第19章

"Oh，Shock，"hesaid，"thisistoomuch。WhatcanIsay？"

"Nothingatall，oldchap。Don’tsayanythingWhatisthatbetweenus？Wehavebeenthroughtoomanythingstogethertohavethisbotherus。"

"Shock！Shock！"continuedTheDon，"Ihavebeenanawfulfool，ablank，cursedfool！"

"Don’tswear，oldchap，"saidShock。

"No，no，Iwon’t，butIcursemyself。Ihavebeenwaitingforthischancetotellyou。Idon’twantyoutothinktoobadlyofme。ThisthingbeganinHickey’ssaloonsomedaysbeforethatnight。Hewasplayingsomefellowsfromthecampaskingame。Icalledhimdownandhechallengedme。Itookhimup，andcleanedhimouteasilyenough。Youknowmyoldweakness。Thefevercamebackuponme，andI

gotgoingforsomedays。ThatnightIwascalledtovisitasickgirlatNancy’s。Thegangcamein，foundmethere，andthrowingdowntheirmoneydaredmetoplay。Well，Iknewitwasplayorfight。I

tookofmycoatandwentforthem。Theycleanedmeout，Ican’ttellhow。Icouldnotgetontotheirtrick。Then，determinedtofindout，Iputupthat——thatothermoney，youknow——andIwaslosingitfast，too，whenyoucamein。"

AsShocklistenedtoTheDon’sstoryhisfacegrewbrighterandbrighter。

"Mydearfellow，"hesaidinatoneofrelief，"isthatall？Isthatthewholething？Tellme，asGodhearsyou！"

"That’sthewholestory，asGodhearsme！"saidTheDonsolemnly。

"Oh，thankGod！"saidShock。"Ithought——Iwasafraid——"Hepaused，unabletogoon。

"What！YouthoughtIhadforgotten，"criedTheDon。"Well，Iconfessthingsdidlookbad。ButIwanttotellyouIamclean，andmayGodkillmebeforeIcanforget！No，nowomanshallevertouchmylipswhileIlive。Doyoubelieveme，Shock？"

Shockputouthishand。Hewasstilltoomuchmovedtospeak。

Atlengthhesaid:"Nothingelsematters，Don。Icouldnotbeartheotherthing。"

Forsomeminutesthefriendssatinsilence。

"But，Don，"saidShockatlength，"youcannotgoonthisway。Yourwholelifeisbeingruined。YoucannotdrawofffromGod。YouhavebeenkeepingHimatarm’slength。Thiswillnotdo。"

"Itisnouse，Shock，"saidTheDonbitterly。"Myheadisallright。

Ibelievewithyou。ButIcannotgetoverthefeelingIhaveforthat——"Hebrokeoffsuddenly。

"Iknow，Iknow。Ifeelit，too，oldchap，butafterall，itisnotworthwhile。Andbesides，Don，forgivemesayingthis——ifithadnotbeentrueaboutyouhecouldnothavehurtyou，couldhe？"

TheDonwinced。

"Iamnotexcusinghim，norblamingyou，"continuedShockeagerly，"butamanhasgottobehonest。Isn’tthatright？"

"Oh，yes，itistrueenough，Shock。Iwasabeast，asyouknow，atthattimeinmylife，butIhadputitallpastme，andIbelievedthatGodhadforgivenme。Andthenthosetworakeditallupagain，andbrokemydarling’sheart，anddrovemeaway，anoutcast。Heisaministerofthegospel，andsheisamemberoftheChristianChurch。"

"Don，"saidShockgravely，"thatwon’tdo。Youarenotfair。"

Thedooropenedquietly，andthenursecameinandsatdownoutofShock’ssightbehindthebed。

"Now，Don，IwantyoutoreadformethattaleofthePhariseeandthewomanwhowasasinner。Formysake，mindyou，aswellasforyours，forIwaswrong，too，onthismatter。IconfessIhatedhim，forIcannothelpthinkingthathehasdonemeagreatwrongsandI

havefoundithardenoughtosaytheLord’sPrayer。Perhapsyouhadbetterreadthislettersothatyoumayunderstand。"

