won't. You'll keep right on, Harry, straight to
heaven." It was the preacher's voice, full of cheery confidence.

Mrs. Innes was audibly sniffling; Mrs. Stewart Duff wiping her eyes. It
was doubtless this sight that brought her husband to his feet.

"I don't quite know what the trouble is here," he said. "I understand
there are arrears. I heard some criticism of the minister's preaching.
I can't say I care much for it myself, but I want to say right here that
there are other things wanted in a minister, and this young fellow has
got some of them. If he stays, he gets my money; if he doesn't, no one
else does. I'll make you gentlemen who are kicking about finances a
sporting proposition. I'm willing to double my subscription, if any
other ten men will cover my ante."

"I'll call you," said Neil Fraser, "and I'll raise you one."

"I'm willing to meet Mr. Duff and Mr. Fraser," said Miss Quigg, rising
from behind her organ with a triumphant smile on her face.

"I ain't got much money," said Harry Hobbs, "but I'll go you just half
what I earn if you'll meet me on that proposition."

"Ah may say," said Mr. Innes, yielding to his wife's vigorous vocal and
physical incitations, "A'm prepair-r-ed to mak' a substantial increase
in my subscreeption--that is, if necessary," he added cautiously.

Then Barry came forward from the back of the church and stood before the
platform. After looking them over for a few moments in silence, he said,
in a voice clear, quiet, but with a ring in it that made it echo in
every heart:

"Had it not been for these last speeches, it would have been unnecessary
to allow the motion to go before you. I could not have remained where I
am not wanted. But now I am puzzled, I confess, I am really puzzled to
know what to do. I am not a great preacher, I know, but then there are
worse. I don't, at least I think I don't, talk nonsense. And I am not
what Mr. McFettridge calls a 'good mixer.' On the other hand, I think
Mr. Innes is right when he says the bairns like me; at least, it would
break"--he paused, his lip quivering, then he went on quietly--"it would
be very hard to think they didn't."

"They do that, then," said Mrs. Innes, emphatically.

"So you see, it is really very difficult to know what to do. I would
hate to go away, but it might be right to go away. I suggest you let me
have a week to think it over. Can you wait that long?"

His handsome, boyish face, alight with a fine glow of earne