hadow in the dying
eyes, no regret for the past, no fear for the future. He let his own
eyes wander from his brother's face away to the clouds and the sinking
sun and the illuminated forest, with a vague notion that, if his
feelings were not suppressed, he should do dishonour to his manliness
soon. Hamish touched his hand, as he said,--

"It looks dark to you, Dan, with the shadow of death drawing nearer and
nearer; but it is only a shadow, lad, only a shadow, and I am not
afraid."

Dan felt that he must break down if he met that smile a moment longer,
and, with a sudden wrench, he turned himself away; but he could not have
spoken a word, if his reputation for strength had depended on it.
Hamish spoke first.

"Sit down, lad, if you are not needed, and read a while to me, till
Shenac comes back again."

"All right," said Dan. He could endure it with something to do, he
thought. "What book, Hamish?"

"There is only one book now, Dan, lad," said Hamish as he lifted the
little, worn Bible from the window-seat.

Dan could do several things better than he could read, but he took the
book from his brother's hand. Even reading would be better than
silence--more easily borne.

"Anywhere, I suppose?" said he.

The book opened naturally at a certain place, where it had often been
opened before, and he read:--

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ."

The sigh of satisfaction with which Hamish laid himself back, as the
words came slowly, said more to Dan than a sermon could have done. He
read on, thinking, as verse by verse passed his lips, "That is for
Hamish," till he came to this:--

"For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

"Was this for Hamish only?" Dan's voice was not quite smooth through
this verse; it quite broke down when he tried the next; and then his
face was hidden, and the sobs that had been gathering all this time
burst forth.

"Why, Dan, lad! what is it, Dan?" said Hamish; and the thin, transparent
fingers struggled for a moment to withdraw the great, brown, screening
hands from his eyes. Then his arm was laid across his brother's neck.
"They are all for you, Dan, as well as for me," he murmured. "O Dan, do
not sob like that. Look up, dear brother, I have something to say to
you."

If I were to report the broken words that followed, the