HetookfromunderhispillowMrs。Fairbanks’letterandgaveittoTheDon，whoreaditinsilence。PoorShock！Hewasopeningupwoundsthatnonehadeverseen，orevensuspected，andthemereuncoveringofthembroughthimkeenanguishandhumiliation。

AsTheDonreadtheletterhebegantosweardeepoaths。

"Stop，Don。Youmustn’tswear。Nowlistentome。Ithinkshehasaperfectrighttodoasshehasbeendoing。But——Lloyd"——Shockseemedtogetthenameoutwithdifficulty，——"wasmyfriend，andIthinkhehasnotbeenfair。"

"Fair！"burstoutTheDon。"Thelowdownvillain！"

"Butlisten。Thequestionwithmehasbeenhowtoforgivehim，forI

mustforgivehimorkeepfarfromHimwhohasforgivenme，andthatIcannotaffordtodo。Nowread。"AndTheDontookuptheBiblefromthelittletablebesideShock’sbed，andreadthatmosttouchingofalltalestoldoftheSaviourofthesinful。

"’WhereforeIsayuntothee，hersins，whicharemany，areforgiven，forshelovedmuch:buttowhomlittleisforgiven，thesamelovethlittle。Andhesaiduntoher，Thysinsareforgiven。Thyfaithhathsavedthee;goinpeace。’"

AsTheDonfinishedreading，asoundofsobbingbrokethesilenceintheroom。

"Whoisthat？Isthatyou，Nell？"saidShock。"Whatisthematter，Nell？Thatisforyou，too。NowwewillhaveDonreaditagain。"Andoncemore，withgreatdifficulty，TheDonreadthewords，soexquisitelydelicate，sodivinelytender。

"Thatisforyou，too，Nell，"saidShock。

"Forme？"shecried。"Oh，no，notforme！"

"Yes，Nell，mysister，itisforyou。"

"Oh，"shecried，withatempestofsobs，"don’tcallmethat。Itcannotbe。Icanneverbecleanagain。"

"Yes，Nell，HesaysitHimself。’Hersins，whicharemany，areforgiven，’andHecanmakeyoucleanastheangels。Weallneedtobemadeclean，andHehasundertakentocleanseus。"

ItwasaveryhumbleandchastenedmanthatwentoutfromShock’spresencethatevening。ThroughthedaysoftheweekthatfollowedTheDonwentabouthisworkspeakinglittle，butgivinghimselfwithearnestnessandinanewspirit，moregentle，moresympathetic，tohisministrytothesickinthecampsandshacksroundabout。Butstillthegloomwasunliftedfromhisheart。Daybyday，however，inresponsetoShock’srequesthewouldreadsomethingofthestoryofthatgreatlovingministrationtothepoor，andsick，andneedy，andofinfinitecompassionforthesinfulandoutcast，tilloneday，whenShockhadbeenallowedforthefirsttimetositinhischair，andTheDonwasabouttoread，Shockaskedforthestoryofthedebtors，andafterTheDonhadfinishedhetookfromhispocketBrown’sletterandsaid:

"Now，Don，forgiveme。Iamgoingtoreadsomethingthatwillmakeyouunderstandthatstory，"andhereadfromBrown’sletterthewordsthatdescribedBetty’slasthour。

TheDonsatwhiteandrigiduntilShockcametothewords，"Godforgivesusall，andwemustforgive，"whenhisself—controlgavewayandheabandonedhimselftothefullindulgenceofhisgreatsorrow。

"Itwasnottogrieveyou，Don，"saidShock，afterhisfriend’spassionofgriefhadsubsided。"Itwasnottogrieveyou，youknow，buttoshowyouwhatisworthwhileseeing——themannerofGod’sforgiveness;forassheforgaveandtookyoutoherpureheartagainwithoutfearorshrinking，soGodforgivesus。And，Don，itisnotworthwhile。inthefaceofsogreataforgiveness，todoanythingelsebutforgive，anditisacruelthing，andawickedthing，tokeepatadistancesuchloveasthat。"

