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〃Ranald；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； 〃have you ever thought how he will need
God's mercy like yourself？ And have you never thought that perhaps
he has never had the way of God's mercy put before him？ To you the
Lord has given much； to him little。 It is a terrible thing to be
ungrateful for the mercy of God； and it is a shameful thing。 It is
unworthy of any true man。 How can any one take the fullness of
God's mercy and his patience every day； and hold an ungrateful
heart？〃
She did not spare him； and as Ranald sat and listened； his life and
character began to appear to him small and mean and unworthy。
〃The Lord means you to be a noble man； Ranalda man with the heart
and purpose to do some good in the world； to be a blessing to his
fellows； and it is a poor thing to be so filled up with selfishness
as to have no thought of the honor of God or of the good of men。
Louis LeNoir has done you a great wrong； but what is that wrong
compared with the wrong you have done to Him who loved you to His
own death？〃
Then she gave him her last word： 〃When you see Louis LeNoir； think
of God's mercy； and remember you are to do him good and not evil。〃
And with that word in his heart； Ranald went away； ashamed and
humbled； but not forgiving。 The time for that had not yet come。
But before he left for the shanties； he saw Mrs。 Murray again to
say good by。 He met her with a shamed face； fearing that she must
feel nothing but contempt for him。
〃You will think ill of me；〃 he said； and in spite of his self…
control his voice shook。 〃I could not bear that。〃
〃No； I could never think ill of you； Ranald； but I would be grieved
to think that you should fail of becoming a noble man； strong and
brave； strong enough to forgive and brave enough to serve。〃
Once more Ranald went to the woods； with earnest thoughts in his
mind； hoping he should not meet LeNoir； and fighting out his battle
to victory； and by the time the drive had reached the big water
next spring； that battle was almost over。 The days in the silent
woods and the nights spent with his uncle in the camp； and
afterward in his cabin on the raft； did their work with Ranald。
The timber cut that year was the largest that had ever been known
on the Upper Ottawa。 There was great crowding of rafts on the
drive； and for weeks the chutes were full； and when the rafts were
all brought together at Quebec； not only were the shores lined and
Timber Cove packed； but the broad river was full from Quebec to
Levis； except for the steamboat way which must be kept open。
For the firm of Raymond & St。 Clair this meant enormous increase of
business； and it was no small annoyance that at this crisis they
should have detected their Quebec agent in fraud； and should have
been forced to dismiss him。 The situation was so critical that Mr。
St。 Clair himself； with Harry as his clerk； found it necessary to
spend a month in Quebec。 He took with him Maimie and her great
friend Kate Raymond； the daughter of his partner； and established
himself in the Hotel Cheval Blanc。
On the whole； Maimie was not sorry to visit the ancient capital of
Canada； though she would have chosen another time。 It was rather
disappointing to leave her own city in the West； just at the
beginning of the spring gayeties。 It was her first season； and the
winter had been distinguished by a series of social triumphs。 She
was the toast of all the clubs and the belle of all the balls。 She
had developed a rare and fascinating beauty； and had acquired an
air so distingue that even her aunt； Miss St。 Clair； was completely
satisfied。 It was a little hard for her to leave the scene of her
triumphs and to abandon the approaching gayeties。
But Quebec had its compensations； and then there were the De Lacys；
one of the oldest English families of Quebec。 The St。 Clairs had
known them for many years。 Their blood was unquestionably blue；
they were wealthy； and besides； the only son and representative of
the family was now lieutenant； attached to the garrison at the
Citadel。 Lieutenant De Lacy suggested possibilities to Maimie。
Quebec might be endurable for a month。
〃What a lovely view； and how picturesque！〃
Maimie was standing at the window looking down upon the river with
its fleet of rafts。 Beside her stood Kate； and at another window
Harry。
〃What a lot of timber！〃 said Harry。 〃And the town is just full of
lumbermen。 A fellow said there must be six thousand of them； so
there will be lots of fun。〃
〃Fun！〃 exclaimed Kate。
〃Fun！ rather。 These fellows have been up in the woods for some
five or six months； and when they get to town where there is whisky
andandthat sort of thing； they just get wild。 They say it is
awful。〃
〃Just horrible！〃 said Maimie； in a disgusted tone。
〃But splendid；〃 said Kate； 〃that is； if they don't hurt any one。〃
〃Hurt anybody！〃 exclaimed Harry。 〃Oh； not at all； they are always
extremely careful not to hurt any one。 They are as gentle as
lambs。 I say； let us go down to the river and look at the rafts。
De Lacy was coming up； but it is too late now for him。 Besides； we
might run across Maimie's man from Glengarry。〃
〃Maimie's man from Glengarry！〃 exclaimed Kate。 〃Has she a man
there； too？〃
〃Nonsense； Kate！〃 said Maimie； blushing。 〃He is talking about
Ranald； you know。 One of Aunt Murray's young men； up in Glengarry。
You have heard me speak of him often。〃
〃Oh； the boy that pulled you out of the fire；〃 said Kate。
〃Yes；〃 cried Harry； striking an attitude； 〃and the boy that for
love of her entered the lists； and in a fistic tournament upheld
her fair name； and〃
〃Oh； Harry； do have some sense！〃 said Maimie； impatiently。 〃Hush；
here comes some one； Lieutenant De Lacy； I suppose。〃
It was the lieutenant； handsome； tall； well made； with a high…bred
if somewhat dissipated face； an air of blase indifference a little
overdone； and an accent which he had brought back with him from
Oxford； and which he was anxious not to lose。 Indeed； the bare
thought of the possibility of his dropping into the flat； semi…
nasal of his native land filled the lieutenant with unspeakable
horror。
〃We were just going down to the river；〃 said Maimie； after the
introductions were over； 〃but I suppose it is all old to you； and
you would not care to go？〃
〃Aw； charmed； I'm sure。〃 （The lieutenant pronounced it 〃shuah。〃）
〃But it is rathaw； don't you know； not exactly clean。〃
〃He is thinking of his boots；〃 said Harry； scornfully； looking down
at the lieutenant's shining patent leathers。
〃Really；〃 said the lieutenant； mildly； 〃awfully dirty street；
though。〃
〃But we want to see the shantymen；〃 said Kate； frankly。
〃Oh； the men！ Very proper； but not so very discriminating； you
know。〃
〃I love the shantymen；〃 exclaimed Kate； enthusiastically。 〃Maimie
told me all about them。〃
〃By Jove！ I'll join to…morrow；〃 exclaimed the lieutenant with
gentle excitement。
〃They would not have you；〃 answered Kate。 〃Besides； you would have
to eat pork and onions and things。〃
The lieutenant shuddered； gazing reproachfully at Kate。
〃Onions！〃 he gasped； 〃and you love them？〃
〃Let us go along； then；〃 said Harry。 〃W