\"Oh，Shock，\"hesaid，\"thisistoomuch。WhatcanIsay？\"
\"Nothingatall，oldchap。Don’tsayanythingWhatisthatbetweenus？Wehavebeenthroughtoomanythingstogethertohavethisbotherus。\"
\"Shock！Shock！\"continuedTheDon，\"Ihavebeenanawfulfool，ablank，cursedfool！\"
\"Don’tswear，oldchap，\"saidShock。
\"No，no，Iwon’t，butIcursemyself。Ihavebeenwaitingforthischancetotellyou。Idon’twantyoutothinktoobadlyofme。ThisthingbeganinHickey’ssaloonsomedaysbeforethatnight。Hewasplayingsomefellowsfromthecampaskingame。Icalledhimdownandhechallengedme。Itookhimup，andcleanedhimouteasilyenough。Youknowmyoldweakness。Thefevercamebackuponme，andI
gotgoingforsomedays。ThatnightIwascalledtovisitasickgirlatNancy’s。Thegangcamein，foundmethere，andthrowingdowntheirmoneydaredmetoplay。Well，Iknewitwasplayorfight。I
tookofmycoatandwentforthem。Theycleanedmeout，Ican’ttellhow。Icouldnotgetontotheirtrick。Then，determinedtofindout，Iputupthat——thatothermoney，youknow——andIwaslosingitfast，too，whenyoucamein。\"
AsShocklistenedtoTheDon’sstoryhisfacegrewbrighterandbrighter。
\"Mydearfellow，\"hesaidinatoneofrelief，\"isthatall？Isthatthewholething？Tellme，asGodhearsyou！\"
\"That’sthewholestory，asGodhearsme！\"saidTheDonsolemnly。
\"Oh，thankGod！\"saidShock。\"Ithought——Iwasafraid——\"Hepaused，unabletogoon。
\"What！YouthoughtIhadforgotten，\"criedTheDon。\"Well，Iconfessthingsdidlookbad。ButIwanttotellyouIamclean，andmayGodkillmebeforeIcanforget！No，nowomanshallevertouchmylipswhileIlive。Doyoubelieveme，Shock？\"
Shockputouthishand。Hewasstilltoomuchmovedtospeak。
Atlengthhesaid:\"Nothingelsematters，Don。Icouldnotbeartheotherthing。\"
Forsomeminutesthefriendssatinsilence。
\"But，Don，\"saidShockatlength，\"youcannotgoonthisway。Yourwholelifeisbeingruined。YoucannotdrawofffromGod。YouhavebeenkeepingHimatarm’slength。Thiswillnotdo。\"
\"Itisnouse，Shock，\"saidTheDonbitterly。\"Myheadisallright。
Ibelievewithyou。ButIcannotgetoverthefeelingIhaveforthat——\"Hebrokeoffsuddenly。
\"Iknow，Iknow。Ifeelit，too，oldchap，butafterall，itisnotworthwhile。Andbesides，Don，forgivemesayingthis——ifithadnotbeentrueaboutyouhecouldnothavehurtyou，couldhe？\"
TheDonwinced。
\"Iamnotexcusinghim，norblamingyou，\"continuedShockeagerly，\"butamanhasgottobehonest。Isn’tthatright？\"
\"Oh，yes，itistrueenough，Shock。Iwasabeast，asyouknow，atthattimeinmylife，butIhadputitallpastme，andIbelievedthatGodhadforgivenme。Andthenthosetworakeditallupagain，andbrokemydarling’sheart，anddrovemeaway，anoutcast。Heisaministerofthegospel，andsheisamemberoftheChristianChurch。\"
\"Don，\"saidShockgravely，\"thatwon’tdo。Youarenotfair。\"
Thedooropenedquietly，andthenursecameinandsatdownoutofShock’ssightbehindthebed。
\"Now，Don，IwantyoutoreadformethattaleofthePhariseeandthewomanwhowasasinner。Formysake，mindyou，aswellasforyours，forIwaswrong，too，onthismatter。IconfessIhatedhim，forIcannothelpthinkingthathehasdonemeagreatwrongsandI
havefoundithardenoughtosaytheLord’sPrayer。Perhapsyouhadbetterreadthislettersothatyoumayunderstand。\"
