oral and religious
questions; and though he knew that there were several among the brethren
who, if they could have seen their way clear, would perhaps have called
in question the character of certain business transactions with which
his name had got mixed up, he set over against the unpleasant fact the
other fact, that no three of these men gave so much to sustain the cause
of religion in the place as he did.

It might be considered doubtful whether the church itself would have
been built, if he had not taken hold of it as he did. That had helped
the coming in of the North Gore people, and that with other things had
brought Mr Maxwell to them as their minister. Gershom would have been
a different place, as to the state of morality and religion, if it had
not been for the Holts--and when Jacob said the Holts in this
connection, he meant himself, as far as the last ten years were
concerned.

Of course he did not say, even to himself, that any amount of giving or
doing could make a man safe, either for this world or the next; but he
did say that doing and giving to the good cause must count for something
as evidence of one's state. And though he was not satisfied that he was
all that he ought to be, he thought that, taking all things into
account, he was as good as most of his neighbours, and with this for the
present he contented himself.

A visit from his brother Clifton gave him about this time something to
think about, and something to do as well. Clifton had heard, though
their father had not, of Jacob's mining speculations, and he had heard
of several transactions of so serious a nature that he could not but be
curious, not to say anxious, as to results. It cannot be said that he
got either information or satisfaction from his inquiries. Jacob, never
communicative, was altogether silent to his brother as to the extent of
his loans, and as to the property he had been obliged to sacrifice to
satisfy pressing claims.

To tell the truth, Clifton was disposed to take matters easily. The
Holts must expect their turn of reverses, as well as other people, and
they were better able to meet them, he imagined, than most people. If
Elizabeth at this time had pressed upon him the propriety of his making
himself aware of the exact state of their affairs, he might have
inquired to better purpose. As it was, he returned to his more
congenial pursuits in Montreal, not quite satisfied, but with no very
grave misgivings