rness which would
kill for them the joy of life and sensibly add to its already heavy
burden.

That night Jack Maitland felt that a chat with the Reverend Murdo
Matheson might help to clear his own mind as to the demands of the
Allied Unions. He found the minister in his study and in great distress
of soul.

"I am glad to see you, Maitland," he said, giving him a hearty greeting.
"My hope is largely placed in you and you must not fail me in this
crisis. What exactly are the demands of the unions?"

Maitland spread before him the letter which his father had received that
morning. The Reverend Murdo read it carefully over, then, with a sigh
of relief, he said: "Well, it might be worse. There should not be much
difficulty in coming to an agreement between people anxious for peace."

After an hour spent in canvassing the subject from various points of
view, the Reverend Murdo exclaimed: "Let us go and see McNish."

"The very thing," said Maitland. "I have been trying to get in touch
with him for the last month or so, but he avoids me."

"Ay," replied the Reverend Murdo, "he has a reason, no doubt."

To Maitland's joy they found McNish at home. They were received with
none-too-cordial a welcome by the son, with kindly, even eager greeting
by the mother.

"Come awa in, Minister; come awa, Mr. Maitland. You have come to talk
about the 'trouble,' a doot. Malcolm does-na want to talk about it to
me, a bad sign. He declines to converse even, wi' me, Mr. Matheson.
Perhaps ye may succeed better wi' him."

"Mr. Matheson can see for himself," said her son, using his most correct
English, "the impropriety of my talking with an employer in this way."

"Nonsense, McNish," said the minister briskly. "You know me quite well
and we both know Maitland. It is just sheer nonsense to say that you
cannot talk with us. Everyone in town is talking. Every man in your
union is talking, trying to justify their present position, which, I am
bound to say, takes some justifying."

"Why?" asked McNish hotly.

"Because the demands are some of them quite unsound. Some other than you
had a hand in drawing up your Petition of Right, McNish, and some of the
demands are impossible."

"How do you--" began McNish indignantly, but the minister held up his
hand and continued:

"And some of them are both sound and reasonable."

"What's wrang with the demands?" said McNish.

"That's what I am about to show you," said the minister with grave
con