ou bear!"

"You are so led away by passion, old man, that you are scarcely
responsible for what you say--bastard and impostor, indeed!" he
ejaculated, quivering with indignation. "Those epithets are as false as
foul, and you know it. You shall not----"

"If they are false, prove them so, you insolent puppy!" shouted
Gilcrest.

"Not even your gray hairs should protect you from the chastisement you
deserve, were you not Betty's father; but I love her too well to forget
consideration for you, on her account."

"Out of my sight! Go! this instant!" cried the old man, beside himself
with fury. "If you ever set foot on this place again, my negroes shall
drag you through the hog wallow. I would not demean my own hands by
touching you."

Abner, feeling that, if he heard any more, he would forget his
antagonist's gray head, his age and fatherhood, and strike him, wheeled
quickly and rode away, leaving Gilcrest still shouting and
gesticulating until horse and rider were out of sight.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MASON ROGERS' DIPLOMACY

Ever since Stone's memorable sermon in June of the preceding year,
Deacon Gilcrest, who really believed that the young minister was
subverting the truth and teaching dangerous heresies, had urged that
the synod investigate the matter, and that until such investigation
should be made, Stone should not be allowed to occupy the pulpit at
Cane Ridge. But the majority of the members were convinced of the truth
of Stone's teachings, and had, moreover, too warm a regard for their
minister to permit them to listen to Gilcrest.

These were bitter days for the old man. In the main just and
kindhearted, despite all his narrowness and vindictiveness, it was no
small element of his trouble that his brethren with whom until now his
opinions had been highly esteemed and his influence paramount, should
pay no attention to his views. Especially did he sorrow because of
Mason Rogers. The intense regard which these two men, so contrasted in
culture and worldly position, had always felt for each other, was both
strong and pathetic. More in sorrow than in anger had Gilcrest argued,
reasoned and pleaded to bring Rogers to his own way of thinking. Rogers
did not attempt to combat any of Gilcrest's arguments, and rarely
protested against anything he said, except when he attacked his own
beloved minister personally. Each valued the other too highly to lose
self-control in these talks, both seeming determined that n