.

So quickly had everything taken place that Keith stood dumbfounded. He
had noticed the presence of Pritchen and his gang, and felt rather
uneasy as to their purpose in attending. But as time passed and
nothing happened he hoped that the debate would end quietly. Now,
instead of peace, a general fight was on. Blows were being exchanged,
cries and curses were ringing through the room. It must be stopped.
He leaped over the benches and besought the assailants to desist, but
his voice was drowned in the general clamour.

"Oh, God," he mentally prayed, "help me, tell me what to do to stop
these brutes!"

And even then his prayer was answered. The commotion gradually
subsided. The men, some with faces scratched and bleeding, were
staring in one direction as if they saw a ghost. Keith looked, too,
and instead of a ghost he beheld the trembling form of Constance
Radhurst.

In the moment of excitement he had forgotten her, and when he saw her
standing there on the rude platform before the curtain, in the presence
of those rough men, he was tempted to rush up and lead her gently away.
A groan almost escaped his lips. What a different ending to the debate
from the one he had expected. It had been planned that Constance
should appear, but only as a pleasant surprise, to sing some old songs
when the debate was over. He had taken a step or two towards the
platform, when in a clear, rich voice Constance began to sing:

"Come, sing once more to-night, my lads,
Come, sing some old refrain,
Of love, of home, of childhood days,
And live them o'er again.

_Chorus:_

"We've drifted far away, ye ken,
From home and kith and kin,
Fling open wide your hearts to-night,
And let the old times in.

"Put strife aside, and banish care,
And sink them out of sight,
Oh, comrades of the weary trail,
Be brothers for to-night!

_Chorus._

"And then let fall whate'er betide,
The trail be steep and long,
We'll quicker step and keener fight,
Cheered by some old, sweet song."

_Chorus._

It was but a simple song which Constance and Kenneth had often sung
together in the good old happy days. She little realized then to what
purpose it would one day be used. But with the men the words affected
them not so much as the sight of that sweet face, whiter than it should
be, and the trim figure on the platform. Into many a mind flashed the
memory of other d