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tears began to flow； till Hughie； not understanding； crept over to
his mother； and to comfort her； slipped his hand into hers； looking
fiercely at Maimie as if she were to blame。 Maimie； too； noticed
the tears and sat wondering； and as the congregation swung on
through the verses of the grand old psalm there crept into her
heart a new and deeper emotion than she had ever known。
〃Listen to the words； Maimie dear；〃 whispered her aunt。 And as
Maimie listened； the noble words； borne on the mighty swing of St。
Paul's； lifted up by six hundred voicesfor men； women； and
children were singing with all their heartsawakened echoes from
great deeps within her as yet unsounded。 The days for such singing
are； alas！ long gone。 The noble rhythm； the stately movement； the
continuous curving stream of melody； that once marked the praise
service of the old Scottish church； have given place to the light；
staccato tinkle of the revival chorus； or the shorn and mutilated
skeleton of the ancient psalm tune。
But while the psalm had been moving on in its solemn and stately
way； Ranald had been enduring agony at the hands of Peter Ruagh
sitting just behind him。 Peter； whose huge； clumsy body was a
fitting tabernacle for the soul within； labored under the impression
that he was a humorist； and indulged a habit of ponderous joking；
trying enough to most people； but to one of Ranald's temperament
exasperating to a high degree。 His theme was Ranald's rescue of
Maimie； and the pauses of the singing he filled in with humorous
comments that； outside； would have produced only weariness； but in
the church； owing to the strange perversity of human nature； sent a
snicker along the seat。 Unfortunately for him； Ranald's face was so
turned that he could not see it； and so he had no hint of the wrath
that was steadily boiling up to the point of overflow。
They were nearing the close of the last verse of the psalm； when
Hughie； whose eyes never wandered long from Ranald's direction；
uttered a sharp 〃Oh； my！〃 There was a shuffling confusion under
the gallery； and when Maimie and her aunt looked； Peter Ruagh's
place was vacant。
By this time the minister was standing up for prayer。 His eye；
too； caught the movement in the back seat。
〃Young men；〃 he said； sternly； 〃remember you are in God's house。
Let me not have to mention your names before the congregation。 Let
us pray。〃
As the congregation rose for prayer； Mrs。 Murray noticed Peter
Ruagh appear from beneath the book…board and quietly slip out by
the back door with his hand to his face and the blood streaming
between his fingers； and though Ranald was standing up straight and
stiff in his place； Mrs。 Murray could read from his rigid look the
explanation of Peter's bloody face。 She gave her mind to the
prayer with a sore heart； for she had learned enough of those wild；
hot…headed youths to know that before Peter Ruagh's face would be
healed more blood would have to flow。
The prayer proceeded in its leisurely way； indulging here and there
in quiet reverie； or in exultant jubilation over the 〃attributes；〃
embracing in its worldwide sweep 〃the interests of the kingdom〃 far
and near； and of that part of humanity included therein present and
to come； and buttressing its petitions with theological argument；
systematic and unassailable。 Before the close； however； the
minister came to deal with the needs of his own people。 Old and
young； absent and present； the sick； the weary； the sin…burdened
all were remembered with a warmth of sympathy； with a directness of
petition； and with an earnestness of appeal that thrilled and
subdued the hearts of all； and made even the boys； who had borne
with difficulty the last half…hour of the long prayer； forget their
weariness。
The reading of Scripture followed the prayer。 In this the minister
excelled。 His fine voice and his dramatic instinct combined to
make this an impressive and beautiful portion of the service。 But
to…day much of the beauty and impressiveness of the reading was
lost by the frequent interruptions caused by the entrance of late
comers； of whom； owing to the bad roads； there were a larger number
than usual。 The minister was evidently annoyed； not so much by the
opening and shutting of the door as by the inattention of his
hearers； who kept turning round their heads to see who the new
arrivals were。 At length the minister could bear it no longer。
〃My dear people；〃 he said； pausing in the reading； 〃never mind
those coming in。 Give you heed to the reading of God's Word； and
if you must know who are entering； I will tell you。 Yes；〃 he
added； deliberately； 〃give you heed to me； and I will let you know
who these late comers are。〃
With that startling declaration； he proceeded with the reading； but
had not gone more than a few verses when 〃click〃 went the door…
latch。 Not a head turned。 It was Malcolm Monroe； slow…going and
good…natured； with his quiet little wife following him。
The minister paused； looking toward the door； and announced： 〃My
dear people； here comes our friend Malcolm Monroe； and his good
wife with him； and a long walk they have had。 Come away； Malcolm；
come away； we will just wait for you。〃
Malcolm's face was a picture。 Surprise； astonishment； and confusion
followed each other across his stolid countenance； and with quicker
pace than he was ever known to use in his life before； he made his
way to his seat。 No sooner had the reading began again when once
more the door clicked。 True to his promise； the minister paused and
cheerfully announced to his people： 〃This； my friends； is John
Campbell； whom you all know as 'Johnnie Sarah；' and we are very glad
to see him； for； indeed； he has not been here for some time。 Come
away； John； come away； man；〃 he added； impatiently； 〃for we are all
waiting for you。〃
Johnnie Sarah stood paralyzed with amazement and seemed uncertain
whether to advance or to turn and flee。 The minister's impatient
command； however； decided him； and he dropped into the nearest seat
with all speed； and gazed about him as if to discover where he was。
He had no sooner taken his seat than the door opened again； and
some half…dozen people entered。 The minister stood looking at them
for some moments and then said； in a voice of resignation：
〃Friends； these are some of our people from the Island； and there
are some strangers with them。 But if you want to know who they
are； you will just have to look at them yourselves； for I must get
on with the reading。〃
Needless to say； not a soul of the congregation； however consumed
with curiosity； dared to look around； and the reading of the
chapter went gravely on to the close。 To say that Maimie sat in
utter astonishment during this extraordinary proceeding would give
but a faint idea of her state of mind。 Even Mrs。 Murray herself；
who had become accustomed to her husband's eccentricities； sat in
a state of utter bewilderment； not knowing what might happen next；
nor did she feel quite safe until the text was announced and the
sermon fairly begun。
Important as were the exercises of reading； praise； and prayer；
they were only the 〃opening services；〃