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the last Sabbath in the old church； after a day's work more than
usually exhausting。 The new church was to be opened the following
week。 For months it had been the burden of their prayers that at
the dedication of their church； which had been built and paid for
at the cost of much thought and toil； there should be some 〃signal
mark of the divine acceptance。〃 No wonder the minister was more
than usually depressed to…night。
〃There is not much sign of movement among the dry bones；〃 he said
to his wife。 〃They are as dry and as dead as ever。〃
His wife was silent for some time； for she； too； had her moments of
doubt and fear； but she said： 〃I think there is some sign。 The
people were certainly much impressed this morning； and the Bible
class was very large； and they were very attentive。〃
〃So they are every day；〃 said the minister； rather bitterly。 〃But
what does it amount to？ There is not a sign of one of these young
people 'coming forward。' Just think； only one young man a member
of the church； and he hasn't got much spunk in him。 And many of
the older men remain as hard as the nether millstone。〃
〃I really think；〃 said his wife； 〃that a number of the young people
would 'come forward' if some one would make a beginning。 They are
all very shy。〃
〃So you always say；〃 said her husband； with a touch of impatience；
〃but there is no shyness in other things； in their frolics and
their fightings。 I am sure this last outrageous business is enough
to break one's heart。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said his wife。
〃Oh； I suppose you will hear soon enough； so I need not try to keep
it from you。 It was Long John Cameron told me。 It is strange that
Hughie has not heard。 Indeed； perhaps he has； but since his
beloved Ranald is involved； he is keeping it quiet。〃
〃What is it？〃 said his wife； anxiously。
〃Oh； nothing less than a regular pitched battle between the
McGregors and the McRaes of the Sixteenth； and all on Ranald's
account； too； I believe。〃
Mrs。 Murray sat in silent and bitter disappointment。 She had
expected much from Ranald。 Her husband went on with his tale。
〃It seems there was an old quarrel between young Aleck McRae and
Ranald； over what I cannot find out； and young Angus McGregor； who
will do anything for a Macdonald； must needs take Ranald's part；
with the result that that hot…headed young fire…eater Aleck McRae
must challenge the whole clan McGregor。 So it was arranged； on
Sunday morning； too； mind you； two weeks ago； after the service；
that six of the best of each side should meet and settle the
business。 Of course Ranald was bound to be into it； and begged and
pleaded with the McGregors that he should be one of the six； and I
hear it was by Yankee's advice that his request was granted。 That
godless fellow； it seems； has been giving Ranald daily lessons with
the boxing…gloves； and to some purpose； too； as the fight proved。
It seems that young Aleck McRae； who is a terrible fighter； and
must be forty pounds heavier than Ranald； was； by Ranald's especial
desire and by Yankee's arrangement； pitted against the boy； and by
the time the fight was over； Ranald； although beaten and bruised to
a 'bloody pulp；' as Long John said； had Aleck thoroughly whipped。
And nobody knows what would have happened； so fierce was the young
villain； had not Peter McGregor and Macdonald Bhain appeared upon
the scene。 It appears Aleck had been saying something about Maimie；
Long John did not know what it was； but Ranald was determined to
finish Aleck up there and then。 It must have been a disgusting and
terrible sight； but Macdonald Bhain apparently settled them in a
hurry； and what is more； made them all shake hands and promise to
drop the quarrel thenceforth。 I fancy Ranald's handling of young
Aleck McRae did more to bring about the settlement than anything
else。 What a lot of savages they are！〃 continued the minister。 〃It
really does not seem much use to preach to them。〃
〃We must not say that； my dear；〃 said his wife； but her tone was
none too hopeful。 〃I must confess I am disappointed in Ranald。
Well；〃 she continued； 〃we can only wait and trust。〃
From Hughie； who had had the story from Don； and who had been
pledged to say nothing of it； she learned more about the fight。
〃It was Aleck's fault； mother；〃 he said； anxious to screen his
hero。 〃He said something about Maimie； that Don wouldn't tell me；
at the blacksmith shop in the Sixteenth； and Ranald struck him and
knocked him flat； and he could not get up for a long time。 Yankee
has been showing him how。 I am going to learn； mother；〃 interjected
Hughie。 〃And then Angus McGregor took Ranald's part； and it was all
arranged after church； and Ranald was bound to be in it； and said he
would stop the whole thing if not allowed。 Don said he was just
terrible。 It was an awful fight。 Angus McGregor fought Peter
McRae； Aleck's brother； you know and〃
〃Never mind； Hughie；〃 said his mother。 〃I don't want to hear of
it。 It is too disgusting。 Was Ranald much hurt？〃
〃Oh； he was hurt awful bad； and he was going to be licked； too。 He
wouldn't keep cool enough； and he wouldn't use his legs。〃
〃Use his legs？〃 said his mother； 〃what do you mean？〃
〃That's what Don says； and Yankee made him。 Yankee kept calling to
him； 'Now get away； get away from him！ Use your legs！ Get away
from him！' and whenever Ranald began to do as he was told； then he
got the better of Aleck； and he gave Aleck a terrible hammering；
and Don said if Macdonald Bhain had not stopped them Aleck McRae
would not have been able to walk home。 He said Ranald was awful。
He said he never saw him like he was that day。 Wasn't it fine；
mother？〃
〃Fine； Hughie！〃 said his mother。 〃It is anything but fine。 It is
simply disgusting to see men act like beasts。 It is very； very
sad。 I am very much disappointed in Ranald。〃
〃But； mother； Ranald couldn't help it。 And anyway； I am glad he
gave that Aleck McRae a good thrashing。 Yankee said he would never
be right until he got it。〃
〃You must not repeat what Yankee says；〃 said his mother。 〃I am
afraid his influence is not of the best for any of those boys。〃
〃Oh； mother； he didn't set them on；〃 said Hughie； who wanted to be
fair to Yankee。 〃It was when he could not help it that he told
Ranald how to do。 I am glad he did； too。〃
〃I am very； very sorry about it；〃 said his mother； sadly。 It was a
greater disappointment to her than she cared to acknowledge either
to her husband or to herself。
But the commotion caused in the community by the fight was soon
swallowed up in the interest aroused by the opening of the new
church； an event for which they had made long and elaborate
preparation。 The big bazaar； for which the women had been sewing
for a year or more； was held on Wednesday； and turned out to be a
great success； sufficient money being realized to pay for the
church furnishing； which they had undertaken to provide。
The day following was the first of the 〃Communion Season。〃 In a
Highland congregation the Communion Seasons are the great occasions
of the year。 For weeks before； the congregation is kept in mind of
the approaching event； a