the man from glengarry-第16章

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faced　his　congregation　he　was　truly　superb。　　He　was　above　the
average　height；　of　faultless　form　and　bearing；　athletic；　active；
and　with　a　〃spring　in　every　muscle。〃　　He　had　coal…black　hair　and
beard；　and　a　flashing　blue　eye　that　held　his　people　in　utter
subjection　and　put　the　fear　of　death　upon　evil…doers　under　the
gallery。　　In　every　movement；　tone；　and　glance　there　breathed
imperial　command。

〃Let　us　worship　God　by　singing　to　His　praise　in　the　one　hundred　and
twenty…first　psalm：


　　　　　'I　to　the　hills　will　lift　mine　eyes；
　　　　　　From　whence　doth　come　mine　aid。'〃


His　voice　rang　out　over　the　congregation　like　a　silver　bell；　and
Maimie　thought　she　had　never　seen　a　man　of　such　noble　presence。

After　the　reading　of　the　psalm　the　minister　sat　down；　and　Straight
Rory　rose　in　his　box；　and　after　his　manner；　began　feeling　about　for
the　first　note　of　the　chant　that　would　introduce　the　noble　old　tune
〃St。　Paul's。〃　　A　few　moments　he　spent　twisting　his　face　and
shoulders　in　a　manner　that　threatened　to　ruin　the　solemnity　of　the
worshipers　under　the　gallery；　till　finally　he　seemed　to　hit　upon
the　pitch　desired；　and　throwing　back　his　head　and　closing　one　eye；
he　proceeded　on　his　way。　　Each　line　he　chanted　alone；　after　the
ancient　Scottish　custom；　after　which　the　congregation　joined　with
him　in　the　tune。　　The　custom　survived　from　the　time　when　psalm…
books　were　in　the　hands　of　but　few　and　the　〃lining〃　of　the　psalm
was　therefore　necessary。

There　was　no　haste　to　be　done　with　the　psalm。　　Why　should　there　be？
They　had　only　one　Sabbath　in　the　week；　and　the　whole　day　was　before
them。　　The　people　surrendered　themselves　to　the　lead　of　Straight
Rory　with　unmistakable　delight　in　that　part　of　〃the　exercises〃　of
the　day　in　which　they　were　permitted　to　audibly　join。　　But　of　all
the　congregation；　none　enjoyed　the　singing　more　than　the　dear　old
women　who　sat　in　the　front　seats　near　the　pulpit；　their　quiet　old
faces　looking　so　sweet　and　pure　under　their　snow…white　〃mutches。〃
There　they　sat　and　sang　and　quavered；　swaying　their　bodies　with　the
tune　in　an　ecstasy　of　restful　joy。

Maimie　had　often　heard　St。　Paul's　before；　but　never　as　it　was
chanted　by　Straight　Rory　and　sung　by　the　Indian　Lands　congregation
that　day。　　The　extraordinary　slides　and　slurs　almost　obliterated
the　notes　of　the　original　tune；　and　the　〃little　kick；〃　as　Maimie
called　it；　at　the　end　of　the　second　line；　gave　her　a　little　start。

〃Auntie；〃　she　whispered；　〃isn't　it　awfully　queer？〃

〃Isn't　it　beautiful？〃　her　aunt　answered；　with　an　uncertain　smile。
She　was　remembering　how　these　winding；　sliding；　slurring　old　tunes
had　affected　her　when　first　she　heard　them　in　her　husband's　church
years　ago。　　The　stately　movement；　the　weird　quavers；　and　the
pathetic　cadences　had　in　some　mysterious　way　reached　the　deep
places　in　her　heart；　and　before　she　knew；　she　had　found　the　tears
coursing　down　her　cheeks　and　her　breath　catching　in　sobs。　　Indeed；
as　she　listened　to…day；　remembering　these　old　impressions；　the
tears　began　to　flow；　till　Hughie；　not　understanding；　crept　over　to
his　mother；　and　to　comfort　her；　slipped　his　hand　into　hers；　looking
fiercely　at　Maimie　as　if　she　were　to　blame。　　Maimie；　too；　noticed
the　tears　and　sat　wondering；　and　as　the　congregation　swung　on
through　the　verses　of　the　grand　old　psalm　there　crept　into　her
heart　a　new　and　deeper　emotion　than　she　had　ever　known。

