book, from which he took a bit of paper, and unfolding it, held up a lock of silken hair. The Sergeant suddenly seized the relie and kissed it, and then returned it to the Corporal, who, without saying a word, restored it to its old place of safety, bu But Dick now began to see that the Sergeant seemed to be rather excited, and no longer able to talk in his usual slow and measured manner; and so be said to him o je raw in a mediu "Wait till the morn, Adam, and we'll put a richt fer satisfaction.vo 300 Pad Trom by inse 二 Mr. Porteous asked what was wrong with him? The Corporal replied that he did not know, but that he was feverish he thought, and was certainly confined to bed. " "The Sergeant, as you are probably aware," remarked the minister, signing the paper and returning it to the Corporal, "has greatly surprised and annoyed me. He seems quite a changed man-changed, I fear, for the worse."'h se. Oh yes, Mr. Dick," continued the minister in reply to a protesting wave of the Corporal's hand, "he is indeed. He has become proud and obstinate-very," "Meek as a lamb in time of peace, but brave as a lion in time of war, I can assure you, Mr. Porteous," replied the Corporal. "I know better!" said the minister. "Na, na, Corporal!” replied Adam, "I never like pittin' aff—no a fecht even. What ought to be dane, should be dune when it can sae listen to -Ye'll help Katie tae gaîther her siller and gear thegither it's no muckle atweel!and see that her and Mary, wi' the bird, are pit in a bit hoose near versel. They can fen' on what I'll lea' them, wi' their ain wark tae help. Ye'll stan' their frien-Iken, Iken! And oh, man, when ye hear folk abuse me, dinna say a word in my defence! Let gowans grow | frae my grave, and birds sing ower't, and God's sun shine on't, but let nae angry word, against even an zemy, ever be heerd frae't, or be conneckit wi' my memory !!! Dick was silent. He felt too much to speak. The Bergeant continued Gie a my boots and shoon "Remember, Corporal, you and I belong to diffetae Jock Hall. Katie wull tell ye aboot him.”rent churches, and we judge men differently. We After a pause, he said ask forgiveness a must have discipline. Some churches are more or the minister, if I hae wranged him in ignorance. less pure, according asBut as to Smellicand the Sergeant turned his hed away. "The heart, Corporal," he added, "is ad! I'm no fit for that yet. God forgie me! but Iana wi'oot hypocrisy saya D TA "Ill no let ye speak another word, Adam!" said "Trust me as to yer will. Tll be faithfu' to death!" and he drew himself up, and saluted the Sergeant, placing his hand on his heart. There was not a bit of the conscious dramatic in but he wished to accept the trust given him in das form, as became a soldier receiving important anders from a dying friend. 739 8424 Adam did not like to confess it; but he was so ried that he could speak no more without pain, so, thanking the Corporal, he turned round to pic 1 tiptorá od bas "Im.bA MY CHAP. XI.-CORPORAL DICK AT THE MANSE. "Not better than me, sir," replied Dick, "for tho' ye have kent him as well as me, perhaps, in peace, yet ye didna ken him at all in war, and a truer, better, nobler sodger than Adam Mercer never raised his arms in fight or in prayer; that I'll say before the worl' !Pani "There's nae kirk pure, wi' your leave, neither yours nor mine!" exclaimed the Corporal. "I'm no pure, and accordingly when I joined my kirk it was pure nae langer; and, wi' a' respec' to you, sir, I'm no sure if your ain kirk wasna fashed wi the same diffecculty when ye joined it.” "Discipline, I say, must be maintained-must be," said Mr. Porteous; "and Adam has come under it most deservedly. First pure, then peaceable.” "If ever a man kept discipline in a regiment, he did! My certes!" said Dick, "I wad like to see the man wad raggle the regiment when he was in't!"T "I am talking of church discipline, sir!" said the minister, rather irate. Church discipline, you observe; which— -as I deny your being in a properly constituted church, but a mere self-constituted sect-you cannot have." "We're a kin' o' volunteers, I suppose?" interrupted ADAM had received his pension-paper, which re- Dick with a laugh; "the Haldaneite volunteers, as ye quired to be signed by the parish minister, as certify-wad ca' us; but maybe after a' we'll fecht agin the ng that the claimant was in life. Dick was glad of enemy, an' its three corps of the deevil, the world, this opportunity of calling upon the minister to and the flesh, as weel as your ain can do,” tain for his friend the required signature. as known to Mr. Porteous, who had met him once before in Adam's house, and had attacked him rather sharply on his Haldaneite principles, the sect being, as he alleged, an uncalled-for opposition to the regular parish