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Like one man the great congregation rose to their feet。 It was a
scene profoundly impressive； and with these serious…minded； sober
people； one that indicated overwhelming emotion。
And thus the great revival began。
For eighteen months； night after night； every night in the week
except Saturday； the people gathered in such numbers as to fill the
new church to the door。 Throughout all the busy harvest season； in
spite of the autumn rains that filled the swamps and made the roads
almost impassable； in the face of the driving snows of winter；
through the melting ice of the spring； and again through the
following summer and autumn； the great revival held on。 No
fictitious means were employed to stir the emotions of the people
or to kindle excitement among them。 There were neither special
sermons nor revival hymns。 The old doctrines were proclaimed； but
proclaimed with a fullness and power unknown at other times。 The
old psalms were sung； but sung perhaps as they had never been
before。 For when John 〃Aleck's〃 mighty voice rolled forth in its
full power； and when his band of trained singers followed； lifting
onward with them the great congregationfor every man； woman； and
child sang with full heart and open throatthe effect was
something altogether wonderful and worth hearing。 Each night there
was a sermon by the minister； who； for six months； till his health
broke down； had sole charge of the work。 Then the sermon was
followed by short addresses or prayers by the elders； and after
that the minister would take the men； and his wife the women； for
closer and more personal dealing。
As the revival deepened it became the custom for others than the
elders to take part； by reading a psalm or other Scripture； without
comment； or by prayer。 There was a shrinking from anything like a
violent display of emotion； and from any unveiling of the sacred
secrets of the heart； but Scripture reading or quoting was supposed
to express the thoughts； the hopes； the fears； the gratitude； the
devotion； that made the religious experience of the speaker。 This
was as far as they considered it safe or seemly to go。
One of the first； outside the ranks of the elders； to take part in
this way was Macdonald Dubh； then Long John Cameron followed； then
Peter McGregor and others of the men of maturer years。 A distinct
stage in the revival was reached when young Aleck McRae rose to
read his Scripture。 He was quickly followed by Don； young
Findlayson； and others of that age； and from that time onward the
old line that had so clearly distinguished age from youth in
respect to religious duty and privilege； was obliterated forever。
It had been a strange； if not very doubtful； phenomenon to see a
young man 〃coming forward；〃 or in any way giving indication of
religious feeling。 But this would never be again。
It was no small anxiety and grief to Mrs。 Murray that Ranald；
though he regularly attended the meetings； seemed to remain unmoved
by the tide of religious feeling that was everywhere surging
through the hearts of the people。 The minister advised letting him
alone； but Mrs。 Murray was anxiously waiting for the time when
Ranald would come to her。 That time came； but not until long
months of weary waiting on her part； and of painful struggle on
his； had passed。
From the very first of the great movement his father threw himself
into it with all the earnest intensity of his nature； but at the
same time with a humility that gave token that the memory of the
wild days of his youth and early manhood were never far away from
him。 He was eager to serve in the work； and was a constant source
of wonder to all who had known him in his youth and early manhood。
At all the different meetings he was present。 Nothing could keep
him away。 〃Night cometh；〃 he said to his brother； who was
remonstrating with him。 His day's work was drawing to its close。
But Ranald would not let himself see the failing of his father's
health； and when； in the harvest； the slightest work in the fields
would send his father panting to the shade； Ranald would say； 〃It
is the hot weather； father。 When the cool days come you will be
better。 And why should you be bothering yourself with the work；
anyway？ Surely Yankee and I can look after that。〃 And indeed they
seemed to be quite fit to take off the harvest。
Day by day Ranald swung his cradle after Yankee with all a man's
steadiness till all the grain was cut； and by the time the harvest
was over； Ranald had developed a strength of muscle and a skill in
the harvest work that made him equal of almost any man in the
country。 He was all the more eager to have the harvest work done
in time； that his father might not fret over his own inability to
help。 For Ranald could not bear to see the look of disappointment
that sometimes showed itself in his father's face when weakness
drove him from the field； and it was this that made him throw
himself into the work as he did。 He was careful also to consult
with his father in regard to all the details of the management of
the farm； and to tell him all that he was planning to do as well as
all that was done。 His father had always been a kind of hero to
Ranald； who admired him for his prowess with the gun and the ax；
as well as for his great strength and courage。 But ever since
calamity had befallen him； the boy's heart had gone out to his
father in a new tenderness； and the last months had drawn the two
very close together。 It was a dark day for Ranald when he was
forced to face the fact that his father was growing daily weaker。
It was his uncle； Macdonald Bhain； who finally made him see it。
〃Your father is failing； Ranald；〃 he said one day toward the close
of harvest。
〃It is the hot weather；〃 said Ranald。 〃He will be better in the
fall。〃
〃Ranald； my boy；〃 said his uncle； gravely； 〃your father will fade
with the leaf； and the first snow will lie upon him。〃
And then Ranald fairly faced the fact that before long he would be
alone in the world。 Without any exchange of words； he and his
father came to understand each other； and they both knew that they
were spending their last days on earth together。 On the son's
side； they were days of deepening sorrow； but with the father；
every day seemed to bring him a greater peace of mind and a clearer
shining of the light that never fades。 To his son； Macdonald Dubh
never spoke of the death that he felt to be drawing nearer； but he
often spoke to him of the life he would like his son to live。 His
only other confidant in these matters was the minister's wife。 To
her Macdonald Dubh opened up his heart； and to her； more than to
any one else； he owed his growing peace and light； and it was
touching to see the devotion and the tenderness that he showed to
her as often as she came to see him。 With his brother； Macdonald
Bhain； he made all the arrangements necessary for the disposal of
the farm and the payment of the mortgage。
Ranald had no desire to be a farmer； and indeed； when the mortgage
was paid there would not be much left。
〃He will be my son；〃 said Macdonald Bhain to his brother； 〃and my
home will be his while I live。〃