ter, ignoring Kenny Crubach, "but at times the
voice of Providence cannot be misunderstood, and it will not do for
the elders of the church to be speaking soft things when the Lord is
speaking in judgment and wrath."

Donald was silent, while Straight Rory assented with a heartrending
"Aye, aye," which stirred Yankee's bile again.

"What's he talkin' about? He don't seem to be usin' my language," he
said, in a tone of wrathful perplexity. Ranald was too miserable to
answer, but Kenny was ready with his word.

"Judgment and wrath," he echoed, quickly. "The man would require to be
very skillful whatever in interpreting the ways of Providence, and very
bold to put such a meaning into the death of a young man such as Malcolm
yonder." The little man's voice was vibrating with feeling.

Then Yankee began to understand. "I'll be gol-blamed to a cinder!" he
exclaimed, in a low voice, falling back upon a combination that seemed
more suitable to the circumstances. "They ain't sendin' him to hell,
are they?" He shut up the knife with which he had been whittling with a
sharp snap, and rising to his feet, walked slowly over to the group of
elders.

"Far be it from me to judge what is not to be seen," said Peter. "But
we are allowed and commanded to discern the state of the heart by the
fruits."

"Fruits?" replied Kenny, quickly. "He was a good son and brother and
friend; he was honest and clean, and he gave his life for another at the
last."

"Exactly so," said Peter. "I am not denying much natural goodness, for
indeed he was a fine lad; but I will be looking for the evidence that he
was in a state of grace. I have not heard of any, and glad would I be to
hear it."

The old man's emotion took the sharpness out of Kenny's speech, but he
persisted, stoutly, "Goodness is goodness, Mr. McRae, for all that."

"You will not be holding the Armenian doctrine of works, Mr. Campbell?"
said Peter, severely. "You would not be pointing to good works as a
ground of salvation?"

Yankee, who had been following the conversation intently, thought he saw
meaning in it at last.

"If I might take a hand," he said, diffidently, "I might contribute
somethin' to help you out."

Peter regarded him a little impatiently. He had forgotten the concrete,
for the moment, in the abstract, and was donning his armor for a battle
with Kenny upon the "fundamentals." Hence he was not too well pleased
with Yankee's interruption. But Donald Ross gladly we