elergy. S He A few minutes brought Dick to the Mansc. After fey words of grecting he, presented the Sergeant's Per; "Mr. Porteous inquired, with rather a scoptical expression on his countenance "They are not the regular army anyhow," said the minister, "and I do not recognise them.” "The mair's the pity," replied the Corporal, "for I consider it a great blin'ness and misfortin' when ae regiment dislikes anither. An army, minister, is no aç regiment, but many. There's cavalry and artillery, light troops and heavy troops, field guns and siege guns, and each does its ain wark sae lang as it obeys the commander-in-chief, and fechts for the kingdom, What's the use o' fechtin' agin each ither ?" THE STARLING. The minister looked impatiently at his watch. Dick went on to say "In Spain, I can tell ye, we were thankfu' for thae mad chiels the guerillas, and muckle guid they did us. Altho' they didna enlist into the 92nd or ony regular drilled regiment, Scotch or English, the Duke was thankfu' for them. Noo, Mr. Porteous, altho' ye think us a sort o' guerillas, let us alane,let us alane!dinna forbid us tho' we dinna follow your flag, but fight the enemy under our ain." "Well, well, Dick, we need not argue about it. My principles are too firm, too long made up, to be shaken at this time of day by the Haldaneites," said Mr. Porteous, rising, and looking out of the window. "Weel, weel!" said Dick. "I'm no wantin' to shake your principles, but to keep my ain." At this stage of the conversation Miss Thomasina entered the room, with "I beg pardon," as if searching for something in the press, but for no other purpose, in her eager curiosity, than to ascertain what the Corporal was saying, as she knew him to be a friend of the Sergeant's. Her best attention, with her ear placed outside the door, had made out nothing more than that the rather prolonged conversation had something to do with the great ecclesiastical question of the passing hour in Drumsylie. Good Words, May 1, 1887 "I tak' it, with all respect to you, sir, and to right, and will, therefore, aye do what's just and madam," said Dick, "that love will aye do what's generous. We may miss fire pointing the gun wi the eye o' justice, but never wi' the eye o' love. The sight is then always clearer anyhow to me. Excuse me, Mr. Porteous, if I presume to preach to you. ministers. I'm a plain man that speaks my mind, and We Haldaneites do a little in that line, tho' we're no wad hae killed yon fine bird, that was wee Charlie's, sin' ye hae gien me liberty to speak, let me ax if ye wi' yer ain han', minister?" Mr. Porteous, "if the law of the Church required it." "Ay, and all the birds under heaven!" replied "I should think so! and so would I," added Miss Thomasina, walking out of the room. 1 wuds or in the lifts!" said the Corporal. "Maybe it's "It wad be a dreich warl' wi'oot a bird in the because I'm a Haldaneite, but, wi' a' respect, I think I wad miss them mair than a' the kirk coorts in the country!" said the minister, impatiently; "you are getting "Drop the subject, drop the subject, Mr. Dick!” personal." sae. The Corporal could not see how that was, but he pudent, but, in candid truth, I wasna meanin' to be could see that his presence was not desired. So he rose to depart, saying "I'm feared I hae been imthis, that a fool may gie an advice tae a wise man, But jist let me say ae word mair; yell aloo and a Haldaneite; no muckle worth, ye may think -and this is my advice-the advice o' an auld sodger Dinna hairm Adam Mercer, or ye'll hairm yer best frien', yer best elder, and yer best parishoner. 1 beg pardon for my freedom, sir," he added, with a deferential bow. The minister returned it stiffly, remark Almost breathless with indignation that any one, especially a Haldaneite, should presume to take the part of the notorious heretic in the august presence of his great antagonist, she broke in with what was intended to be a good-humoured smile, but was, to ordinary observers, a bad-natured grin, saying, “Eh! Mr. Dick, you too stand up for that man-suspended by the Session, and deservedly so-yés, most deservedly Him and his starling, forsooth! It's infidelity at the root." "It's what?" asked the Corporal, with amazement. ing only that Mr. Dick was ignorant of all the "Infidelity did you say, my lady ?" 80. The "my lady" rather softened Miss Thomasina, whoreturned to the charge more softly, saying, "Well, it's pride and stubbornness, and that's as bad. But I hope his illness will be sanctified for changing his heart!" she added, with a sigh, intended to express a very deep concern for his spiritual welfare. "I hope not, wi' your leave!" replied the Corporal. "Not wish his heart changed?" exclaimed Miss Thomasina. "No!" said Dick, emphatically, "not changed, for it's a good Christian heart, and, if changed at all, it wad be changed for the worse." 