she was, to the familiar and dignified form
of the Church of England, this appeared harsh, and at times almost
ludicrous. Keith led off with the opening hymn of "Nearer, My God, to
Thee," in a clear, strong, tenor voice, trusting to his memory for the
words. He was followed by the others, those who knew the hymn giving
him much assistance. There were a few, however, who persisted in
swinging off on tunes of their own composition.

"Stop yer yelpin'," said a miner to one of these vagrant singers. "Yer
spilin' the show."

But the other heeded not, and with head thrown back against the wall,
and brawny chest expanded, almost drowned the rest of the voices by his
marvellous roars.

"My, that's fine!" he ejaculated, wiping the perspiration from his
forehead with the sleeve of his coat. "I ain't heard such singing
since I left the Caribou country."

"And no one else," contemptuously remarked his companion. "But say,
duck yer head, the parson's prayin'."

Interested though Constance was in watching the miners, her attention
was centred chiefly on the missionary. She hardly knew him at first,
so much had he been transformed by Old Pete's scissors and razor. The
long hair had been neatly trimmed, and the unkempt beard removed,
exposing a face, almost youthful in appearance, but full of
determination and strength of character. It was when the prayers had
been said, the second hymn sung, and he had begun his address, that her
interest became thoroughly aroused.

His subject was peace, and, after referring to the Great Prince of
Peace, whose birth they were commemorating, he passed on to speak about
the peace of life. As he described a vessel beating her way through a
furious storm, while the cruel waves dealt her mighty sledge-hammer
blows, she noticed how stern became his face, while a bright light
gleamed in his eye. But as he spoke about the peace of the harbour,
with the storm shut out, and the light of home shining clearly ahead,
his features softened.

"He's livin' it fer sure," remarked Bill Towser, to a miner at his
side, when Keith had finished.

"Y' bet," came the response.

"An' did ye notice the power on him when he told about that ship?"

"Yep."

"Well, I tell ye it moved me mighty. I allus said thar's more inside a
man than lights an' liver, an' now I know it fer sure. Hello! what in
blazes is this?" he continued, looking suddenly up. "A fiddle! well,
I'll be blowed! an' the parson's tun