HetookfromunderhispillowMrs。Fairbanks’letterandgaveittoTheDon，whoreaditinsilence。PoorShock！Hewasopeningupwoundsthatnonehadeverseen，orevensuspected，andthemereuncoveringofthembroughthimkeenanguishandhumiliation。
AsTheDonreadtheletterhebegantosweardeepoaths。
\"Stop，Don。Youmustn’tswear。Nowlistentome。Ithinkshehasaperfectrighttodoasshehasbeendoing。But——Lloyd\"——Shockseemedtogetthenameoutwithdifficulty，——\"wasmyfriend，andIthinkhehasnotbeenfair。\"
\"Fair！\"burstoutTheDon。\"Thelowdownvillain！\"
\"Butlisten。Thequestionwithmehasbeenhowtoforgivehim，forI
mustforgivehimorkeepfarfromHimwhohasforgivenme，andthatIcannotaffordtodo。Nowread。\"AndTheDontookuptheBiblefromthelittletablebesideShock’sbed，andreadthatmosttouchingofalltalestoldoftheSaviourofthesinful。
\"’WhereforeIsayuntothee，hersins，whicharemany，areforgiven，forshelovedmuch:buttowhomlittleisforgiven，thesamelovethlittle。Andhesaiduntoher，Thysinsareforgiven。Thyfaithhathsavedthee;goinpeace。’\"
AsTheDonfinishedreading，asoundofsobbingbrokethesilenceintheroom。
\"Whoisthat？Isthatyou，Nell？\"saidShock。\"Whatisthematter，Nell？Thatisforyou，too。NowwewillhaveDonreaditagain。\"Andoncemore，withgreatdifficulty，TheDonreadthewords，soexquisitelydelicate，sodivinelytender。
\"Thatisforyou，too，Nell，\"saidShock。
\"Forme？\"shecried。\"Oh，no，notforme！\"
\"Yes，Nell，mysister，itisforyou。\"
\"Oh，\"shecried，withatempestofsobs，\"don’tcallmethat。Itcannotbe。Icanneverbecleanagain。\"
\"Yes，Nell，HesaysitHimself。’Hersins，whicharemany，areforgiven，’andHecanmakeyoucleanastheangels。Weallneedtobemadeclean，andHehasundertakentocleanseus。\"
ItwasaveryhumbleandchastenedmanthatwentoutfromShock’spresencethatevening。ThroughthedaysoftheweekthatfollowedTheDonwentabouthisworkspeakinglittle，butgivinghimselfwithearnestnessandinanewspirit，moregentle，moresympathetic，tohisministrytothesickinthecampsandshacksroundabout。Butstillthegloomwasunliftedfromhisheart。Daybyday，however，inresponsetoShock’srequesthewouldreadsomethingofthestoryofthatgreatlovingministrationtothepoor，andsick，andneedy，andofinfinitecompassionforthesinfulandoutcast，tilloneday，whenShockhadbeenallowedforthefirsttimetositinhischair，andTheDonwasabouttoread，Shockaskedforthestoryofthedebtors，andafterTheDonhadfinishedhetookfromhispocketBrown’sletterandsaid:
\"Now，Don，forgiveme。Iamgoingtoreadsomethingthatwillmakeyouunderstandthatstory，\"andhereadfromBrown’sletterthewordsthatdescribedBetty’slasthour。
TheDonsatwhiteandrigiduntilShockcametothewords，\"Godforgivesusall，andwemustforgive，\"whenhisself—controlgavewayandheabandonedhimselftothefullindulgenceofhisgreatsorrow。
\"Itwasnottogrieveyou，Don，\"saidShock，afterhisfriend’spassionofgriefhadsubsided。\"Itwasnottogrieveyou，youknow，buttoshowyouwhatisworthwhileseeing——themannerofGod’sforgiveness;forassheforgaveandtookyoutoherpureheartagainwithoutfearorshrinking，soGodforgivesus。And，Don，itisnotworthwhile。inthefaceofsogreataforgiveness，todoanythingelsebutforgive，anditisacruelthing，andawickedthing，tokeepatadistancesuchloveasthat。\"
\"No，no，\"saidTheDon，\"itisnotworthwhile。Itiswicked，anditisfolly。Iwillgoback。Iwillforgive。\"