7 "A Christian heart, indeed! a heart that would not kill a starling for the sake of the peace of the Session and the Kirk! Wonders will never cease!" "I hope never," said Dick, "if that's a wonder. Our Lord never killed in judgment man nor beast; and I suppose they were both much about as bad then as now; and his servants should imitate his example, I take it. He was love.", "But," said Mr. Porteous, chiming in, "love is all very well, no doubt, and ought to be, where possible; but justice must be, love or no love. The one is a principle, the other a feeling." judged otherwise. stuck in the heart of the minister.: CHAPTER XII.-DR. SCOTT AND HIS SERVANT, business, we know not which, to return by the "HighTHE Corporal was obliged, on family or on Haldaneite ance jolted along the road but twice a week, he flyer" next morning. As that slow but sure convey. could not, in the circumstances in which he was placed, remain until another journey.. the house of Dr. Scott, the well-known doctor of So when he left the Manse, he proceeded at once to by the physical endurance of himself and of his the parish, and of a district around it limited only brown horse, "Bolus." When the Corporal called, ring journeys. Being a bachelor, his old servant the Doctor was absent on one of his constantly recurEffie received the visitor. She kept the shop, as well as her master. And indeed she was suspected by many as the house, and was as well known in the parish to have equal skill, very likely owing to the powerful effects produced by her doses. On learning the absence of the doctor, the Corporal inquired when he was expected home? or twa o' Spanish flees that they wadna forget in a hurry-but what's wrang?" she asked once more "Wha i' the warl' can tell that? Whatna quas- halting in her eloquence. tion tae spier o' me!" exclaimed Effie. "That's just what we want tae ken," replied the "I meant no offence," replied the Corporal; "but Corporal, quietly. my friend, Sergeant Mercer "I beg yer pardon," interrupted Effie; "I wasna awar ye were a frien' o' the Sergeant's, honest man! Sae I may tell you that the doctor may be here in a minute, or maybe no till breakfast-time the morn; or he may come at twal, at twa, or Gude kens whan! But if it's an ordinar' thing ye want for yersel' or Adam, I can gie't to ye :-sic as a scoorin' dose o' sauts or casturile, or rubhard pills, or seena leaf, or even a flee blister, or a few draps o' lodamy." The Corporal listened with all respect, and said, "I want nothing for mysel' or Adam; but Dr. Scott is requested to veesit him on his return hame, or as soon after as convenient." "Convenient!" exclaimed 'Effie, “that's no a word kent in Drumsylie for the doctor! He micht as well ax the folk if it was convenient for them to hae a son or a dochter at twal hours i' the day or at twal at nicht, on a het day or on a snawy ane; or to ax when it was convenient for them to burn their fit, break their leg, or play the mishanter wi' themsels efter a fair. Convenient! Keep us a'! But depen' 'on't he'll mak' it convenient to atten' Mr. Mercer, nicht or mornin', sune or early." "I am sorry to trouble him, for I am sure he is anco' bothered and fashed," said the Corporal, politely. “Fashed!" exclaimed Effie, thankful for the opportunity of expressing sympathy with her master, and her indignation at his inconsiderate patients; "Naebody kens that but him and me! Fashed! the man haesna the life o' a streyed dog or cat! There's na a lameter teylor wi' his waik fit, nor a bairn wi' a sair wame frae eatin' ower mony cruds or grosats, nor anauld wife hostin' wi' a grew o' cauld, nor a farmer efter makin' ower free wi' black puddins and haggis when a mart is kill't-but a' maun flee tae the doctor, yam, yam, yammerin', as if he had the poower o' life and death! Puir bodie, I could maist greet if I wasna sae angry, to wauk him in his first sleep in a winter's nicht to ride aff on auld Bolus-that's his decent horse-and for what? Maybe nacthing! I as sure you he has a dirty fleece tae scoor in this parish!" Effie stopped, not from want of illustration, but from want of breath. “A hard life, a hard life, nae doot," remarked the Corporal; "but it's his duty, and he's paid for't." "Him!" said Effie, "I wad like tae see the siller; as the watchmaker said-The Doctor, quo' he, should let them pay the debt o' nature if they wadna pay his ain debts first. He wasna far wrang. But I was forgettin' the Sergeant-what's wrang wi' him? That's ¦a man never fashes the doctor or onybody; and he aye pays what he gets. But ither folk fash the Sergeant -I wuss I had the doctorin' o' some o' them I ken! Feggs, I wad doctor them! I wad gie them a blister "I'll tell the Doctor," said Effie. "I think