still, went hither and thither, bringing whatever
Ragon wanted, and fearing, she knew not why, to ask any questions.

With the doctor came the dominie and two of the town bailies. There
was little need of the doctor; Peter Fae's life was ebbing rapidly
away with every moment of time. There was but little time now for
whatever had yet to be done. The dominie stooped first to his ear, and
in a few solemn words bid him lay himself at the foot of the cross.
"Thou'lt never perish there, Peter," he said; and the dying man seemed
to catch something of the comfort of such an assurance.

Then Bailie Inkster said, "Peter Fae, before God an' his
minister--before twa o' the town bailies an' thy ain daughter
Margaret, an' thy friend Ragon Torr, an' thy servants Hacon Flett an'
Gerda Vedder, thou art now to say what man stabbed thee."

Peter made one desperate effort, a wild, passionate gleam shot from
the suddenly-opened eyes, and he cried out in a voice terrible in its
despairing anger, "_John Sabay! John Sabay--stabb-ed--me!
Indeed--he--did_!"

"Oh, forgive him, man! forgive him! Dinna think o' that now, Peter!
Cling to the cross--cling to the cross, man! Nane ever perished that
only won to the foot o' it." Then the pleading words were whispered
down into fast-sealing ears, and the doctor quietly led away a poor
heart-stricken girl, who was too shocked to weep and too humbled and
wretched to tell her sorrow to any one but God.

CHAPTER IV.

The bailies, after hearing the deposition, immediately repaired to
John Sabay's cottage. It was Saturday night, and no warrant could now
be got, but the murderer must be secured. No two men bent on such an
errand ever found it more difficult to execute. The little family had
sat later than usual. John had always news they were eager to hear--of
tourists and strangers he had seen in Wick, or of the people the
steamer had brought to Kirkwall.

He was particularly cheerful this evening; his interview with Margaret
had been hopeful and pleasant, and Christine had given the houseplace
and the humble supper-table quite a festival look. They had sat so
long over the meal that when the bailies entered John was only then
reading the regular portion for the evening exercise. All were a
little amazed at the visit, but no one thought for a moment of
interrupting the Scripture; and the two men sat down and listened
attentively while John finished the chapter.

Bailie Tulloch then rose and w