XIX
THEREGIONSBEYOND
ThevisitoftheSuperintendenttoamissionfieldvariedaccordingtothenatureofthefieldandthecharacteroftheworkdone，betweenaninquisitorialprocessandatriumphalmarch。Nothingescapedhiskeeneye。Itneedednoquestioningonhisparttobecomepossessedofalmostallthefactsnecessarytohisfullinformationaboutthefield，thework，thefinancialcondition，andthegeneralefficiencyofthemissionary。Oneortwopointshewassuretomakeinquiryabout。Oneofthesewasthecarethemissionaryhadtakenoftheoutlyingpoints。Hehadtheeyeofanexplorer，whichalwaysrestsonthehorizon。Theresultsofhisinvestigationscouldeasilybereadinhisjoyorhisgrief，hishopeorhisdisappointment，hisgenuineprideinhismissionaryorhisblazing，scorchingrebuke。
TheoneconsiderationwiththeSuperintendentwastheprogressofthework。Theworkfirst，theworklast，theworkalways。
TheannouncementtoShockthroughhisConvener，thattheSuperintendentpurposedmakingavisitinthespring，filledhimwithmoreorlessanxiety。HerememberedonlytoowellhisfailureattheFort;hethoughtofthatpostscriptintheSuperintendent’slettertohisConvener;heknewthateveninLoonLakeandinthePasshischurchorganizationwasnotanythingtoboastof;andaltogetherheconsideredthattheresultshehadtoshowforhisyear’slabourwerefewandmeagre。
Thewinterhadbeenlongandsevere。InthePasstherehadbeenagreatdealofsickness，bothamongtheminersandamongthelumbermen。Theterriblesufferingsthesemenhadtoendurefromthecoldandexposure，forwhichtheywerealltooinadequatelyprepared，broughtnotonlyphysicalevilsuponthem，butreactedinorgiesunspeakablydegrading。
Thehospitalwasfull。NellhadbeenretainedbyTheDonasnurse，andalthoughforatimethismeantconstanthumiliationandtrialtoher，sheboreherselfwithsuchgentlehumility，anddidherworkwithsuchsweetanduntiringpatience，thatthemenbegantoregardherwiththatentirerespectandcourteousconsiderationthatmenoftheirclassneverfailtogivetopureandhigh—mindedwomen。
TheDonwasfullofwork。Hevisitedthecamps，treatedthesickandwoundedthere，andbroughtdowntothehospitalsuchasneededtobemovedthither，andgraduallywonhiswayintotheconfidenceofallwhocameintotouchwithhim。EvenIke，afterlonghesitationandsomewhatcarefulobservation，gavehimoncemorehisrespectandhisfriendship。
ThedoctorwaskeptbusybyanepidemicofdiphthericcroupthathadbrokenoutamongthechildrenoftheLoonLakedistrict，andbegantotakeoncemoreprideinhiswork，andtoregainhisself—respectandself—control。HetookespecialprideandjoyintheworkofTheDonatthePass，anddidallhecouldtomakethehospitalandtheclubroomaccomplishallthegoodthatShockhadhopedforthem。
ButthoughthehospitalandclubroomhaddonemuchforthemenofthePass，therewasstilltheancientwarfarebetweentheforcesthatmakeformanhoodandthosethatmakeforitsdestruction。
Hickeystillranhissaloon，andhisgangstillaidedhiminallhisnefariouswork。Menwerestill\"run\"intothesaloonorthered—