"No，no，"saidTheDon，"itisnotworthwhile。Itiswicked，anditisfolly。Iwillgoback。Iwillforgive。"

XIX

THEREGIONSBEYOND

ThevisitoftheSuperintendenttoamissionfieldvariedaccordingtothenatureofthefieldandthecharacteroftheworkdone，betweenaninquisitorialprocessandatriumphalmarch。Nothingescapedhiskeeneye。Itneedednoquestioningonhisparttobecomepossessedofalmostallthefactsnecessarytohisfullinformationaboutthefield，thework，thefinancialcondition，andthegeneralefficiencyofthemissionary。Oneortwopointshewassuretomakeinquiryabout。Oneofthesewasthecarethemissionaryhadtakenoftheoutlyingpoints。Hehadtheeyeofanexplorer，whichalwaysrestsonthehorizon。Theresultsofhisinvestigationscouldeasilybereadinhisjoyorhisgrief，hishopeorhisdisappointment，hisgenuineprideinhismissionaryorhisblazing，scorchingrebuke。

TheoneconsiderationwiththeSuperintendentwastheprogressofthework。Theworkfirst，theworklast，theworkalways。

TheannouncementtoShockthroughhisConvener，thattheSuperintendentpurposedmakingavisitinthespring，filledhimwithmoreorlessanxiety。HerememberedonlytoowellhisfailureattheFort;hethoughtofthatpostscriptintheSuperintendent’slettertohisConvener;heknewthateveninLoonLakeandinthePasshischurchorganizationwasnotanythingtoboastof;andaltogetherheconsideredthattheresultshehadtoshowforhisyear’slabourwerefewandmeagre。

Thewinterhadbeenlongandsevere。InthePasstherehadbeenagreatdealofsickness，bothamongtheminersandamongthelumbermen。Theterriblesufferingsthesemenhadtoendurefromthecoldandexposure，forwhichtheywerealltooinadequatelyprepared，broughtnotonlyphysicalevilsuponthem，butreactedinorgiesunspeakablydegrading。

Thehospitalwasfull。NellhadbeenretainedbyTheDonasnurse，andalthoughforatimethismeantconstanthumiliationandtrialtoher，sheboreherselfwithsuchgentlehumility，anddidherworkwithsuchsweetanduntiringpatience，thatthemenbegantoregardherwiththatentirerespectandcourteousconsiderationthatmenoftheirclassneverfailtogivetopureandhigh—mindedwomen。

TheDonwasfullofwork。Hevisitedthecamps，treatedthesickandwoundedthere，andbroughtdowntothehospitalsuchasneededtobemovedthither，andgraduallywonhiswayintotheconfidenceofallwhocameintotouchwithhim。EvenIke，afterlonghesitationandsomewhatcarefulobservation，gavehimoncemorehisrespectandhisfriendship。

ThedoctorwaskeptbusybyanepidemicofdiphthericcroupthathadbrokenoutamongthechildrenoftheLoonLakedistrict，andbegantotakeoncemoreprideinhiswork，andtoregainhisself—respectandself—control。HetookespecialprideandjoyintheworkofTheDonatthePass，anddidallhecouldtomakethehospitalandtheclubroomaccomplishallthegoodthatShockhadhopedforthem。

ButthoughthehospitalandclubroomhaddonemuchforthemenofthePass，therewasstilltheancientwarfarebetweentheforcesthatmakeformanhoodandthosethatmakeforitsdestruction。

