to move in the direction of
the important personage on the side bench, hesitated, and finally with
an air of embarrassment once more announced his text. At once the Rector
was upon his feet.

"Will you pardon me, sir," he began with elaborate politeness. "Do I
understand you're a clergyman?"

"Oh, no, sir," replied the evangelist, "just a plain preacher."

"You are not in any Holy Orders then?"

"Oh, no, sir."

"Are you an ordained or accredited minister of any of
the--ah--dissenting bodies?"

"Not exactly, sir."

"Then, sir," demanded the Rector, "may I ask by what authority you
presume to exercise the functions of the holy ministry and in my
parish?"

"Well--really--sir, I do not know why I--"

"Then, sir, let me tell you this will not be permitted," said the Rector
sternly. "There are regularly ordained and accredited ministers of the
Church and of all religious bodies represented in this neighbourhood,
and your ministrations are not required."

"But surely, sir," said the evangelist hurriedly as if anxious to get in
a word, "I may be permitted in this free country to preach the Gospel."

"Sir, there are regularly ordained and approved ministers of the Gospel
who are quite capable of performing this duty. I won't have it, sir. I
must protect these people from unlicensed, unregulated--ah--persons, of
whose character and antecedents we have no knowledge. Pray, sir," cried
the Rector, taking a step toward the man on the platform, "whom do you
represent?"

The evangelist drew himself up quietly and said, "My Lord and Master,
sir. May I ask whom do you represent?"

It was a deadly thrust. For the first time during the encounter the
Rector palpably gave ground.

"Eh? Ah--sir--I--ah--ahem--my standing in this community is perfectly
assured as an ordained clergyman of the Church of England in Canada.
Have you any organisation or church, any organised Christian body to
which you adhere and to which you are responsible?"

"Yes."

"What is that body?"

"The Church of Christ--the body of believers."

"Is that an organised body with ordained ministers and holy sacraments?"

"We do not believe in a paid ministry with special privileges and
powers," said the evangelist. "We believe that every disciple has a
right to preach the glorious Gospel."

"Ah, then you receive no support from any source in this ministry of
yours?"

The evangelist hesitated. "I receive no salary, sir."

"No support?"

"I rece