singing it with a power of expression marvellous in so young a girl.
Then, without further request, she glided into the lovely aria, "O Rest
in the Lord." It was all new and wonderful to Ranald. He did not dream
that such majesty and sweetness could be expressed in music. He sat
silent with eyes looking far away, and face alight with the joy that
filled his soul.

"Oh, thanks, very much," murmured the lieutenant, when Kate had
finished. "Lovely thing that aria, don't you know?"

"Very nice," echoed Mr. Sims, "and so beautifully done, too."

Ranald looked from one to the other in indignant surprise, and then
turning away from them to Kate, said, in a tone almost of command: "Sing
it again."

"I'll sing something else," she said. "Did you ever hear--"

"No, I never heard anything at all like that," interrupted Ranald. "Sing
some more like the last."

The deep feeling showing in his face and in his tone touched Kate.

"How would this do?" she replied. "It is a little high for me, but I'll
try."

She played a few introductory chords, and then began that sweetest bit
of the greatest of all the oratorios "He shall Feed His Flock." And from
that passed into the soul-moving "He Was Despised" from the same noble
work. The music suited the range and quality of her voice perfectly, and
she sang with her heart thrilling in response to the passionate feeling
in the dark eyes fixed upon her face. She had never sung to any one who
listened as Ranald now listened to her. She forgot the others. She
was singing for him, and he was compelling her to her best. She was
conscious of a subtle sense of mastery overpowering her, and with a
strange delight she yielded herself to that commanding influence; but
as she sang she began to realize that he was thinking not of her, but of
her song, and soon she, too, was thinking of it. She knew that his eyes
were filled with the vision of "The Man of Sorrows" of whom she sang,
and before she was aware, the pathos of that lonely and despised life,
set forth in the noble words of the ancient prophet, was pouring forth
in the great Master's music.

When the song was ended, no one spoke for a time, and even Mr. Sims
was silent. Then the lieutenant came over to the harmonium, and leaning
toward Kate, said, in an earnest voice, unusual with him, "Thank you
Miss Raymond. That was truly great."

"Great indeed;" said Harry, with enthusiasm. "I never heard you sing
like that before, Kate."

But R