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shrinking from a blow； while Bella Peter's face expressed only
startled fear。
〃And this is the word of the Lord this night to me；〃 the elder went
on； his voice losing its tremor and ringing out strong and clear：
〃'There is none righteous； no； not one； for all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God。 He that believeth shall be saved；
and he that believeth not shall be damned。' That is my message；
and it is laid upon me as a sore burden to hear the voice of the
Lord in this solemn Providence； and to warn one and all to flee
from the wrath to come。〃
He paused long； while men could hear their hearts beat。 Then；
raising his voice； he cried aloud： 〃Woe is me！ Alas！ it is a
grievous burden。 The Lord pity us all； and give grace to this
stricken family to kiss the rod that smites。〃
At this word the old man's voice suddenly broke； and he sat down
amid an awful silence。 No one could misunderstand his meaning。 As
the awful horror of it gradually made its way into her mind； Mrs。
Cameron threw up her apron over her head and rocked in an agony of
sobs； while Long John sat with face white and rigid。 Bella Peter；
who had been gazing with a fascinated stare upon the old elder's
face while he was speaking his terrible words； startled by Mrs。
Cameron's sobs； suddenly looked wildly about as if for help； and
then； with a wild cry； fled toward the door。 But before she had
reached it a strong hand caught her and a great voice； deep and
tender； commanded her： 〃Wait； lassie； sit down here a meenute。〃
It was Macdonald Bhain。 He stood a short space silent before the
people； then； in a voice low； deep； and thrilling； he began： 〃You
have been hearing the word of the Lord through the lips of his
servant； and I am not saying but it is the true word； but I believe
that the Lord will be speaking by different voices； and although I
hev not the gift； yet it is laid upon me to declare what is in my
heart； and a sore heart it is； and sore hearts hev we all。 But I
will be thinking of a fery joyful thing； and that is that 'He came
to call； not the righteous； but sinners；' and that in His day many
sinners came about Him and not one would He turn away。 And I will
be remembering a fery great sinner who cried out in his dying hour；
'Lord； remember me；' and not in vain。 And I'm thinking that the
Lord will be making it easy for men to be saved； and not hard； for
He was that anxious about it that He gave up His own life。 But it
is not given me to argue； only to tell you what I know about the
lad who is lying yonder silent。 It will be three years since he
will be coming on the shanties with me； and from the day that he
left his mother's door； till he came back again； never once did he
fail me in his duty in the camp； or on the river； or in the town；
where it was fery easy to be forgetting。 And the boys would be
telling me of the times that he would be keeping them out of those
places。 And it is not soon that Dannie Ross will be forgetting who
it was that took him back from the camp when the disease was upon
him and all were afraid to go near him； and for seex weeks； by day
and by night； watched by him and was not thinking of himself at
all。 And sure am I that the lessons he would be hearing from his
mother and in the Bible class and in the church were not lost on
him whatever。 For on the river； when the water was quiet and I
would be lying in the tent reading； it is often that Mack Cameron
would come in and listen to the Word。 Aye； he was a good lad〃the
great voice shook a little〃he would not be thinking of himself；
and at the last； it was for another man he gave his life。〃
Macdonald stood for a few moments silent； his face working while he
struggled with himself。 And then all at once he grew calm； and
throwing back his head； he looked through the door； and pointing
into the darkness； said： 〃And yonder is the lad； and with him a
great company； and his face is smiling； and； oh！ it is a good land；
a good land！〃 His voice dropped to a whisper； and he sank into his
seat。
〃God preserve us！〃 Kenny Crubach ejaculated； but old Donald Ross
rose and said； 〃Let us call upon the name of the Lord。〃 From his
prayer it was quite evident that for him at least all doubts and
fears as to poor Mack's state were removed。 And even Peter McRae；
subdued not so much by any argument of Macdonald Bhain's as by his
rapt vision； followed old Donald's prayer with broken words of hope
and thanksgiving； and it was Peter who was early at the manse next
morning to repeat to the minister the things he had seen and heard
the night before。 And all next day； where there had been the
horror of unnamable fear； hope and peace prevailed。
The service was held under the trees； and while the mother and
Bella Peter sat softly weeping； there was no bitterness in their
tears； for the sermon breathed of the immortal hope； and the hearts
of all were comforted。 There was no parade of grief； but after the
sermon was over the people filed quietly through the room to take
the last look； and then the family； with Bella and her father； were
left alone a few moments with their dead； while the Macdonald men
kept guard at the door till the time for 〃the lifting〃 would come。
After Long John passed out； followed by the family； Macdonald Bhain
entered the room； closed the lid down upon the dead face； and gave
the command to bear him forth。
So； with solemn dignity； as befitted them； they carried Big Mack
from his home to Farquhar McNaughton's light wagon。 Along the
concession road； past the new church； through the swamp； and on to
the old churchyard the long procession slowly moved。 There was no
unseemly haste； and by the time the last words were spoken； and the
mound decently rounded； the long shadows from the woods lay far
across the fields。 Quietly the people went their ways homeward；
back to their life and work； but for many days they carried with
them the memory of those funeral scenes。 And Ranald； though he
came back from Big Mack's grave troubled with questions that
refused to be answered； still carried with him a heart healed of
the pain that had torn it these last days。 He believed it was well
with his friend； but about many things he was sorely perplexed； and
it was this that brought him again to the minister's wife。
CHAPTER XII
SEED…TIME
The day after Big Mack's funeral； Ranald was busy polishing
Lizette's glossy skin； before the stable door。 This was his
favorite remedy for gloomy thoughts； and Ranald was full of gloomy
thoughts to…day。 His father； though going about the house； was
still weak； and worse than all； was fretting in his weakness。 He
was oppressed with the terrible fear that he would never again be
able to do a man's work； and Ranald knew from the dark look in his
father's face that day and night the desire for vengeance was
gnawing at his heart； and Ranald also knew something of the
bitterness of this desire from the fierce longing that lay deep in
his own。 Some day； when his fingers would be feeling for LeNoir's
throat； he would drink long and fully that sweet draught of
vengeance。 He knew； too； that it added to the bitterness i