Hickeystillranhissaloon，andhisgangstillaidedhiminallhisnefariouswork。Menwerestill"run"intothesaloonorthered—

lighthouses，theretobe"rolled，"andthencetobekickedout，fitcandidatesforthehospital。Thehospitaldoorwaseveropenforthem，andwhateverthehistory，thephysicalormoralconditionofthepatient，hewasreceived，andwithgentle，lovingministrationtendedbacktohealth，andsentoutagaintocampormine，oftenonlytoreturnforanotherplungeintotheabyssoflustandconsequentmisery;sometimes，however，tosethisfeetupontheupwardtrailthatledtopureandnoblemanhood。ForTheDon，whileheneverpreached，tookpainstomakecleartoallwhocameunderhischargetheresultsoftheirfollyandtheirsintobodyandtomind，aswellastosoul，andhehadthetrickofforcingthemtotakeuponthemselvesthefullresponsibilityfortheirdestiny，whetheritwastobestrength，soundnessofmind，happiness，heaven，ordisease，insanity，misery，hell。Itwasheart—breakingwork，forthedisappointmentsweremanyandbitter，butwithnowandthenanachievementofsuchsplendidvictoryasgavehopeandcouragetokeepupthefight。

AtLoonLakeduringthewinterShockhaddevotedhimselftotheperfectingofhischurchorganizationACommunionRollhadbeenformedandonitnamesenteredofmenandwomenwhoselastchurchconnectionreachedbackfortenorfifteenortwentyyears，andalongwiththosethenamesofsomewhohadneverbeforehadaplaceinthatmysticorderofthesaintsofGod。And，indeed，withsomeoftheseShockhadhadhisowndifficulty，notinpersuadingthemtoofferthemselvesascandidates，butinpersuadinghimselftoassumetheresponsibilityofacceptingthem。ToShockwithhisHighlandtrainingitwasaterriblysolemnstepto"comeforward。"Theresponsibilityassumed，bulkedsolargelyintheopinionofthosewhomShockhadalwaysregardedaspeculiarlymenofGod，thatitalmost，ifnotaltogether，obliteratedtheprivilegegained。

WhenamanlikeSinclair，whosereputablecharacterandsteadylifeseemedtoharmonizewithsuchastep，hehadlittledifficulty;andhadtheKid，withhisquickintelligence，hisfinenessofspiritandhiswinningdisposition，appliedforadmission，Shockwouldhavehadnohesitationinreceivinghim。ButtheKid，althougharegularattendantontheservices，andthoughhetookespecialdelightintheSabbatheveninggatheringsafterservice，hadnotapplied，andShockwouldnotthinkofbringinghimunderpressure;andallthemorebecausehehadnotfailedtoobservethattheKid’sinterestseemedtobemorepronouncedandmoresteadfastinthosemeetingsinwhichMarion’ssingingwasthefeature。True，thispeculiaritytheKidsharedwithmanyothersoftheyoungmeninthedistrict，toShock’sveryconsiderableembarrassment，thoughtothegirl’sinnocentandfrankdelight;anditisfairtosaythattheyoungmen，whomShockhadputupontheirhonorinregardtoonewhowasbutachild，neverbywordorlookfailedinthatmanlyandconsideratecourtesythatmarksthenoblenatureindealingwiththeweakandunprotected。

ThetruthabouttheKidwasthatthatgayyoungprinceofbronchobusters，withhisdevil—may—caremannerandhisdebonairappearance，wassogreatlysoughtafter，soflatteredandsofetedbytheriotousandrecklesscompanyattheFort，ofwhichtheInspectorandhiswifewerethemovingspirits，thathewastornbetweenthetwosetsofinfluencesthatplayeduponhim，andhehadnotyetcometothepointoffinaldecisionastowhichkingdomheshouldseek。

ItwaswithIkeandmenlikeIke，however，thatShockhadhisgreatestdifficulty，forwhentheearnestappealwasmadeformentoidentifythemselveswiththecausethatstoodforallthatwasnoblestinthehistoryoftherace，andtoswearallegiancetoHimwhowasatoncetheidealandtheSaviourofmen，IkewithoutanysortofhesitationcameforwardandtoShock’samazement，and，indeed，tohisdismay，offeredhimself。ForIkewasregardedthroughallthatsouthcountryasthemostdaringlyrecklessofallthecattle—men，andneverhadhebeenknowntoweakeneitherin"takin’

hispizen，"in"playin’thelimit"inpoker，orin"standin’upaginanymanthatthoughthecoulddusthispants。"Ofcoursehewas"white。"Everyoneacknowledgedthat。ButjusthowfarthisqualityofwhitenessfittedhimasacandidateforthecommuniontableShockwasatalosstosay。

