, you cannot, without striking at the very foundation of Theism. The next step

re mere spiritual curiosity.

ound a scheme of scientific morality based on the natural instead of the supernatural, he wo

e of the Bible and Christianity, it must be able to guide the ignorant and humble, and restrain and comfort men. Philosophy failed Cicero at t

her of the Scotch Church. My articles stipulate that I shall preach the doctrines of Christianity as

N

recognized means of business. I accepted Divinity as such. I agreed to preach Calvinism

ieve what y

it. I was licensed to be a preacher of Calvinism, and I have never preached anything else. My brother has the authority of the courts to be a pleader for criminals. He pleads well for them, and he does not much care whether they are guilty or innocent. You se

eptic-as many now are-wo

reach a good Calvinistic sermon; that is what I qualified myself for. It is my business. If you have been in London you have seen in the great thoroughfares men in scarlet blouses, whose business it is to direct

so, I would le

the higher criticism is like the sickly talk of the higher civilization; it is anemia in some form or other. Macrae, we have our dut

uth-the Tru

knows? The Truth of yester

naffected by time, and remains a witness

able heavily with his closed hand and

f all this religion

wered, "Then, wher

there was that look which is only seen in the

is ready," and they rose together. Passing the parlor they heard Marion trying a new s

y song, thou

he waln

Love, bec

e love

; and the tempting odors of young hyson, fresh bread, and a rook pie filled the room. Involuntarily everyo

motions. Such a va

so. A rook pie! That is a luxury indeed!

sense of proprietorship which flavors a coming good. He was ashamed of it, and made some foolish remark about the rook

s full of blessings. I wish I lived in

leaseth me well; but, in respect that it is not in the city, it is tedi

early,

ten o

ll do ve

ns in his mind. Was it possible that this doubt of God's existence-of the inspiration of the Bible-of the dogma of eternal punishment and other vital po

tten," Dr. Scott had said, with an air of knowledge and certainty; adding, "Belief i

, the divinity of Jesus Christ." At these words Mrs. Caird flushed angrily, and looked at Ian. She expected him to deny this accusation, but he

anity, with C

f deploring i

metaphysic lor

, leaving the

but made no other answer to

d anxiously at his sister as she answered without a moment's hesitation, "A want of belie

ave to talk to congregations who know all

d the divine in men, bring them past every disability of race, station, or morality, right into

is era of the Church. They would

m. Better do nothing than

ization, M

e individual. Besides, our civilization, whatever

hey must be considered, and your brother and I, and every minister, knows that our people judge for themselves and only accept what they desire to accept. Is not that s

ister's answer, "To be sure, Dr. Scott, we all know well that Scotsmen

ay together, and Jessy sadly walked through the per

f sense, perver

ain, through guilt

e is on Thy cr

on on this tremendous subject seemed so ineffectual, so mockingly beneath its meaning and its needs. It wearied his aching heart and brain, and gave him neither hope no