ye said yer name was Diek-Cornal Dick ?" "No, no! not Cornal yet," replied Diek, smiling, "I'm sorry tae say, my braw woman, but Corporal only." ༞་, The epithet "braw" drew down a curtsy from Effie in reply to his "Gude day; ye'll be sure to send the Doctor." Dr. Scott, whom Effic represented, was a man of few words, who never attempted to explain the philosophy, if he knew it, of his treatment, but prescribed his doses as firmly and unfeelingly as the gunner loads his cannon. He left his patients to choose life or death, apparently as if their choice was a matter of indifference to him; yet nevertheless he possessed a most feeling heart, revealed not in looks or words, but in deeds of patience and self-sacrifice, for which, from too many, he got little thanks, and less pay, as Effie had more than insinuated. Every one in the parish seemed to have a firm conviction as to the duty of the doctor to visit them, when unwell, at all hours, and from all distances, by day or night; while their duty of consideration for his health was dim, and for his pocket singularly procrastinating. "I do not grudge," he once said, "to give my professional aid gratis to the poor and needy, and oven to others who could pay me if they would; nay, I do not grudge in many cases to send à bag of meal to the family, but I think I am entitled, without being considered greedy, and without my sending for it, to get my empty bag returned!" The doctor was ever riding to and fro, his face red with winter's cold and summer's heat, nodding oftener on his saddle than at his own fire-side, watching all sorts of cases in farm-houses and lowly cottages by night, and cantering by day for miles to return again to the anxiety and discomforts of the sickroom. Poor fellow! is it to be wondered at that he was too often tempted to depend on stimulants to support his strength and keep up the genial spirits, which regular food, rest, and a happy home should have supplied. But all liked the Doctor, and trusted him; though, alas! such men as Dr. Mair--herbalists, vendors of wonderful pills and "saws," bone-setters, and the whole race of ignorant and presuming quacks, resident or itinerant-could always impose dn the credulous, and could sell their marvellous cures for such prices as seldom entered poor Scott's pocket. The doctor in due time visited Adam. "What's wrong, Sergeant ?" was his abrupt question; and he immediately proceeded to examine tongue and pulse, and other signs and symptoms. He then prescribed some simple medicine, rather gentler than Effie's; and said little, except that he would call back soon. The case was at last declared to be typhoid fever. CHAPTER XIII.MR. SMELLIE'S DIPLOMACY, da MR. SMELLIE was not only a draper, but the greatest in that line in the parish of Drumsy lie. His shop had the largest display of goods in the village. Handkerchiefs, cravats, Paisley shawls, printed calicoes, &c., streamed in every variety of colour from strings across the large window, dotted with hats and bonnets for male and female customers. He was looked upon as a well-to-do, religious man, who carefully made the most of both worlds. He was a bachelor, and lived in a very small house, above his shop, which was reached by a screw stair. A small charity boy, with a singularly sedate countenance he may for aught I know be now a rich merchant on the London Exchange-kept the shop. I mention his name, Eben, or Ebenezer Peat, to preserve for some possible biographer the important part which the as yet great unknown played in his carly life. The only domestic was old Peggy; of whom, beyond her name, I know nothing. She may have been great, and no doubt was, if she did her duty with zeal and love to Peter Smellie. She inhabited the kitchen, and her master the parlour, attached to which was a small bed closet. The parlour was cold and stiff, like a cell for a condemned Pharisee. There was little furniture in it save an old sofa, whose hard bony skeleton had a hide of black haircloth over it, and a small round cushion of the same character, with rather bristly hairs, in a recess at the end of it. A few stuffed mahogany chairs were ranged along the wall an arm-chair beside the small fire, and a round table with a dark wax-cloth cover, completed the furniture of the apartment. There were, besides, a few old books of theology which guaranteed Mr. Smellie's orthodoxy, if not his reading; a copy of "Buchan's Domestic Medicine," and a sampler which hung on the wall, sewed by his only sister, long dead, on which was worked a rude symbol of Castle Bennock, and three swans floating under it, nearly as large as the castle, while beneath all, amidst what was intended for flowers, were the symbols For P. S. by M. S.” ⠀ Mr. Smellie sat near a small fire that seemed like a yellow cairngorm