HaditbeenyesterdayMartinwouldhavebeenreadywithscornforanysuchfeeling，andwithcongratulationstoCameronuponhisexceptionallygoodluckintheexpectationofgoingtoCanada；butto-day，somehowitwasdifferent。HefoundthesplendidlureofhisnativelandavailednottobreakthespelloftheGlen，andashefollowedthegirlinandoutofthelittlecottages，seekingherbrother，andashenotedtheperfectcourtesyandrespectwhichmarkedhermannerwiththepeople，andtheirunstudiedandrespectfuldevotiontotheir”tearyoungleddy，”thisspelldeepeneduponhim。UnconsciouslyanddimlyhebecameawareofamysteriousandmightypowersomehowandsomewhereintheGlenstrainingattheheart-stringsofitschildren。Ofthenatureandoriginofthismysteriousandmightypower，theyoungCanadianknewlittle。Hiscountrywasoftoorecentanoriginformystery，anditspeopletooheterogeneousintheirethniccharacteristicstofurnishasoilfortribalinstinctsandpassions。Thepassionatelovesandhatredsoftheclans，theirprideofrace，theirdeathlesslealty；andmorethanall，andbetterthanall，theirreligiousinstincts，faithsandprejudices；these，withthemystic，wildlovelinessofheather-cladhillandrock-rimmedloch，ofroaringtorrentandjaggedcrags，oflonelymuirandsunnypasturenuiks；allthese，andtenthousandnamelessandunnamablethingsunitedintheweavingofthespelloftheGlenupontheheartsofitspeople。Ofhowitallcametobe，Martinknewnothing，butlikeanatmosphereitstoleinuponhim，andhecametovaguelyunderstandsomethingofwhatitmeanttobeaHighlander，andtobidfarewelltothelandintowhosegrimsoilhisliferootshadstruckdeep，andtotearhimselffromheartswhoselifestreamandhishadflowedasoneforascoreofgenerations。SofromcottocotMartinfollowedandobserved，untiltheycametothecrossingwherethebroadpathledupfromthehighroadtothekirkyardandthekirk。HeretheywerehaltedbyayoungmansomewhatolderthanMartin。Tallandgaunthestood。Hisface，paleandpock-markedandlitbylightblueeyes，andcrownedbybrilliantredhair，was，withallitsunloveliness，afaceofacertainruggedbeauty；whilehismannerandbearingshowedthenativecourtesyofaHighlandgentleman。”YouareseekingMr。Allan？”hesaid，takingoffhisbonnettothegirl。”Heisinyonder，”wavinghishandtowardsthekirkyard。”Inyonder？Youaresure，Mr。Maclise？”Shemightwellask，forneverbutonSabbathdays，sincethedaytheyhadlaidhismotherawayunderthebirchtrees，hadAllanputfootinsidethekirkyard。”Halfanhouragohewentin，”repliedtheyoungHighlander，”andhehasnotreturned。””Iwillgoin，then，”saidthegirl，andhesitated，unwillingthatastranger’seyesshouldwitnesswhatsheknewwaswaitingherthere。”You，Sir，willperhapsabidewithme，”suggestedMr。MaclisetoMartin，withaquickunderstandingofherhesitation。”Oh，thankyou，”criedMoira。”ThisisMr。MartinfromCanada，Mr。
Maclise——mybrother’sgreatfriend。Mr。Macliseisourschoolmasterhere，”sheadded，turningtoMartin，”andweareveryproudofhim。”
TheHighlander’spalefacebecamethecolourofhisbrillianthairasheremarked，”Youareverygoodindeed，MissCameron，andIamgladtomaketheacquaintanceofMr。Martin。ItwillgivemegreatpleasuretoshowMr。Martinthelittlefallsattheloch’send，ifhecarestostepthatfar。”IfMr。Martinwasconsciousofanygreatdesiretoviewthelittlefallsattheloch’send，hisfacemostsuccessfullydissembledanysuchfeeling，buttothelittlefallshemustgoastheschoolmasterquietlypossessedhimselfofhimandledhimaway，whileMissCameron，withneverathoughtofeitherofthem，passedupthebroadpathintothekirkyard。There，atthetower’sfoot，shecameuponherbrother，proneuponthelittlegrassymound，witharmsoutspread，asiftoholditinembrace。Atthesoundofhissister’streaduponthegravel，heraisedhimselftohiskneesswiftly，andwithafiercegesture，asifresentingintrusion。”Oh，itisyou，Moira，”hesaidquietly，sinkingdownuponthegrass。Atthesightofhistear-stained，haggardface，thegirlrantohimwithacry，andthrowingherselfdownbesidehimputherarmsabouthimwithinarticulatesoundsofpity。Atlengthherbrotherraisedhimselffromtheground。”Oh，itisterribletoleaveitall，”hegroaned；”yetIamgladtoleave，foritismoreterribletostay；theveryGlenIcannotlookat；andthepeople，Icannotbeartheireyes。Oh，”hegroaned，wringinghishands，”ifshewerehereshewouldunderstand，butthereisnobody。””Oh，Allan，”criedhissisterinreproach。”Oh，yes，Iknow！Iknow！Youbelieveinme，Moira，butyouarejustalassie，andyoucannotunderstand。””Yes，youknowwellIbelieveinyou，Allan，andothers，too，believeinyou。ThereisMr。Dunn，and——””Oh，Idon’tknow，”saidherbrotherbitterly，”hewantstobelieveit。””Yes，andthereisMr。Martin，”shecontinued，”and——Oh，Iforgot！
hereisaletterMr。Martinbroughtyou。””Martin？””Yes，yourMartin，astrangelittleman；yourquarter-back，youknow。Hebroughtthis，andhesaysitisgoodnews。”ButalreadyAllanwasintohisletter。Ashereadhisfacegrewwhite，hishandbegantoshake，hiseyestostareasiftheywoulddevourtheverypaper。Thesecondtimehereadtheletterhiswholebodytrembled，andhisbreathcameingasps，asifhewereinaphysicalstruggle。Thenliftingarmsandvoicetowardsthesky，hecriedinalong，lowwail，”OhGod，itisgood，itisgood！”
Withthathelaidhimselfdownproneuponthemoundagain，hisfaceinthegrass，sobbingbrokenly，”Oh，mother，motherdear，Ihavegotyouoncemore；Ihavegotyouoncemore！”