HeresolvedtodealwithIkeseriously，buttheinitialdifficultyinthiswasthatIkeseemedtobequiteunperplexedaboutthewholematter，andentirelyunafraid。Shock’sdifficultyanddistressweresensiblyincreasedwhenontakingIkeoverthe"marks"oftheregenerateman，ashehadheardthemsofullyandsearchinglysetforthinthe"QuestionMeetings"inthecongregationofhischildhood，hediscoveredthatIkewasapparentlyignorantofallthedeepermarks，andwhatwasworse，seemedtobequiteundisturbedbytheirabsence。

WhileShockwasproceedingwithhisexaminationhewasexceedinglyanxiouslestheshouldrevealtoIkeanysuspicionastohisunfitnessforthestepheproposedtotake。Atthesametime，hewasfilledwithanxietylestthroughanyunfaithfulnessofhisonaccountoffriendshipamistakeinsosolemnamattershouldbemade。ItwasonlywhenheobservedthatIkewasbeginningtogrowuneasyunderhissomewhatsearchingexamination，andevenofferedtowithdrawhisname，thatShockdecidedtocasttothewindsallhispreconceivednotionsofwhatconstitutedfitnessforenrollmentintheChurchofthelivingGod，andproceededtoaskIkesomeplain，commonsensequestions。

"Youaresureyouwanttojointhischurch，Ike？"

"That’swhat，"saidIke。

"Whydoyouwanttojoin？"

"Well，yougaveusaclearinvite，didn’tyou？"

"ButImean，isitformysake？BecauseIaskedyou？"

"Why，sure。Iwanttostandatyourback"

Shockwaspuzzled。Hetriedanotherlineofapproach。

"Doyouknow，Ike，whatyouarejoining？"

"Well，it’syourchurch，yousaid。"

"SupposingIwasnothereatall，wouldyoujoin？"

"Can’tsay。Guessnot。"

Shockfelthimselfblockedagain。

"Ike，doyouthinkyouarereallyfittodothis？"

"Fit？Well，youdidn’tsayanythingaboutbein’fit。Yousaidifanyonewaswillin’totakeitup，tostaywiththegame，tocomeon。"

"Yes，yes，Iknow，Ike。Ididsaythat，andImeantthat，"saidShock。"But，Ike，youknowthattheApostlecallsthosewhobelongtothechurch’saintsofGod。’"

"Saints，eh？Well，Iaintnosaint，Icantellyouthat。GuessI’moutofthiscombination。No，sir，Iaintnoparadox——paragon，I

mean。"IkerememberedtheKid’scorrection。

Hisdisappointmentandperplexitywerequiteevident。AfterhearingShock’sinvitationfromthepulpitithadseemedsoplain，sosimple。

HisanswerrenderedShockdesperate。

"Lookhere，Ike，Iamgoingtobeplainwithyou。Youwon’tmindthat？"

"Waderightin。"

"Well，yousometimesswear，don’tyou？"

"Yes，that’sso。ButI’veprettymuchquit，unlessthere’ssomeextraordinaryoccasion。"

"Well，youdrink，don’tyou？"

"Why，sure。WhenIcangitit，andgititgood，whichainteasyinthiscountrynow。"

"Andyousometimesfight？"

"Well，"inatonealmostofdisappointment，"thereaintnobodywantin’toexperimentwithmeinthesepartsanylonger。"

"Andyougamble？Playpokerformoney，Imean？"

"Oh，well，Idon’tprofesstobetherealthing，"repliedIkemodestly，asifdisclaiminganexcellencehecouldhardlyhopetoattain，"butIginerallykinstaysomewiththegame。"

