me; the resources were, as yet,
unexplored, but enough was known to assure a great future for British
Columbia. As he talked his enthusiasm grew, and carried us away. With
the eye of a general he surveyed the country, fixed the strategic points
which the Church must seize upon. Eight good men would hold the country
from Fort Steele to the coast, and from Kootenay to Cariboo.

'The Church must be in with the railway; she must have a hand in the
shaping of the country. If society crystallises without her influence,
the country is lost, and British Columbia will be another trap-door to
the bottomless pit.'

'What do you propose?' I asked.

'Organising a little congregation here in Black Rock.'

'How many will you get?'

'Don't know.'

'Pretty hopeless business,' I said.

'Hopeless! hopeless!' he cried; 'there were only twelve of us at first
to follow Him, and rather a poor lot they were. But He braced them up,
and they conquered the world.'

'But surely things are different,' said Graeme.

'Things? Yes! yes! But He is the same.' His face had an exalted look,
and his eyes were gazing into far-away places.

'A dozen men in Black Rock with some real grip of Him would make things
go. We'll get them, too,' he went on in growing excitement. 'I believe
in my soul we'll get them.'

'Look here, Craig; if you organise I'd like to join,' said Graeme
impulsively. 'I don't believe much in your creed or your Church, but
I'll be blowed if I don't believe in you.'

Craig looked at him with wistful eyes, and shook his head. 'It won't do,
old chap, you know. I can't hold you. You've got to have a grip of some
one better than I am; and then, besides, I hardly like asking you now';
he hesitated--'well, to be out-and-out, this step must be taken not for
my sake, nor for any man's sake, and I fancy that perhaps you feel like
pleasing me just now a little.'

'That I do, old fellow,' said Graeme, putting out his hand. 'I'll be
hanged if I won't do anything you say.'

'That's why I won't say,' replied Craig. Then reverently he added, 'the
organisation is not mine. It is my Master's.'

'When are you going to begin?' asked Graeme.

'We shall have our communion service in two weeks, and that will be our
roll-call.'

'How many will answer?' I asked doubtfully.

'I know of three,' he said quietly.

'Three! There are two hundred miners and one hundred and fifty
lumbermen! Three!' and Graeme looked at him in amazement. 'You think