shining amidst basalt, reading his newspaper, when a letter was laid upon his table by Peggy without any remark except, "A letter." Mk "From whom, Peggy?" asked Smellie. "Dinna ken; was left on the coonter.". Mr. Smellie opened it. No sooner did he recognise the signature, than he laid aside the paper-the Edinburgh Courant, even then long established. He read the letter over and over again, very possibly a hundred times if one might judge from the time it remained in his hands. At last he put it down quietly, as if afraid it would make a noise, and stared at the small fire. He then paced across the room; lay down on the sofa; resumed his seat at the fire; took up the letter, again perused it, and again laid it slowly down. He alone could decipher his own thoughts while doing all this. For a time he was confused and bewildered, as if endeavouring to comprehend his altered position. It was to him as if some one whom he had hanged or murdered had com to life again. What was he to do now with referenc to the Sergeant?. This was what puzzled-himwhat could he do to save himself? He had felt sal in the hands of an honourable manat a distanc He had in fact, during many years of comparativ ease as to worldly things, almost forgotten this his ol attempt at cheating. He had long ago repented, as i thought, of the crime; but that which was past h now risen from the dead, and God seemed to requi it at his hands! Had not his own continued sinfulness restored th dead past to life ? It was a great shock for him t learn for the first time that his enemy, as he looke upon Adam, knew it all, and had him in his powe And then to learn also that the Sergeant had ne divulged it! What could he do? Would he provo Adam to blast his character, to triumph over hin, expose him to the Kirk Session and the parish toto banish him! Or would herepent truly of all thi false, hollow past which was now being dimly vealed to him; confess his evil doing to the Sergean and ask his forgiveness, as well as that of God; tru his mercy, bless him for his generosity, acknow ledge that he was the better man, and seek by new and true life to imitate him PO Mr. Pot Smellie! this is indeed one of those moments in th life on which a single step to the right or left ma lead thee to light or darkness, to heaven or to hel Thy soul, of immeasurable littleness estimated the world, but of infinite greatness estimated eternal truth and righteousness, is now engaged in battle in which its eternal destiny is likely to i determined! Confront then the good and evil master God and Mammon, who are contending for the ma tery; serve the one and despise the other, and even the mayest yet be great because good. But if not! the in a few minutes mayest thou be irrecoverably on t road to thine own place; and though this will nothing to Drumsylie, it will be everything to ther The battle went hard against Saul, and the Ph listines of vanity, pride, and a wicked consisten were pressing hard upon him! One thing only, easiest for the time, he determined to do, and t was to get out of the scrape as his bad ar soothingly suggested as speedily and as easily possible. He must not keep up the quarrel long with the Sergeant; this much seemed clear: such a course was dangerous. He must also in mediately assure John Spence of obedience his commands. So, without delay, he wrote Spence, imploring him, as he himself expected mer from God, to be silent regarding the old crim assuring him that he had mistaken the part had taken in this most painful case, and pr mising him to do all he could to deliver the S geant out of trouble, which would be at once duty and his pleasure. This letter, being writte was a great relief to his mind: it delivered him, he hoped, from immediate danger at least, a enabled him to concentrate his acute faculties on t carrying out of his plans for securing his own sa 7 His thoughts were for the moment broken by Eben announcing, as he was wont to do, a supe rior customer whom it was expedient for the master himself to serve. The customer on the present occasion was Miss Thomasina Porteous, who had come to purchase some article for herself, and a cheap shawl, out of the Session Charity Fund, for their poor, persecuted, common friend, as she called Mrs. Craigie. Mr. Smellie was unusually silent: he did not respond to the order for Mrs. Craigie with his accus. tomed smile. After a little, Miss Thomasina blandly remarked, "The Sergeant is very ill, and I have no doubt from a bad conscience there's no peace, you know, Mr. Smellie, to the wicked." "I am aware!" said Mr. Smellie, drily. This cheap shawl," he added, selecting and//spreading out one before her, is good enough, I suppose, for a pauper?" it lan, poise and að und “Considering all she has suffered from that man, I think she