ed! Jist sparkin' bees, every ane o' them! An' him the biggest
spark o' them a'! A Chreestian Endeavour Society! Man, where's he
gaun to get it, wi' oot the Chreestians? Our Andra an' yon natral o'
Silas Todd's, an' thae huzzies o' John Hamilton's, an' yon nephew o'
yours! _A Chreestian Endeavour_! Eh, man, does the buddy no ken he
canna mak' bricks wi'oot straw?"

Duncan made no reply. He was as utterly crushed as though he were
guilty of all the sins imputed to the minister. His heart was crying
out in its pain and disappointment. Andrew's parting words sounded
like the closing forever of the door of hope. "Aye, an' we thought he
would be anither Mr. McAlpine! The Lord forgie us for oor meeserable
presumption!"

When the first sting of his resentment against the elder was over, John
Egerton was not sorry that the disagreeable affair had occurred. The
quarrel had not been of his seeking, everybody knew that; and the
knowledge that he did not need to be on friendly terms with the
cantankerous old man was a distinct relief. He realised now that the
ruling elder had been something of an encumbrance to him ever since he
came to Glenoro. He represented everything unprogressive in the
church, and he, the minister, had always been under the unpleasant
obligation of conciliating him. He almost drew a breath of relief when
he found it was quite proper for him to take the opposite course.

So the consequence of Andrew Johnstone's hasty words was that the young
minister joined the rising generation in all their risings. Fortified
by his support they soared higher than they had ever dared before and
demanded every innovation that has ever been known since churches began
to follow the fashions. And first of all they set themselves
tenaciously to the getting of a church organ.

They went about it with the wisdom of the serpent, too. The Christian
Endeavour Society went through the congregation, collecting money from
such as were favourable to the project. When they found themselves
with a sufficient sum, their plan was to purchase the coveted
instrument, present it to the session, and they would just like to see
how Splinterin' Andra would prevent their accepting it.

But that was exactly what Splinterin' Andra intended to do; failing
that, he determined to carry his old threat of violence into effect,
rather than allow the desecration. He grew fiercer and more resolute
every day, and yet in spite of his st