"Now，Ike，listentome。I’mgoingtogiveittoyoustraight。"

Ikefacedhisministersquarely，lookinghimfairintheeyes。

"Youhavebeendoingprettymuchasyoulikeallalong。Now，ifyoujointhechurchyouareswearingsolemnlytodoonlywhatJesusChristlikes。YougiveyourwordyouwilldoonlywhatyouthinkHewants。Yousee？HeistobeyourMaster。"

"Yes，"saidIke。"Yes，that’sso。That’sright。"

"Ineverything，remember。"

"Why，sure。"ThatseemedquitesimpletoIke。

"Swearing，drinking，fighting，gambling，"Shockcontinued。

Ikehesitated。

"Why，youdon’tsupposeHewouldmindalittlethinglikeasmilewiththeboysnowandthen，oraquietgameofpoker，doyou？"

"WhatIsay，Ike，isthis——ifyouthoughtHedidmind，wouldyouquit？"

"Why，sure。Youjustbet！Isaidso。"

"Well，Ike，supposingsome——oneofthosechapsfromthePass，sayHickey，shouldwalkupandhityourighttheface，whatwouldyoudo？"

"What？Proceedtoeddicatehim。Prejecthimintonextweek。Thatis，iftherewasanythingleft。"

ShockopenedhisBibleandread，"’ButIsayuntoyou，Thatyeresistnotevil;butwhosoevershallsmitetheeonthyrightcheekturntohimtheotheralso。’ThatiswhatJesusChristsays，Ike。"

"Hedoes，eh？Doesitmeanjustthat？"Ikefeltthatthiswasaseriousdifficulty。

"Yes，itmeansjustthat。"

"Areallyoufellerslikethat？"

ThiswroughtinShocksuddenconfusion。

"Well，Ike，Iamafraidnot，butweoughttobe，andweaimtobe。"

"Well，"saidIkeslowly，"IguessIaintmadethatway。"

ThenShockturnedtheleavesofhisBible，andreadthestoryofthecruelbruisingoftheSonofMan，andontothewords，"Father，forgivethem。"Ikehadheardthisstorybefore，buthehadneverseenitsbearinguponpracticallife。

"Isay，"hesaid，withreverentadmirationinhisvoice，"Hedidit，didn’tHe？That’swhatIcallprettyhighjumpin’，aintit？Well，"

hecontinued，"Ican’tmakenopromises，butItellyouwhat，I’llaimatit。Iwill，honest。Andwhenyouseemeweaken，you’lljackmeup，won’tyou？You’llhavetostaywithme，forit’samightyhardproposition。"

ThenShocktookhishands。"Ike，youareabettermanthanIam，butIpromiseyouIwillstayallIcanwithyou。ButtherewillbedayswhenyouwillbeallaloneexceptthatHewillbewithyou。Nowlisten，"andShock，turningovertheleavesofhisBible，read，"Lo，Iamwithyoualways，"andalittlefurtheroverandreadagain，"I

candoallthingsthroughChristthatstrengthenethme。"

"ThatisHissolemnpromise，Ike。Hehaspromisedtosaveusfromoursins。DoyouthinkyoucantrustHimtodothat？"

"Why，sure，"saidIke，asifnothingelsewaspossible。"That’sHisgame，aintit？IguessHe’llstaywithit。Hesaidso，didn’tHe？"

"Yes，"saidShock，withasuddenexaltationoffaith，"Hesaidso，andHewillstaywithit。Don’tyoubeafraid，Ike。Hewillseeyouthrough。"

TheCommunionRollwhenitwascompletednumberedsomeeighteennames，andoftheseeighteennoneweremoresorelypressedtothewallinGod’sbattlethanIke，andnonemoreloyallythanhestayedwiththegame。

Owingtomiscarriageinarrangements，whentheSuperintendentarrivedattheForthewassurprisedtofindnoonetomeethim。

