“But look round you,” said Mary, “and say whether the great bulk of those who are now watching as on tiptoe to swell its ranks, are of the class you describe? Can you shut your eyes to the fact, that there is a winnowing process going on in the one Church, and that the chaff and dust are falling into the other? But, Dallas,” she said, laying her hand on her breast, “I can no longer dispute with you; and ’twould be unavailing if I could, for it is not argument but strength that you want--strength to resist the influence of a more powerful but less honest mind than your own. There is assuredly a time of trouble coming; but I feel, Dallas, that your escape from it cannot be more certain than mine.” Dallas, who had hitherto avoided her glance, now regarded her with an expression of solicitude and alarm. She was thin--much thinner than usual--and her cheeks were crimsoned by a flush of deadly beauty. The anger which she had excited--for she had convinced him of his error, despite of his determination not to be convinced, and he was necessarily angry--vanished in a moment. He grasped her hand, and bursting into tears, “O Mary!” he exclaimed, “I am a weak, worthless thing--pity me--pray for me; but no, it were vain, it were vain; I am lost, and for ever!” The maiden was deeply affected, and strove to console him. “Retrace your steps,” she said, “in the might of Him whose strength is perfected in weakness, and all shall yet be well. My poor brother has mourned for your defection as he would have done for your death; but he loves you still, and deeply regrets that an unfortunate quarrel should have estranged you from him. Come and see him as usual; he has a keen temper, but need I tell you that he has an affectionate heart? And I did not think, Dallas, that you could have so soon forgotten myself; but come, that I may have my revenge.” The friends parted, and at this time neither of them thought they had parted for ever. But so it was. Facile and wavering as nature had formed the young chaplain, he yet indulged in a pride that, conscious of weakness, would fain solace itself with at least an outside show of strength and consistency; and he could not forget that he had now chosen his side. Weeks and months passed, and the day arrived on which, at the instance of the Bishop of Ross, the nonconforming minister of Cromarty was to be ejected from his parish.