should get a better one, or something in addition, Mr. Smellie," said the lady. us baith, and knowing your Christian principles, I do really houp that, at heart he is a good man. Forgie me for hinting it, but I really believe it. Now, if he dees, we'll have no blame. So I say, or rather suggest, that, wi' your leave, we should in the mean! time let things alone, and say no more about this sad business. I leave you to propose this to our worthy minister." Those up "I think our kindness and charity, Mr. Smellie," replied Miss Porteous, are not required at present. My word, no!. My poor brother requires both, not: Mercer. See how he is petted! start Gordons have been sending him, I hear, all sorts of things: wine and grapes-grapes that even I tasted once only in my life, when my mother died. And Mrs. Gordon called on him yesterday in her carriage! It's absolutely ridiculous! I would even say an insult! tho' I'm sure. I don't wish the many any ill-not I;; but only that we must not spoil him, and make a fool of my brother and the Session, as if Mercer was innocent, I assure you my brother feels this sort of mawkish sympathy very : “Eben!" said Smellie, "go up-stairs. I wish to much-very much." by,,h speak to Miss Porteous alone.". af vold The boy disappeared Pill 1000 "As a friend, Miss Porteous," whispered Smellie, "permit me to say, in strictest confidence you understand ?" ide Lante "Quite!" replied Miss Thomasina, with a look of intense curiosity.ns n ni to 10 pl That I have learned some things about Mrs. Craigie," continued Mr. Smellie, “which should make as extremely cautious in helping or trusting her." 66 'Indeed!" said Miss Thomasina, 16) 1 t "And, as regards the Sergeant," said Mr. Smellie, there is rightly or wrongly is not the question- | strong sympathy felt for him in the parish. It is kuman nature to feel, you know, for the weak side, even if it is the worst side; and from my profound respect for our excellent minister, over whom you exercise; such great and useful influence, I would advise log is a hn cbriq use to emiten "That he should yield, Mr. Smellie?" interrupted Miss Thomasina, with an expression of wonder. "No, no, Miss Porteous," replied the worthy Peter, "that may be impossible; but that we should allow Providence to deal with Adam. He is ill. The Doctor, I heard to-day, thinks it may come to typhus fever. He is threatened, at least; and # 1 "He may die?" said the lady. "I hope not, poor man, for his own sake. It would be a solemn judgment "te Teri ef s., vir we "I did not say die," continued Smellie; "but many things may occurrepentance a new mind, ces Anyhow," he added with a smile," he should, in my very humble opinion, be dealt wit charitably-nay, I would say kindly! Our justice should be tempered wi mercy, so that no enemy, could rejoice over vus, and that we should feel a good conscience the best o' blessings," he added, with a sigh" as knowing that we had exhausted every means of bringing him to a right mind; for, between "It is quite natural that he should do so," replied Mr. Smellie;" and so do I. But nevertheless, I again say we must be merciful; for mercy rejoiceth over judgment. So I say, let things alone for the present. Let us withdraw our hand when Providence begins to work; in the meantime, in the meantime." She Miss Thomasina was not prepared for these new views on the part of the high-principled, firm, and consistent elder: they crossed her purpose. had no idea of giving up the battle in this easy way. What had she to do with Providence? To stand firm and fast to principle was, she had ever been taught, the one thing needful; and until the Sergeant confessed his fault, it seemed to her that he should be treated as a heathen and a publican! Mr. Smellie very properly put in the saving clause, "But no waur-no waur, Miss Porteous." He also oiled his argument by presenting his customer with a new pair of gloves out of a parcel just received from Edinburgh, as evidence of his, admiration for her high character. The lady smiled and left the shop, and said she would communicate the substance of their conversation to her brother. Kindly, kindly, as becomes your warm heart," said Mr. Smellie. He also expressed a hope that the gloves would fit her fingers as neatly as in his heart he hoped his arguments would fit the mind of his minister. Another diplomatic stroke in Mr. Smellie's extremity was to obtain the aid of his easy brotherelder, Mr. Menzies, to adjust matters with the Sergeant, so as to enable Mr. Porteous to back out of the ecclesiastical mess in which the Session had become involved. } I "I hae been thinking, my good frien'," said Smellie to Menzies, as both were seated beside the twinkling fire in the sanctum over the draper's shop, that possibly-possibly-we micht men matters |