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Important as were the exercises of reading； praise； and prayer；
they were only the 〃opening services；〃 and merely led up to the
event of the day； which was the sermon。 And it was the event； not
only of the day； but of the week。 It would form the theme of
conversation and afford food for discussion in every gathering of
the people until another came to take its place。 To…day it lasted
a full hour and a half； and was an extraordinary production。 Calm；
deliberate reasoning； flights of vivid imagination； passionate
denunciation； and fervid appeal； marked its course。 Its subject
was the great doctrine of Justification by Faith； and it contained
a complete system of theology arranged with reference to that
doctrine。 Ancient heresies were attacked and exposed with
completeness amounting to annihilation。 Modern errors； into which
our 〃friends〃 of the different denominations had fallen； were
deplored and corrected； and all possible misapplications of the
doctrine to practical life guarded against。 On the positive side
the need； the ground； the means； the method； the agent； the
results； of Justification； were fully set forth and illustrated。
There were no anecdotes and no poetry。 The subject was much too
massive and tremendous to permit of any such trifling。
As the sermon rolled on its majestic course； the congregation
listened with an attentive and discriminating appreciation that
testified to their earnestness and intelligence。 True； one here
and there dropped into a momentary doze； but his slumber was never
easy； for he was harassed by the terrible fear of a sudden summons
by name from the pulpit to 〃awake and give heed to the message；〃
which for the next few minutes would have an application so
personal and pungent that it would effectually prevent sleep for
that and some successive Sabbaths。 The only apparent lapse of
attention occurred when Donald Ross opened his horn snuff…box； and
after tapping solemnly upon its lid； drew forth a huge pinch of
snuff and passed it to his neighbor； who； after helping himself in
like manner； passed the box on。 That the lapse was only apparent
was made evident by the air of abstraction with which this
operation was carried on； the snuff being held between the thumb
and forefinger for some moments； until a suitable resting…place in
the sermon was reached。
When the minister had arrived at the middle of the second head； he
made the discovery； as was not frequently the case； that the
remotest limits of the alloted time had been passed； and announcing
that the subject would be concluded on the following Sabbath； he
summarily brought the English service to a close； and dismissed the
congregation with a brief prayer； two verses of a psalm； and the
benediction。
When Maimie realized that the service was really over； she felt as
if she had been in church for a week。 After the benediction the
congregation passed out into the churchyard and disposed themselves
in groups about the gate and along the fences discussing the sermon
and making brief inquiries as to the 〃weal and ill〃 of the members
of their families。 Mrs。 Murray； leaving Hughie and Maimie to
wander at will； passed from group to group； welcomed by all with
equal respect and affection。 Young men and old men； women and
girls alike； were glad to get her word。 To…day； however； the young
men were not at first to be seen； but Mrs。 Murray knew them well
enough to suspect that they would be found at the back of the
church； so she passed slowly around the church； greeting the people
as she went； and upon turning the corner she saw a crowd under the
big maple； the rendezvous for the younger portion of the congregation
before 〃church went in。〃 In the center of the group stood Ranald
and Don； with Murdie； Don's eldest brother； a huge； good…natured
man； beside them； and Peter Ruagh； with his cousin Aleck； and others
of the clan。 Ranald was standing； pale and silent； with his head
thrown back； as his manner was when in passion。 The talk was mainly
between Aleck and Murdie； the others crowding eagerly about and
putting in a word as they could。 Murdie was reasoning good…humoredly；
Aleck replying fiercely。
〃It was good enough for him；〃 Mrs。 Murray heard Don interject； in a
triumphant tone； to Murdie。 But Murdie shut him off sternly。
〃Whisht； Don； you are not talking just now。〃
Don was about to reply when he caught sight of Mrs。 Murray。
〃Here's the minister's wife；〃 he said； in a low tone； and at once
the group parted in shamefaced confusion。 But Murdie kept his face
unmoved； and as Mrs。 Murray drew slowly near； said； in a quiet
voice of easy good…humor； to Aleck； who was standing with a face
like that of a detected criminal： 〃Well； we will see about it to…
morrow night； Aleck； at the post…office；〃 and he faced about to
meet Mrs。 Murray with an easy smile； while Aleck turned away。 But
Mrs。 Murray was not deceived； and she went straight to the point。
〃Murdie；〃 she said； quietly； when she had answered his greeting；
〃will you just come with me a little； I want to ask you about
something。〃 And Murdie walked away with her； followed by the winks
and nods of the others。
What she said Murdie never told； but he came back to them more
determined upon peace than ever。 The difficulty lay； not with the
good…natured Peter； who was ready enough to settle with Ranald； but
with the fiery Aleck； who represented the non…respectable section
of the clan McRae； who lived south of the Sixteenth； and had a
reputation for wildness。 Fighting was their glory； and no one
cared to enter upon a feud with any one of them。 Murdie had
interfered on Ranald's behalf； chiefly because he was Don's friend；
but also because he was unwilling that Ranald should be involved in
a quarrel with the McRaes； which he knew would be a serious affair
for him。 But now his strongest reason for desiring peace was that
he had pledged himself to the minister's wife to bring it about in
some way or other。 So he took Peter off by himself； and without
much difficulty； persuaded him to act the magnanimous part and drop
the quarrel。
With Ranald he had a harder task。 That young man was prepared to
see his quarrel through at whatever consequences to himself。 He
knew the McRaes； and knew well their reputation； but that only made
it more impossible for him to retreat。 But Murdie knew better than
to argue with him； so he turned away from him with an indifferent
air； saying： 〃Oh； very well。 Peter is willing to let it drop。
You can do as you please； only I know the minister's wife expects
you to make it up。〃
〃What did she say to you； then？〃 asked Ranald； fiercely。
〃She said a number of things that you don't need to know； but she
said this； whatever； 'He will make it up for my sake； I know。'〃
Ranald stood a moment silent； then said； suddenly： 〃I will； too；〃
and walking straight over to Peter； he offered his hand； saying； 〃I
was too quick； Peter； and I am willing to take as much as I gave。
You can go on。〃
But Peter was far too soft…hearted to accept that invitation； and
seizing Ranald's hand； said； heartily： 〃Never mind； Ranald； it was
my own fault。 We will just s