rrepressible enthusiasts are left
singing, and these have to be brought to the consciousness of time and
the propriety of things by being pulled down into their seats. Jimmy
wished to proceed with his rebuke to the persons who had been the
cause of the diversion, so he put a peremptory stop to the vocalists
by telling them to "sit doon, and listen to God's ambassador." He then
resumed his address by stating that when his fist knocked the candles
off the table he was "nearly givin' way to temptation. In fact," said
he, "I was just on the point of usin' profane language to the mockers
and scoffers of the sarvent of the livin' God. I mean them parvarse
lads and lasses aback o' the bed theor."

"Amen!" interjected several saintly voices.

"But, hallelujah!" resumed James, "aa felt God was ha'd'en me back!"

"Glory!" shouted Adam Jefferson.

"Yes, ma brethren and sistors. Aa cum amang ye t' seek and t' save
sinners that repenteth; rich or poor, it makes nee difference to me
nor ma Maister, for hasn't He said 'where two or three are met
tegithor in Ma Name, there am I in the midst'?"

"Bless Him!" cried Nannie Dent, a late accomplice of the smugglers.

Jimmy's rebuke to the offenders was delivered with boisterous
earnestness, but the comic phrasing of it created irrepressible
hilarity, and they had to leave the room. The preacher, in his closing
remarks, reminded his hearers that he was once a black-hearted rascal,
drinking, swearing, stealing, poaching, smuggling, and but for the
mercy of God he might have added to his other crimes that of murder. A
shudder went through the congregation when "murder" was uttered, and
their minds were obviously centred on the derelict vessel and the dog,
which Jimmy was suspected of doing away with.

"Ah!" whispered Sam Taylor, the butler, "he should never have ventured
on that affair. Folks are varra queer, and whether it is true or not,
they like sensation and scandal."

As though he had been gifted with prescience, Jimmy continued--"Aa can
feel whaat ye are thinking aboot, but it's not true. This is the man
aa threatened te kill," pointing at Turnbull. "And now let us bow oor
heads in solemn, silent prayor for a few minutes, and ask forgiveness
for oor past and daily sins. And aa want ye to join with me in asking
for pardon and speedy repentance to be sent tiv a porson that belangs
te the gentry of this district, but whe hes been, and is noo engaged
in trafficking in wickedness. M