"Miss Arnot!--Jean Arnot!"--a buzz of excitement ran round. For Miss Arnot was a personage of importance, known alike for her beauty, her wealth, and her good deeds. Rumour, indeed, had fixed upon Miss Arnot as the mysterious donor for the last two years of a £1,000 note each year for the special benefit and use of the South Sea Mission. And he was going to marry Miss Arnot, and she was going out with him! No wonder there was a light in his face! But he was speaking again. "You will see, sir, at once that this happy circumstance brings about many changes in my plans and hopes. The vista of usefulness which it opens before me--before us, may I say?--is magnified one hundred-fold. Miss Arnot dedicates her fortune, herself, and her enthusiasms to the work. There is a mighty field out there. It is not white to the harvest--it is black as darkest night. By God's help we hope to lift the fringes and let in some rays of His blessed light. I shall have the opportunity of discussing my ideas in detail with your secretary. But broadly speaking, this is how they point. We contemplate purchasing and fitting out a steamer suitable for mission-work among the Islands, and going out in her ourselves. We would like several assistants, married or unmarried--but big men, please! Big heads are good, and big hearts are better, but best of all if they are contained in big bodies. You have no idea what a vast impression a big man makes on those big Islanders compared with a small man. As to the size of the ladies, I would not venture to offer any suggestions. But the men should be--must be--big men. One further matter, sir, and I have done. Those Islanders must come under the protection of the British flag at once. And I want--you will not misunderstand me if I go the length of saying _I must have_--the appointment of Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner, or any position that will give me the official right to deal with certain matters which block our way out there. "The wrongs the people of some of those Outer Islands suffer, from the scum of the earth who prey upon them, to their utter ruin of body, soul, and spirit, are almost incredible. "I could tell you facts--bald, brutal facts--concerning the labour traffic carried on there which would make you shudder and doubt my veracity. But I have seen these things with my own eyes, and heard them with my own ears, and been powerless to stop them. "Now, by God's help, and Miss Arnot's, I will wage war on these doings--hot war--yes, red-hot war with Maxim and Lee-Metford, if necessary"--his voice rang out militantly--"on those who do these dreadful deeds. Those hideous wrongs shall cease, and those poor kinsfolk of ours--God's children as much as we, though they know it not yet--shall have their chance. I would of course prefer to act officially in the matter; but, officially or not, act I shall.