n to me; but I
resisted it, and reverted to my doubts. On this he said that he had
meant to do me honour, but, since I put it out of his power, he would
do the deed, and take the responsibility on himself. "I have with sore
travail procured a guardship of your life," added he. "For my own, I
have not; but, be that as it will, I shall not be baffled in my
attempts to benefit my friends without a trial. You will at all events
accompany me, and see that I get justice?"

"Certes, I will do thus much," said I, "and woe be to him if his arm
prevail against my friend and patron!"

His lip curled with a smile of contempt, which I could hardly brook;
and I began to be afraid that the eminence to which I had been destined
by him was already fading from my view. And I thought what I should
then do to ingratiate myself again with him, for without his
countenance I had no life. "I will be a man in act," thought I, "but in
sentiment I will not yield, and for this he must surely admire me the
more."

As we emerged from the shadowy lane into the fair moonshine, I started
so that my whole frame underwent the most chilling vibrations of
surprise. I again thought I had been taken at unawares and was
conversing with another person. My friend was equipped in the Highland
garb, and so completely translated into another being that, save by his
speech, all the senses of mankind could not have recognized him. I
blessed myself, and asked whom it was his pleasure to personify
to-night? He answered me carelessly that it was a spark whom he meant
should bear the blame of whatever might fall out to-night; and that was
all that passed on the subject.

We proceeded by some stone steps at the foot of the North Loch, in hot
argument all the way. I was afraid that our conversation might be
overheard, for the night was calm and almost as light as day, and we
saw sundry people crossing us as we advanced. But the zeal of my friend
was so high that he disregarded all danger, and continued to argue
fiercely and loudly on my delinquency, as he was pleased to call it. I
stood on one argument alone, which was that "I did not think the
Scripture promises to the elect, taken in their utmost latitude,
warranted the assurance that they could do no wrong; and that,
therefore, it behoved every man to look well to his steps."

There was no religious scruple that irritated my enlightened friend and
master so much as this. He could not endure it. And, the sentiment