ThishadanappearanceofcarelessnessormismanagementthatunfavorablyimpressedtheSuperintendentastothebusinesscapacityofhismissionary。Hewastooexperiencedatraveller，however，intheremoteandunformeddistrictsoftheWest，tobeatalldisconcertedatalmostanymisadventure。

HeinquiredforMr。Macfarren，andfoundhiminSimmons’store，redolentofbadtobaccoandworsewhiskey，butquitemasterofhismentalandphysicalpowers。TheSuperintendenthadbusinesswithMr。

Macfarren，andproceededforthwithtotransactit。

Afterhisfirstsalutationhebegan，"WhenIsawyoulast，Mr。

Macfarren，youprofessedyourselfkeenlydesirousofhavingservicesestablishedbyourchurchhere。"

"Yes。"

"Whythissuddenchange，representedbyyourlettertotheCommittee，andthepetition，whichIjudgewaspromotedbyyourself？

Iplacedamanhere，witheveryexpectationofsuccess。Howcanyouexplainthischangeinyouandinthepeopleyourepresent？"

TheSuperintendent’sbodilypresencewasanythingbutweak，andmenwhocouldopposehimwhenatadistance，whenconfrontedwithhimfounditdifficulttosupporttheiropposition。Macfarrenfounditso。Hebeganinanapologeticmanner，"Well，Doctor，circumstanceshavechanged。Timeshavebeennonetoogood。Infact，wearesufferingfromfinancialstringencyatpresent。"

"Mr。Macfarren，bespecificastoyourreasons。YourletterandyourpetitionwereinstrumentalinpersuadingtheCommitteetoacompletechangeofpolicy。Thisshouldnotbewithouttheverybestofreasons。"

"Well，asIwassaying，"answeredMacfarren，"financeswere——"

"Tut！tut！Mr。Macfarren。Youdonotallbecomepoorinsixmonths。

Yourcattlearestillhere。Yourhorseshavesufferedfromnoplague。"

"Well，"saidMr。Macfarren，"thepeoplehavebecomealienated。"

"Alienated？Fromthechurch？"

"Well，yes。Theyseemtobesatisfiedwith——toprefer，indeed，theAnglicanservices。"

"Mr。Macfarren，doyoumeantotellmethatthePresbyteriansofthiscountrypreferanychurchtotheirown？IfeartheyareadifferentbreedfromthoseIhaveknown，andunworthytorepresentthechurchoftheirfathers。"

"Well，thetruthis，Doctor，"saidMacfarren，considerablynettledattheSuperintendent’smanner，"thepeopleconsiderthattheywerenotwelltreatedinthesupplyyousentthem。"

"Ah！Nowwehaveit。Well，letusbespecificagain。IsMr。

Macgregornotagoodpreacher？"

"No，heisnot。Heisnotsuchapreacherasmanyofushavebeenaccustomedto。"

"Bytheway，Mr。Macfarren，whatdoyourpeoplepaytowardthisman’ssalary？Fivehundred？Threehundred？Weonlyaskedyoutwohundred，andthisyoufounddifficult。Andyetyouexpectatwo—

thousand—dollarpreacher。"

"Well，hispreachingwasnothisonlyfault，"saidMacfarren。"Hewastotallyunsuitedtoourpeople。Hewasamanofnobreeding，nomanners，andinthistownweneedaman——"

"Waitamoment，Mr。Macfarren。Youcanputupwithhispreaching？"

"Yes。"

"Didhevisithispeople？"

"Yes，goodnessknows，hedidthatenough。"

"Washischaractergood？"

"Oh，certainly。"

"ThenIunderstandyoutosaythatasapreacherhewaspassable，asapastorandasamanallthatcouldbedesired？"

"Oh，yes，certainly。Buthewas——well，ifyouhavemethimyoumustknowwhatImean。Inshort，hewasuncouthandboorishinhismanners。"

TheSuperintendentdrewhimselfup，andhisvoicebegantoburrinawaythathisfriendswouldhaverecognizedasdangerous。