or his
breviary, but sometimes in one place and sometimes in the other,
according to the hour of the day, and the fasts appointed for due
mortification of the flesh. "A man who would do Christian work in a
jog-trot parish, or where men lived too easily to sin harshly, but
utterly unfit to cope with Satan, as the British Government had
transported him," was North's sadly satirical reflection upon Father
Flaherty, as Port Arthur faded into indistinct beauty behind the
swift-sailing schooner. "God help those poor villains, for neither
parson nor priest can."

He was right. North, the drunkard and self-tormented, had a power for
good, of which Meekin and the other knew nothing. Not merely were the
men incompetent and self-indulgent, but they understood nothing of
that frightful capacity for agony which is deep in the soul of
every evil-doer. They might strike the rock as they chose with
sharpest-pointed machine-made pick of warranted Gospel manufacture,
stamped with the approval of eminent divines of all ages, but the water
of repentance and remorse would not gush for them. They possessed not
the frail rod which alone was powerful to charm. They had no sympathy,
no knowledge, no experience. He who would touch the hearts of men must
have had his own heart seared. The missionaries of mankind have ever
been great sinners before they earned the divine right to heal and
bless. Their weakness was made their strength, and out of their own
agony of repentance came the knowledge which made them masters and
saviours of their kind. It was the agony of the Garden and the Cross
that gave to the world's Preacher His kingdom in the hearts of men. The
crown of divinity is a crown of thorns.

North, on his arrival, went straight to the house of Major Vickers. "I
have a complaint to make, sir," he said. "I wish to lodge it formally
with you. A prisoner has been flogged to death at Port Arthur. I saw it
done."

Vickers bent his brow. "A serious accusation, Mr. North. I must, of
course, receive it with respect, coming from you, but I trust that you
have fully considered the circumstances of the case. I always understood
Captain Burgess was a most humane man."

North shook his head. He would not accuse Burgess. He would let the
events speak for themselves. "I only ask for an inquiry," said he.

"Yes, my dear sir, I know. Very proper indeed on your part, if you think
any injustice has been done; but have you considered the expense, the
de