〃Listen　to　the　words；　Maimie　dear；〃　whispered　her　aunt。　　And　as
Maimie　listened；　the　noble　words；　borne　on　the　mighty　swing　of　St。
Paul's；　lifted　up　by　six　hundred　voicesfor　men；　women；　and
children　were　singing　with　all　their　heartsawakened　echoes　from
great　deeps　within　her　as　yet　unsounded。　　The　days　for　such　singing
are；　alas！　long　gone。　　The　noble　rhythm；　the　stately　movement；　the
continuous　curving　stream　of　melody；　that　once　marked　the　praise
service　of　the　old　Scottish　church；　have　given　place　to　the　light；
staccato　tinkle　of　the　revival　chorus；　or　the　shorn　and　mutilated
skeleton　of　the　ancient　psalm　tune。

But　while　the　psalm　had　been　moving　on　in　its　solemn　and　stately
way；　Ranald　had　been　enduring　agony　at　the　hands　of　Peter　Ruagh
sitting　just　behind　him。　　Peter；　whose　huge；　clumsy　body　was　a
fitting　tabernacle　for　the　soul　within；　labored　under　the　impression
that　he　was　a　humorist；　and　indulged　a　habit　of　ponderous　joking；
trying　enough　to　most　people；　but　to　one　of　Ranald's　temperament
exasperating　to　a　high　degree。　　His　theme　was　Ranald's　rescue　of
Maimie；　and　the　pauses　of　the　singing　he　filled　in　with　humorous
comments　that；　outside；　would　have　produced　only　weariness；　but　in
the　church；　owing　to　the　strange　perversity　of　human　nature；　sent　a
snicker　along　the　seat。　　Unfortunately　for　him；　Ranald's　face　was　so
turned　that　he　could　not　see　it；　and　so　he　had　no　hint　of　the　wrath
that　was　steadily　boiling　up　to　the　point　of　overflow。

They　were　nearing　the　close　of　the　last　verse　of　the　psalm；　when
Hughie；　whose　eyes　never　wandered　long　from　Ranald's　direction；
uttered　a　sharp　〃Oh；　my！〃　　There　was　a　shuffling　confusion　under
the　gallery；　and　when　Maimie　and　her　aunt　looked；　Peter　Ruagh's
place　was　vacant。

By　this　time　the　minister　was　standing　up　for　prayer。　　His　eye；
too；　caught　the　movement　in　the　back　seat。

〃Young　men；〃　he　said；　sternly；　〃remember　you　are　in　God's　house。
Let　me　not　have　to　mention　your　names　before　the　congregation。　　Let
us　pray。〃

As　the　congregation　rose　for　prayer；　Mrs。　Murray　noticed　Peter
Ruagh　appear　from　beneath　the　book…board　and　quietly　slip　out　by
the　back　door　with　his　hand　to　his　face　and　the　blood　streaming
between　his　fingers；　and　though　Ranald　was　standing　up　straight　and
stiff　in　his　place；　Mrs。　Murray　could　read　from　his　rigid　look　the
explanation　of　Peter's　bloody　face。　　She　gave　her　mind　to　the
prayer　with　a　sore　heart；　for　she　had　learned　enough　of　those　wild；
hot…headed　youths　to　know　that　before　Peter　Ruagh's　face　would　be
healed　more　blood　would　have　to　flow。

The　prayer　proceeded　in　its　leisurely　way；　indulging　here　and　there
in　quiet　reverie；　or　in　exultant　jubilation　over　the　〃attributes；〃
embracing　in　its　worldwide　sweep　〃the　interests　of　the　kingdom〃　far
and　near；　and　of　that　part　of　humanity　included　therein　present　and
to　come；　and　buttressing　its　petitions　with　theological　argument；
systematic　and　unassailable。　　Before　the　close；　however；　the
minister　came　to　deal　with　the　needs　of　his　own　people。　　Old　and
young；　absent　and　present；　the　sick；　the　weary；　the　sin…burdened
all　were　remembered　with　a　warmth　of　sympathy；　with　a　directness　of
petition；　and　with　an　earnestness　of　appeal　that　thrilled　and
subdued　the　hearts　of　all；　and　made　even　the　boys；　who　had　borne
with　difficulty　the　last　half…hour　of　the　long　prayer；　forget　their
weariness。

The　reading　of　Scripture　followed　the　prayer。　　In　this　the　minister
excelled。　　His　fine　voice　and　his　dramatic　instinct　combined　to
make　this　an　impressive　and　beautiful　portion　of　the　service。　　But
to…day　much　of　the　beauty　and　impressiveness　of　the　reading　was
lost　by　the　frequent　interruptions　caused　by　the　entrance　of　late
comers；　of　whom；　owing　to　the　bad　roads；　there　were　a　larger　number
than　usual。　　The　minister　was　evidently　annoyed；　not　so　much　by　the
opening　and　shutting　of　the　door　as　by　the　inattention　of　his
hearers；　who　kept　turning　round　their　heads　to　see　who　the　new
arrivals　were。　　At　length　the　minister　could　bear　it　no　longer。

