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〃Far be it from me to judge what is not to be seen；〃 said Peter。
〃But we are allowed and commanded to discern the state of the heart
by the fruits。〃
〃Fruits？〃 replied Kenny； quickly。 〃He was a good son and brother
and friend； he was honest and clean； and he gave his life for
another at the last。〃
〃Exactly so；〃 said Peter。 〃I am not denying much natural goodness；
for indeed he was a fine lad； but I will be looking for the
evidence that he was in a state of grace。 I have not heard of any；
and glad would I be to hear it。〃
The old man's emotion took the sharpness out of Kenny's speech； but
he persisted； stoutly； 〃Goodness is goodness； Mr。 McRae； for all
that。〃
〃You will not be holding the Armenian doctrine of works； Mr。
Campbell？〃 said Peter； severely。 〃You would not be pointing to
good works as a ground of salvation？〃
Yankee； who had been following the conversation intently； thought
he saw meaning in it at last。
〃If I might take a hand；〃 he said； diffidently； 〃I might contribute
somethin' to help you out。〃
Peter regarded him a little impatiently。 He had forgotten the
concrete； for the moment； in the abstract； and was donning his
armor for a battle with Kenny upon the 〃fundamentals。〃 Hence he
was not too well pleased with Yankee's interruption。 But Donald
Ross gladly welcomed the diversion。 The subject was to him
extremely painful。
〃We will be glad；〃 he said to Yankee； 〃to hear you； Mr。 Latham。〃
〃Well；〃 said Yankee； slowly； 〃from your remarks I gathered that you
wanted information about the doings of〃 he jerked his head toward
the house behind him。 〃Now； I want to say；〃 he continued；
confidentially； 〃you've come to the right shop； for I've ate and
slept； I've worked and fought； I've lived with him by day and by
night； and right through he was the straightest； whitest man I ever
seen； and I won't except the boss himself。〃 Yankee paused to
consider the effect of this statement； and to allow its full weight
to be appreciated； and then he continued： 〃Yes； sir； you may just
bet youryou may be right well sure；〃 correcting himself； 〃that
you're safe in givin'〃here he dropped his voice； and jerked his
head toward the house again〃in givin' the highest marks； full
value； and no discount。 Why；〃 he went on； with an enthusiasm rare
in him； 〃ask any man in the gang； any man on the river； if they
ever seen or heard of his doin' a mean or crooked thing； and if you
find any feller who says he did； bring him here； and； by〃Yankee
remembered himself in time〃and I give you my solemn word that
I'll eat him； hat and boots。〃 Yankee brought his bony fist down
with a whack into his hand。 Then he relapsed into his lazy drawl
again： 〃No； siree； hoss！ If it's doin's you're after； don't you
be slow in bankin' your little heap on HIS doin's。〃
Donald Ross grasped Yankee's hand and shook it hard。 〃I will be
thanking you for that word；〃 he said； earnestly。
But Peter felt that the cause of truth demanded that he should
speak out。 〃Mr。 Latham；〃 he said； solemnly； 〃what you have been
saying is very true； no doubt； but if a man is not 'born again he
cannot see the kingdom of God。' These are the words of the Lord
himself。〃
〃Born again！〃 said Yankee。 〃How？ I don't seem to get you。 But I
guess the feller that does the right thing all round has got a
purty good chance。〃
〃It is not a man's deeds； we are told；〃 said Peter； patiently； 〃but
his heart。〃
〃There you are；〃 said Yankee； warmly； 〃right again； and that's what
I always hold to。 It's the heart a man carries round in his
inside。 Never mind your talk； never mind your actin' up for people
to see。 Give me the heart that is warm and red； and beats proper
time； you bet。 Say！ you're all right。〃 Yankee gazed admiringly at
the perplexed and hopeless Peter。
〃I am afraid you are not remembering what the Apostle Paul said；
Mr。 Latham；〃 said Peter； determined to deal faithfully with Yankee。
〃'By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified。'〃
It was now Yankee's turn to gaze helplessly at Peter。 〃I guess you
have dropped me again；〃 he said； slowly。
〃Man；〃 said Peter； with a touch of severity； 〃you will need to be
more faithful with the Word of God。 The Scriptures plainly declare；
Mr。 Latham； that it is impossible for a man to be saved in his
natural state。〃
Yankee looked blank at this。
〃The prophet says that the plowing and sowing； the very prayers； of
the wicked are an abomination to the Lord。〃
〃Why； now you're talkin'； but look here。〃 Yankee lowered his tone。
〃Look here； you wouldn't go for to call〃here again he jerked his
head toward the house〃wicked； would you？ Fur if you do； why；
there ain't any more conversation between you and me。〃
Yankee was terribly in earnest。
〃'There is none righteous； no； not one；'〃 quoted Peter； with the
air of a man who forces himself to an unpleasant duty。
〃That's so； I guess；〃 said Yankee； meditatively； 〃but it depends
some on what you mean。 I don't set myself up for any copy…book
head…line； but as men gomen； say； just like you hereI'd put
I'd put him alongside； wouldn't you？ You expect to get through
yourself； I judge？〃
This was turning the tables somewhat sharply upon Peter； but
Yankee's keen； wide…open eyes were upon him； and his intensely
earnest manner demanded an answer。
〃Indeed； if it will be so； it will not be for any merit of my own；
but only because of the mercy of the Lord in Christ Jesus。〃
Peter's tone was sincerely humble。
〃Guess you're all right；〃 said Yankee； encouragingly； 〃and as for
as forhimdon't you worry about that。 You may be dead sure
about his case。〃
But Peter only shook his head hopelessly。 〃You are sorely in need
of instruction； Mr。 Latham；〃 he said； sadly。 〃We cannot listen to
our hearts in this matter。 We must do honor to the justice of God；
and the word is clear； 'Ye must be born again。' Nothing else
avails。〃 Peter's tone was final。
Then Yankee drew a little nearer to him； as if settling down to
work。
〃Now look here。 You let me talk awhile。 I ain't up in your side
of the business； but I guess we are tryin' to make the same point。
Now supposin' you was in for a hoss race； which I hope ain't no
offense； seein' it ain't likely but suppose； and to take first
money you had to perdoose a two…fifteen gait。 'Purty good lick；'
says you； 'now where will I get the nag？' Then you sets down and
thinks； and； says you； 'By gum； which of course you wouldn't； but
supposin' says you； 'a Blue Grass bred is the hoss for that gait'；
and you begin to inquire around； but there ain't no Blue Grass bred
stock in the country； and that race is creepin' up close。 One day；
just when you was beginnin' to figure on takin' the dust to the
hull field； you sees a colt comin' along the road hittin' up a
purty slick gait。 'Hello；' says you； 'that looks likely；' and you
begin to negotiate； and you finds out that colt's all right and her
time's two…ten。 Then you begin to talk about the weather and the
crops until you finds out the price； and you offer him half money。
Then； when you have fetched him down to the right figure； you pulls
out your wad； thinkin' how that colt will make th