lighthouses，theretobe\"rolled，\"andthencetobekickedout，fitcandidatesforthehospital。Thehospitaldoorwaseveropenforthem，andwhateverthehistory，thephysicalormoralconditionofthepatient，hewasreceived，andwithgentle，lovingministrationtendedbacktohealth，andsentoutagaintocampormine，oftenonlytoreturnforanotherplungeintotheabyssoflustandconsequentmisery;sometimes，however，tosethisfeetupontheupwardtrailthatledtopureandnoblemanhood。ForTheDon，whileheneverpreached，tookpainstomakecleartoallwhocameunderhischargetheresultsoftheirfollyandtheirsintobodyandtomind，aswellastosoul，andhehadthetrickofforcingthemtotakeuponthemselvesthefullresponsibilityfortheirdestiny，whetheritwastobestrength，soundnessofmind，happiness，heaven，ordisease，insanity，misery，hell。Itwasheart—breakingwork，forthedisappointmentsweremanyandbitter，butwithnowandthenanachievementofsuchsplendidvictoryasgavehopeandcouragetokeepupthefight。
AtLoonLakeduringthewinterShockhaddevotedhimselftotheperfectingofhischurchorganizationACommunionRollhadbeenformedandonitnamesenteredofmenandwomenwhoselastchurchconnectionreachedbackfortenorfifteenortwentyyears，andalongwiththosethenamesofsomewhohadneverbeforehadaplaceinthatmysticorderofthesaintsofGod。And，indeed，withsomeoftheseShockhadhadhisowndifficulty，notinpersuadingthemtoofferthemselvesascandidates，butinpersuadinghimselftoassumetheresponsibilityofacceptingthem。ToShockwithhisHighlandtrainingitwasaterriblysolemnstepto\"comeforward。\"Theresponsibilityassumed，bulkedsolargelyintheopinionofthosewhomShockhadalwaysregardedaspeculiarlymenofGod，thatitalmost，ifnotaltogether，obliteratedtheprivilegegained。
WhenamanlikeSinclair，whosereputablecharacterandsteadylifeseemedtoharmonizewithsuchastep，hehadlittledifficulty;andhadtheKid，withhisquickintelligence，hisfinenessofspiritandhiswinningdisposition，appliedforadmission，Shockwouldhavehadnohesitationinreceivinghim。ButtheKid，althougharegularattendantontheservices，andthoughhetookespecialdelightintheSabbatheveninggatheringsafterservice，hadnotapplied，andShockwouldnotthinkofbringinghimunderpressure;andallthemorebecausehehadnotfailedtoobservethattheKid’sinterestseemedtobemorepronouncedandmoresteadfastinthosemeetingsinwhichMarion’ssingingwasthefeature。True，thispeculiaritytheKidsharedwithmanyothersoftheyoungmeninthedistrict，toShock’sveryconsiderableembarrassment，thoughtothegirl’sinnocentandfrankdelight;anditisfairtosaythattheyoungmen，whomShockhadputupontheirhonorinregardtoonewhowasbutachild，neverbywordorlookfailedinthatmanlyandconsideratecourtesythatmarksthenoblenatureindealingwiththeweakandunprotected。
ThetruthabouttheKidwasthatthatgayyoungprinceofbronchobusters，withhisdevil—may—caremannerandhisdebonairappearance，wassogreatlysoughtafter，soflatteredandsofetedbytheriotousandrecklesscompanyattheFort，ofwhichtheInspectorandhiswifewerethemovingspirits，thathewastornbetweenthetwosetsofinfluencesthatplayeduponhim，andhehadnotyetcometothepointoffinaldecisionastowhichkingdomheshouldseek。
ItwaswithIkeandmenlikeIke，however，thatShockhadhisgreatestdifficulty，forwhentheearnestappealwasmadeformentoidentifythemselveswiththecausethatstoodforallthatwasnoblestinthehistoryoftherace，andtoswearallegiancetoHimwhowasatoncetheidealandtheSaviourofmen，IkewithoutanysortofhesitationcameforwardandtoShock’samazement，and，indeed，tohisdismay，offeredhimself。ForIkewasregardedthroughallthatsouthcountryasthemostdaringlyrecklessofallthecattle—men，andneverhadhebeenknowntoweakeneitherin\"takin’
