and looked at him with appealing,
troubled eyes. "I feel as if I shouldn't have let him, but I didn't
anticipate this."

Dr. Leslie sat drumming his fingers on the table, his face very grave.

"We can't see Angus McRae want, Edward. We're all indebted to him for
something--every one of the session, and the minister most of all."

"The session!" Lawyer Ed jumped off the arm of the sofa where he had
just perched. "There's an idea. If you laid it before them, they'd do
something; and J. P. and I'll push it and Archie Blair will help."

The minister shook his head. "The session is a big body, Edward,
and--" he smiled,--"it has wives and daughters. This must not be
talked about. If we help Angus, we mustn't kill him at the same time
by hurting his Highland pride."

Lawyer Ed whacked a sofa cushion impatiently with his cane.

"There it is, of course! Hang Scotchmen, anyway! You can't treat them
like human beings. That abominable thing they call their pride--always
clogs your wheels whichever way you go."

"Don't revile the tree from which you sprung, Edward," said the
Scotchman, smiling.

"Thank the Lord, the limb I grew on had a few good green Irish
shamrocks mixed with the thistles. If Angus had been as fortunate we'd
have him out of distress to-morrow."

"Angus McRae will be the least distressed of us all. I thought of Paul
last night when I saw him, 'troubled on every side, yet not distressed,
perplexed but not in despair.' We must think of some way in which we
can help him quietly--so quietly he may not know it himself. Who has
the mortgage?"

"Jock McPherson, of course, who else?"

The minister's face brightened. "Jock McPherson! Well, well, that is
fortunate, Edward. Jock's heart is big enough to put the whole church
inside provided you find the right key."

"Yes, but it's a ticklish job fitting it when you do find it. Some
small item in the business will strike him the wrong way and he will
get slow and stiff and arise to the occasion with, 'I feel, Mister
Moterator, that it is my juty to object.'"

His imitation of Mr. McPherson's deliberate manner, when in his sadly
frequent role of objector in the session, could not but bring a smile
to the minister's face.

"I have no fear of your not being able to overcome his objections,
should any arise. Now, sit down just a few minutes, and let us see
what is to be done."

The two talked far into the morning, and laid their plans well. M