The Superintendent's P. S. is due to some misunderstanding. I have
written him on this matter. We know some of your difficulties and we
have every confidence in you," etc., etc.

From the Superintendent's letter the Convener had enclosed the
following extracts:

"It has been decided to withdraw our services from the Fort. I had a
stiff fight in the Committee, but failed; they were all against me. Dr.
Macfarren especially so--had private information (from his brother, I
suppose); presented a petition, which find enclosed; protested against
the waste of funds, etc., etc. This precious petition, by the way,
seemed to influence the Committee greatly. I need not tell you it
failed to influence me, unless indeed as an evidence of the need of our
services in that place. You and I have seen this sort of thing before
in the West. Young Lloyd of the Park Church, too, was eloquent in
opposing--the old story, funds overlapping, denominational rivalry.
These young men, who decline to face the frontier, would show better
taste in seeking to learn something of the West than in hampering those
who are giving their lives to this work. The upholstered seat of the
Park Church pulpit does not induce the liveliest sympathy with the
Western conditions. Meantime the Convener sits on the chest, and the
rest of the Committee seem to feel that their chief duty lies in
cutting down expenses and that the highest possible achievement is
their meeting the Assembly without a deficit."

"P.S.--Dr. Macfarren hinted a good deal at want of tact on the part of
our Missionary, and young Lloyd, who knows Macgregor, seemed to
consider this quite possible. Our Missionary must not antagonise men
unnecessarily. Send him this letter if you think well; I always like to
deal frankly with our men," etc., etc.

As Shock read the letters and glanced at the petition his look of
weariness passed away and the old scrimmage smile came back to his
face. "Read that," he said, handing the letters to Father Mike, who
read them in silence.

"Withdraw!" he exclaimed in astonishment when he had finished reading.
"And why, pray?"

"Oh! don't you see, 'funds overlapping, denominational rivalry'?"

"'Overlapping, rivalry,' rot! You cannot do my work here and I cannot
do yours. I say, this petition would be rich if it were not so
damnable," added Father Mike, glancing at the document. "'Whereas, the
town is amply supplied with church services there is no desire for
servic