〃My　dear　people；〃　he　said；　pausing　in　the　reading；　〃never　mind
those　coming　in。　　Give　you　heed　to　the　reading　of　God's　Word；　and
if　you　must　know　who　are　entering；　I　will　tell　you。　　Yes；〃　he
added；　deliberately；　〃give　you　heed　to　me；　and　I　will　let　you　know
who　these　late　comers　are。〃

With　that　startling　declaration；　he　proceeded　with　the　reading；　but
had　not　gone　more　than　a　few　verses　when　〃click〃　went　the　door…
latch。　　Not　a　head　turned。　　It　was　Malcolm　Monroe；　slow…going　and
good…natured；　with　his　quiet　little　wife　following　him。

The　minister　paused；　looking　toward　the　door；　and　announced：　　〃My
dear　people；　here　comes　our　friend　Malcolm　Monroe；　and　his　good
wife　with　him；　and　a　long　walk　they　have　had。　　Come　away；　Malcolm；
come　away；　we　will　just　wait　for　you。〃

Malcolm's　face　was　a　picture。　　Surprise；　astonishment；　and　confusion
followed　each　other　across　his　stolid　countenance；　and　with　quicker
pace　than　he　was　ever　known　to　use　in　his　life　before；　he　made　his
way　to　his　seat。　　No　sooner　had　the　reading　began　again　when　once
more　the　door　clicked。　　True　to　his　promise；　the　minister　paused　and
cheerfully　announced　to　his　people：　　〃This；　my　friends；　is　John
Campbell；　whom　you　all　know　as　'Johnnie　Sarah；'　and　we　are　very　glad
to　see　him；　for；　indeed；　he　has　not　been　here　for　some　time。　　Come
away；　John；　come　away；　man；〃　he　added；　impatiently；　〃for　we　are　all
waiting　for　you。〃

Johnnie　Sarah　stood　paralyzed　with　amazement　and　seemed　uncertain
whether　to　advance　or　to　turn　and　flee。　　The　minister's　impatient
command；　however；　decided　him；　and　he　dropped　into　the　nearest　seat
with　all　speed；　and　gazed　about　him　as　if　to　discover　where　he　was。
He　had　no　sooner　taken　his　seat　than　the　door　opened　again；　and
some　half…dozen　people　entered。　　The　minister　stood　looking　at　them
for　some　moments　and　then　said；　in　a　voice　of　resignation：
〃Friends；　these　are　some　of　our　people　from　the　Island；　and　there
are　some　strangers　with　them。　　But　if　you　want　to　know　who　they
are；　you　will　just　have　to　look　at　them　yourselves；　for　I　must　get
on　with　the　reading。〃

Needless　to　say；　not　a　soul　of　the　congregation；　however　consumed
with　curiosity；　dared　to　look　around；　and　the　reading　of　the
chapter　went　gravely　on　to　the　close。　　To　say　that　Maimie　sat　in
utter　astonishment　during　this　extraordinary　proceeding　would　give
but　a　faint　idea　of　her　state　of　mind。　　Even　Mrs。　Murray　herself；
who　had　become　accustomed　to　her　husband's　eccentricities；　sat　in
a　state　of　utter　bewilderment；　not　knowing　what　might　happen　next；
nor　did　she　feel　quite　safe　until　the　text　was　announced　and　the
sermon　fairly　begun。

Important　as　were　the　exercises　of　reading；　praise；　and　prayer；
they　were　only　the　〃opening　services；〃　and　merely　led　up　to　the
event　of　the　day；　which　was　the　sermon。　　And　it　was　the　event；　not
only　of　the　day；　but　of　the　week。　　It　would　form　the　theme　of
conversation　and　afford　food　for　discussion　in　every　gathering　of
the　people　until　another　came　to　take　its　place。　　To…day　it　lasted
a　full　hour　and　a　half；　and　was　an　extraordinary　production。　　Calm；
deliberate　reasoning；　flights　of　vivid　imagination；　passionate
denunciation；　and　fervid　appeal；　marked　its　course。　　Its　subject
was　the　great　doctrine　of　Justification　by　Faith；　and　it　contained
a　complete　system　of　theology　arranged　with　reference　to　that
doctrine。　　Ancient　heresies　were　attacked　and　exposed　with
completeness　amounting　to　annihilation。　　Modern　errors；　into　which
our　〃friends〃　of　the　different　denominations　had　fallen；　were
deplored　and　corrected；　and　all　possible　misapplications　of　the
doctrine　to　practical　life　guarded　against。　　On　the　positive　side
the　need；　the　ground；　the　means；　the　method；　the　agent；　the
results；　of　Justification；　were　fully　set　forth　and