hispizen，\"in\"playin’thelimit\"inpoker，orin\"standin’upaginanymanthatthoughthecoulddusthispants。\"Ofcoursehewas\"white。\"Everyoneacknowledgedthat。ButjusthowfarthisqualityofwhitenessfittedhimasacandidateforthecommuniontableShockwasatalosstosay。
HeresolvedtodealwithIkeseriously，buttheinitialdifficultyinthiswasthatIkeseemedtobequiteunperplexedaboutthewholematter，andentirelyunafraid。Shock’sdifficultyanddistressweresensiblyincreasedwhenontakingIkeoverthe\"marks\"oftheregenerateman，ashehadheardthemsofullyandsearchinglysetforthinthe\"QuestionMeetings\"inthecongregationofhischildhood，hediscoveredthatIkewasapparentlyignorantofallthedeepermarks，andwhatwasworse，seemedtobequiteundisturbedbytheirabsence。
WhileShockwasproceedingwithhisexaminationhewasexceedinglyanxiouslestheshouldrevealtoIkeanysuspicionastohisunfitnessforthestepheproposedtotake。Atthesametime，hewasfilledwithanxietylestthroughanyunfaithfulnessofhisonaccountoffriendshipamistakeinsosolemnamattershouldbemade。ItwasonlywhenheobservedthatIkewasbeginningtogrowuneasyunderhissomewhatsearchingexamination，andevenofferedtowithdrawhisname，thatShockdecidedtocasttothewindsallhispreconceivednotionsofwhatconstitutedfitnessforenrollmentintheChurchofthelivingGod，andproceededtoaskIkesomeplain，commonsensequestions。
\"Youaresureyouwanttojointhischurch，Ike？\"
\"That’swhat，\"saidIke。
\"Whydoyouwanttojoin？\"
\"Well，yougaveusaclearinvite，didn’tyou？\"
\"ButImean，isitformysake？BecauseIaskedyou？\"
\"Why，sure。Iwanttostandatyourback\"
Shockwaspuzzled。Hetriedanotherlineofapproach。
\"Doyouknow，Ike，whatyouarejoining？\"
\"Well，it’syourchurch，yousaid。\"
\"SupposingIwasnothereatall，wouldyoujoin？\"
\"Can’tsay。Guessnot。\"
Shockfelthimselfblockedagain。
\"Ike，doyouthinkyouarereallyfittodothis？\"
\"Fit？Well，youdidn’tsayanythingaboutbein’fit。Yousaidifanyonewaswillin’totakeitup，tostaywiththegame，tocomeon。\"
\"Yes，yes，Iknow，Ike。Ididsaythat，andImeantthat，\"saidShock。\"But，Ike，youknowthattheApostlecallsthosewhobelongtothechurch’saintsofGod。’\"
\"Saints，eh？Well，Iaintnosaint，Icantellyouthat。GuessI’moutofthiscombination。No，sir，Iaintnoparadox——paragon，I
mean。\"IkerememberedtheKid’scorrection。
Hisdisappointmentandperplexitywerequiteevident。AfterhearingShock’sinvitationfromthepulpitithadseemedsoplain，sosimple。
HisanswerrenderedShockdesperate。
\"Lookhere，Ike，Iamgoingtobeplainwithyou。Youwon’tmindthat？\"
\"Waderightin。\"
\"Well，yousometimesswear，don’tyou？\"
\"Yes，that’sso。ButI’veprettymuchquit，unlessthere’ssomeextraordinaryoccasion。\"
\"Well，youdrink，don’tyou？\"
\"Why，sure。WhenIcangitit，andgititgood，whichainteasyinthiscountrynow。\"
\"Andyousometimesfight？\"
\"Well，\"inatonealmostofdisappointment，\"thereaintnobodywantin’toexperimentwithmeinthesepartsanylonger。\"
\"Andyougamble？Playpokerformoney，Imean？\"
