seemed to
have come over him; he never went to church, and it was whispered so
loudly that it was heard even in the Watchman's exclusive little shanty
that Donald Neil and the minister had quarrelled, and that Jessie
Hamilton was the cause. Just how badly fate was using his boy Duncan
could not know. In his honest endeavours to guard the young minister
from the rumours afloat regarding the picnic Donald fell under his
sweetheart's suspicion. It was their first quarrel, nothing serious at
first, but Donald withdrew indignantly and devoted himself to his farm
work. Full of repentance Jessie watched and waited for his return, and
finally, as a means of hastening him to her side, she accepted
cordially the kindly attentions of the minister.

And this was the condition of affairs at a time when Duncan Polite had
hoped to see the two young men in perfect sympathy over a common
cause--that of raising the spiritual life of his glen. The old
Watchman's eyes grew deeper and more mournful every day over the fading
of his cherished hopes. His promise to his father was not being kept.
The covenant the founder of Glenoro had made, and which his son had
renewed, was forgotten, and often in the distress of his soul the cry
of Job came to Duncan's lips, "Oh that I might have my request and that
God would grant me the thing I long for!"

But in the presence of Andrew Johnstone, the peacemaker was careful to
hide his fears. He knew that his friend's dissatisfaction with the
young minister was smouldering ominously and he watched Splinterin'
Andra with ever-increasing anxiety.

On this Sabbath, Andrew was in such a sour frame of mind that the
peacemaker's task was an especially difficult one. He plunged into the
dangerous subject as soon as Duncan joined him.

"We're to hae oor bit meenister the day," he announced sourly. "We
need na expec' ony great thing though, Ah'm thinkin'," he added
soberly. "Ah suppose Ah'll ask him to take the Bible class."

"Oh, that will be a fine thing," said Duncan, with a great show of
hopefulness. "The young man will be knowing his Bible well, and he
will jist be giving the young folk some grand thoughts. Oh yes,
indeed."

"Mebby." Andrew Johnstone's voice was anything but hopeful. "He could
learn them plenty aboot fit-ball and croquet better, though."

Duncan saw the danger and hastened into the breach with soothing words.
"It would be too soon to look for results," he declared. They