reath.

Even the minister, who was sitting immediately behind Harry, could not
restrain a smile.

"Mr. Chairman," cried Mr. Hayes, indignantly, "I appeal against this
interruption. I assert--"

"Where's the treasurer?" said Neil Fraser. "What's the use of this
chewin' the rag?"

"Ah! Exactly so," said the chairman, greatly relieved. "Mr.
Boggs--Perhaps Mr. Boggs will enlighten us."

Mr. Boggs arose with ponderous deliberation.

"Mr. Chairman," he said, "in one sense Mr. Hayes is right when he states
the arrears to be seven hundred dollars--"

"Five hundred dollars A'm tellin' ye," said Mr. Innes with the first
sign of feeling he had shown.

"And Mr. Innes is also right," continued Mr. Boggs, ignoring the
interruption, "when he makes the arrears five hundred dollars, the two
hundred dollars difference being the quarterly revenue now due."

"Next week," said Mr. Innes, reverting to his wonted calm.

"Exactly so," said the chairman, rubbing his hands amiably; "so that the
seven hundred dollars we now owe--"

This was too much even for the imperturbable Mr. Innes.

He arose in his place, moved out into the aisle, advanced toward the
platform, and with arm outstretched, exclaimed in wrathful tones:

"Mon, did ye no hear me tellin' ye? I want nae mon to mak' me a le-ear."

At this point Mr. Stewart Duff, who had come to convey his wife home,
and had got tired waiting for her outside, entered the church.

"Oh, get on with the business," said Neil Fraser, who, although enjoying
the scene, was becoming anxious for his dinner. "The question what's to
be done with the five hundred dollars' arrears. I say, let's make it up
right here. I am willing to give--"

"No, Mr. Chairman," shouted Mr. Hayes, who was notoriously averse
to parting with his money, and was especially fearful of a public
subscription.

"There is something more than mere arrears--much more--"

"Ay, there is," emphatically declared Mr. McFettridge, rising straight
and stiff. "I'm for plain speakin'. The finances is not the worst about
this congregation. The congregation has fallen off. Other churches in
this village has good congregations. Why shouldn't we? The truth is, Mr.
Chairman,"--Mr. McFettridge's voice rolled deep and sonorous over the
audience--"we want a popular preacher--a preacher that draws--a preacher
with some pep."

"Hear! hear!" cried Mr. Boggs. "Pep's what we want. That's it--pep."

"Pep," echoed the chairman. "Exactly so,