\"Oh，well，Idon’tprofesstobetherealthing，\"repliedIkemodestly，asifdisclaiminganexcellencehecouldhardlyhopetoattain，\"butIginerallykinstaysomewiththegame。\"
\"Now，Ike，listentome。I’mgoingtogiveittoyoustraight。\"
Ikefacedhisministersquarely，lookinghimfairintheeyes。
\"Youhavebeendoingprettymuchasyoulikeallalong。Now，ifyoujointhechurchyouareswearingsolemnlytodoonlywhatJesusChristlikes。YougiveyourwordyouwilldoonlywhatyouthinkHewants。Yousee？HeistobeyourMaster。\"
\"Yes，\"saidIke。\"Yes，that’sso。That’sright。\"
\"Ineverything，remember。\"
\"Why，sure。\"ThatseemedquitesimpletoIke。
\"Swearing，drinking，fighting，gambling，\"Shockcontinued。
Ikehesitated。
\"Why，youdon’tsupposeHewouldmindalittlethinglikeasmilewiththeboysnowandthen，oraquietgameofpoker，doyou？\"
\"WhatIsay，Ike，isthis——ifyouthoughtHedidmind，wouldyouquit？\"
\"Why，sure。Youjustbet！Isaidso。\"
\"Well，Ike，supposingsome——oneofthosechapsfromthePass，sayHickey，shouldwalkupandhityourighttheface，whatwouldyoudo？\"
\"What？Proceedtoeddicatehim。Prejecthimintonextweek。Thatis，iftherewasanythingleft。\"
ShockopenedhisBibleandread，\"’ButIsayuntoyou，Thatyeresistnotevil;butwhosoevershallsmitetheeonthyrightcheekturntohimtheotheralso。’ThatiswhatJesusChristsays，Ike。\"
\"Hedoes，eh？Doesitmeanjustthat？\"Ikefeltthatthiswasaseriousdifficulty。
\"Yes，itmeansjustthat。\"
\"Areallyoufellerslikethat？\"
ThiswroughtinShocksuddenconfusion。
\"Well，Ike，Iamafraidnot，butweoughttobe，andweaimtobe。\"
\"Well，\"saidIkeslowly，\"IguessIaintmadethatway。\"
ThenShockturnedtheleavesofhisBible，andreadthestoryofthecruelbruisingoftheSonofMan，andontothewords，\"Father，forgivethem。\"Ikehadheardthisstorybefore，buthehadneverseenitsbearinguponpracticallife。
\"Isay，\"hesaid，withreverentadmirationinhisvoice，\"Hedidit，didn’tHe？That’swhatIcallprettyhighjumpin’，aintit？Well，\"
hecontinued，\"Ican’tmakenopromises，butItellyouwhat，I’llaimatit。Iwill，honest。Andwhenyouseemeweaken，you’lljackmeup，won’tyou？You’llhavetostaywithme，forit’samightyhardproposition。\"
ThenShocktookhishands。\"Ike，youareabettermanthanIam，butIpromiseyouIwillstayallIcanwithyou。ButtherewillbedayswhenyouwillbeallaloneexceptthatHewillbewithyou。Nowlisten，\"andShock，turningovertheleavesofhisBible，read，\"Lo，Iamwithyoualways，\"andalittlefurtheroverandreadagain，\"I
candoallthingsthroughChristthatstrengthenethme。\"
\"ThatisHissolemnpromise，Ike。Hehaspromisedtosaveusfromoursins。DoyouthinkyoucantrustHimtodothat？\"
\"Why，sure，\"saidIke，asifnothingelsewaspossible。\"That’sHisgame，aintit？IguessHe’llstaywithit。Hesaidso，didn’tHe？\"
\"Yes，\"saidShock，withasuddenexaltationoffaith，\"Hesaidso，andHewillstaywithit。Don’tyoubeafraid，Ike。Hewillseeyouthrough。\"
TheCommunionRollwhenitwascompletednumberedsomeeighteennames，andoftheseeighteennoneweremoresorelypressedtothewallinGod’sbattlethanIke，andnonemoreloyallythanhestayedwiththegame。
Owingtomiscarriageinarrangements，whentheSuperintendentarrivedattheForthewassurprisedtofindnoonetomeethim。
