are to hae anither session to-night; ye'll come the morn and talk it
o'er wi' me?"

"I will, Mr. Cameron."

But James instantly determined to see Christine that night. Her father
would be at the kirk session, and if Donald was there, he thought he
knew how to whisper him away. He meant to have Christine all to
himself for an hour or two, and if he saw any opportunity he would
tell her all. When he got to David's the store was still open, but the
clerk said, "David has just gone," and James, as was his wont, walked
straight to the parlor.

Donald was there; he had guessed that, because a carriage was in
waiting, and he knew it could belong to no other caller at David
Cameron's. And never had Donald roused in him such an intense
antagonism. He was going to some National Celebration, and he stood
beside Christine in all the splendid picturesque pomp of the McFarlane
tartans. He was holding Christine's hand, and she stood as a white
lily in the glow and color of his dark beauty. Perhaps both of them
felt James' entrance inopportune. At any rate they received him
coldly, Donald drew Christine a little apart, said a few whispered
words to her, and lifting his bonnet slightly to James, he went away.

In the few minutes of this unfortunate meeting the devil entered into
James' heart. Even Christine was struck with the new look on his face.
It was haughty, malicious, and triumphant, and he leaned against the
high oaken chimney-piece in a defiant way that annoyed Christine,
though she could not analyze it.

"Sit down, James," she said with a touch of authority--for his
attitude had unconsciously put her on the defensive. "Donald has gone
to the Caledonian club; there is to be a grand gathering of Highland
gentlemen there to-night."

"_Gentlemen!_"

"Well, yes, _gentlemen!_ And there will be none there more worthy the
name than our Donald."

"The rest of them are much to be scorned at, then."

"James, James, that speech was little like you. Sit down and come to
yourself; I am sure you are not so mean as to grudge Donald the rights
of his good birth."

"Donald McFarlane shall have all the rights he has worked for; and
when he gets his just payment he will be in Glasgow jail."

"James, you are ill. You have not been here for a week, and you look
so unlike yourself. I know you must be ill. Will you let me send for
our doctor?" And she approached him kindly, and looked with anxious
scrutiny into his face.

He put her