r in the
heart."

Douglas made no reply to these words but went on with his dinner. It
was only when he and Mr. Garton were comfortably ensconced in big
chairs in the library, enjoying a quiet smoke, that Douglas referred to
the subject which had been abruptly dropped.

"Do you know much about Rixton?" he asked.

"Quite a bit, from hearsay. It's a queer community, so I understand,
and the Church has had a mighty hard struggle there."

"What's wrong with it, anyway?"

"I can't exactly say. But no clergyman has been able to hold his own
there for years. It may have been their fault, and perhaps if the
right man goes to the parish, things might be all right. I wish to
goodness you were going anywhere else than to Rixton. I wonder what
the Bishop is thinking about to send you to that place."

"Merely because he thinks that I know the ways of such people, as I was
brought up in the country."

"We want you here in the city, though," and Garton savagely blew a
great cloud of smoke across the room.

"But Dr. Rannage and the majority of the people of St. Margaret's don't
want me. They are delighted to think that I am going."

"Yes, so I understand, confound their skins! They want some little
snipper-snapper who can dance attendance upon all the pink-teas that
are held, and shine in social circles."

"I could not suit them," Douglas slowly explained, "because the spirit
of adventure runs in my veins. I would like to be a prospector or an
explorer, and launch out into the unknown. As soon as I entered the
Ministry, I looked around for some untouched field in which to enter.
The complex life along the water-front appealed to me more than the
conventional work in St. Margaret's. There are great opportunities
there, especially during the winter season. But, alas! my plans have
been overturned, and I must give it all up. I have often thought of
the mission field, and when an opening occurs I hope to go. At present
the parish of Rixton is without a clergyman, and most likely it will
remain so for some time unless I go. It is a very difficult parish, so
I understand, and it accordingly appeals to me. I am quite curious to
know just what is the trouble, and in what way it is different from
other country districts. Have you any idea?"

"It is somewhat of a puzzle to me," Garton replied. "It really should
be an ideal parish, for nearly all of the people belong to our Church.
Mr. Stubbles himself is a member,