ThishadanappearanceofcarelessnessormismanagementthatunfavorablyimpressedtheSuperintendentastothebusinesscapacityofhismissionary。Hewastooexperiencedatraveller，however，intheremoteandunformeddistrictsoftheWest，tobeatalldisconcertedatalmostanymisadventure。
HeinquiredforMr。Macfarren，andfoundhiminSimmons’store，redolentofbadtobaccoandworsewhiskey，butquitemasterofhismentalandphysicalpowers。TheSuperintendenthadbusinesswithMr。
Macfarren，andproceededforthwithtotransactit。
Afterhisfirstsalutationhebegan，\"WhenIsawyoulast，Mr。
Macfarren，youprofessedyourselfkeenlydesirousofhavingservicesestablishedbyourchurchhere。\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Whythissuddenchange，representedbyyourlettertotheCommittee，andthepetition，whichIjudgewaspromotedbyyourself？
Iplacedamanhere，witheveryexpectationofsuccess。Howcanyouexplainthischangeinyouandinthepeopleyourepresent？\"
TheSuperintendent’sbodilypresencewasanythingbutweak，andmenwhocouldopposehimwhenatadistance，whenconfrontedwithhimfounditdifficulttosupporttheiropposition。Macfarrenfounditso。Hebeganinanapologeticmanner，\"Well，Doctor，circumstanceshavechanged。Timeshavebeennonetoogood。Infact，wearesufferingfromfinancialstringencyatpresent。\"
\"Mr。Macfarren，bespecificastoyourreasons。YourletterandyourpetitionwereinstrumentalinpersuadingtheCommitteetoacompletechangeofpolicy。Thisshouldnotbewithouttheverybestofreasons。\"
\"Well，asIwassaying，\"answeredMacfarren，\"financeswere——\"
\"Tut！tut！Mr。Macfarren。Youdonotallbecomepoorinsixmonths。
Yourcattlearestillhere。Yourhorseshavesufferedfromnoplague。\"
\"Well，\"saidMr。Macfarren，\"thepeoplehavebecomealienated。\"
\"Alienated？Fromthechurch？\"
\"Well，yes。Theyseemtobesatisfiedwith——toprefer，indeed，theAnglicanservices。\"
\"Mr。Macfarren，doyoumeantotellmethatthePresbyteriansofthiscountrypreferanychurchtotheirown？IfeartheyareadifferentbreedfromthoseIhaveknown，andunworthytorepresentthechurchoftheirfathers。\"
\"Well，thetruthis，Doctor，\"saidMacfarren，considerablynettledattheSuperintendent’smanner，\"thepeopleconsiderthattheywerenotwelltreatedinthesupplyyousentthem。\"
\"Ah！Nowwehaveit。Well，letusbespecificagain。IsMr。
Macgregornotagoodpreacher？\"
\"No，heisnot。Heisnotsuchapreacherasmanyofushavebeenaccustomedto。\"
\"Bytheway，Mr。Macfarren，whatdoyourpeoplepaytowardthisman’ssalary？Fivehundred？Threehundred？Weonlyaskedyoutwohundred，andthisyoufounddifficult。Andyetyouexpectatwo—
thousand—dollarpreacher。\"
\"Well，hispreachingwasnothisonlyfault，\"saidMacfarren。\"Hewastotallyunsuitedtoourpeople。Hewasamanofnobreeding，nomanners，andinthistownweneedaman——\"
\"Waitamoment，Mr。Macfarren。Youcanputupwithhispreaching？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Didhevisithispeople？\"
\"Yes，goodnessknows，hedidthatenough。\"
\"Washischaractergood？\"
\"Oh，certainly。\"
\"ThenIunderstandyoutosaythatasapreacherhewaspassable，asapastorandasamanallthatcouldbedesired？\"
\"Oh，yes，certainly。Buthewas——well，ifyouhavemethimyoumustknowwhatImean。Inshort，hewasuncouthandboorishinhismanners。\"
TheSuperintendentdrewhimselfup，andhisvoicebegantoburrinawaythathisfriendswouldhaverecognizedasdangerous。