“It is a sad and terrible day for the Camerons,” said Peter McRae. “Aye, it is sad, indeed,” replied Donald Ross. “He was a good son and they will be missing him bad. It is a great loss.” “Yes, the loss is great,” said Peter, grimly. “But, after all, that is a small thing.” Straight Rory sighed again even more deeply than before. Donald Ross said nothing. “What does the old duck mean, anyhow?” said Yankee to Ranald. The boy made no reply. His heart was sick with horror at Peter's meaning, which he understood only too well. “Aye,” went on Peter, “it is a terrible, mysterious Providence, and a heavy warning to the ungodly and careless.” “He means me, I guess,” remarked Yankee to Ranald. “It will perhaps be not amiss to any of us,” said Kenny Crubach, sharply. “Indeed, that is true,” said Donald Ross, in a very humble voice. “Yes, Mr. Ross,” said Peter, ignoring Kenny Crubach, “but at times the voice of Providence cannot be misunderstood, and it will not do for the elders of the church to be speaking soft things when the Lord is speaking in judgment and wrath.” Donald was silent, while Straight Rory assented with a heartrending “Aye, aye,” which stirred Yankee's bile again. “What's he talkin' about? He don't seem to be usin' my language,” he said, in a tone of wrathful perplexity. Ranald was too miserable to answer, but Kenny was ready with his word. “Judgment and wrath,” he echoed, quickly. “The man would require to be very skillful whatever in interpreting the ways of Providence, and very bold to put such a meaning into the death of a young man such as Malcolm yonder.” The little man's voice was vibrating with feeling. Then Yankee began to understand. “I'll be gol-blamed to a cinder!” he exclaimed, in a low voice, falling back upon a combination that seemed more suitable to the circumstances. “They ain't sendin' him to hell, are they?” He shut up the knife with which he had been whittling with a sharp snap, and rising to his feet, walked slowly over to the group of elders. “Far be it from me to judge what is not to be seen,” said Peter. “But we are allowed and commanded to discern the state of the heart by the fruits.” “Fruits?” replied Kenny, quickly. “He was a good son and brother and friend; he was honest and clean, and he gave his life for another at the last.” “Exactly so,” said Peter. “I am not denying much natural goodness, for indeed he was a fine lad; but I will be looking for the evidence that he was in a state of grace. I have not heard of any, and glad would I be to hear it.” The old man's emotion took the sharpness out of Kenny's speech, but he persisted, stoutly, “Goodness is goodness, Mr. McRae, for all that.” “You will not be holding the Armenian doctrine of works, Mr. Campbell?” said Peter, severely. “You would not be pointing to good works as a ground of salvation?” Yankee, who had been following the conversation intently, thought he saw meaning in it at last.