year, who makes no profession of
Christianity, who doesn't believe one-half the Bible, in fact, and yet
I know he does twice the good in the world that Mr. Egerton does."

"Ah, but the Father will be all-kind, Donal'," said Duncan Polite
gently but firmly, "and He will be accepting the service of His
followers no matter how poor and mean it would be. But what would the
Judge be saying of the man who would not own His only begotten Son?"

Donald arose from the table and walked up and down the bare little
room. Duncan watched him with a look of yearning. "Would this young
man be a friend of yours, Donal'?" he inquired tremulously.

Donald paused and looked down into the dancing flames, his hands dug
into his pockets, his brow drawn together in perplexity. "He's my
roommate," he answered. "You used to wish I could be intimate with Mr.
Egerton, Uncle, but I tell you honestly he can't be compared to Mark
Seymour. He's the soul of honour, as fine a man as you could wish to
know, and I'd rather accept his creed than that of a man who spends his
time praying for sinners better than himself."

Duncan's face was white. "I will not be quite understanding you,
Donal'," he said steadily. "Is it that you would be leaving the
Saviour out of your life, my lad?"

Donald turned; the look in the old man's face brought him to his side.
He laid his hands on Duncan Polite's shoulders. "I would rather do
anything than hurt you, Uncle," he cried. "But you always taught me,
above all things, never to deceive you, and I must tell you, honestly,
I cannot see that religion has much to do with a man's life. But there
is another thing I can say truthfully," he looked the old man straight
in the eyes, "I have never done anything I should be ashamed to tell
you!"

For an instant a wave of joy and pride swept away the despair that was
clutching Duncan's heart. He arose and patted the boy on the back as
he used to do in his childhood, murmuring Gaelic expressions of
endearment. "Oh, indeed, indeed, I will be knowing that, laddie!" he
cried, his eyes moist. "Yes, indeed, and that would be a blessing to
my very soul. But, eh, my child, my child, if you would be losing your
hold on Christ, I would be fearing for you, Donal'! There is no other
name under Heaven whereby we may be saved; it will be the Word of
Omnipotence, Donal', and any man who would be trying another way would
be failing. And if I would be losing you, Donal'----" he