otion, wider and swifter than that of the night world about it.
Strickland tried to read. The clock hand moved toward midnight.

The laird spoke from the great bed. "Alexander--"

"I am here, father." Alexander rose and went to the sick man's side.
"You slept finely! And here we have food for you, and drops to give
you strength--"

The laird swallowed the drops and a spoonful or two of broth. "There.
Now I want to talk. Aye, I am strong enough. I feel stronger. I am
strong. It hurts me more to check me. Is that the wind blowing?"

"Yes. It is a wild night."

"It is singing. I could almost pick out the words. Alexander, there's
a quarrel I have with Touris of Black Hill. I have no wish to make it
up. He did me a wrong and is a sinner in many ways. But his sister is
different. If you see her tell her that I aye liked her."

"Would it make you happier to be reconciled to Mr. Touris?"

"No, it would not! You were never a canting one, Alexander! Let that
be. Anger is anger, and it's weakness to gainsay it! That is," said
the laird, "when it's just--and this is just. Alexander, my bonny
man--"

"I'm here, father."

"I've been lying here, gaeing up and down in my thoughts, a bairn
again with my grandmither, gaeing up and down the braes and by the
glen. I want to say somewhat to you. When you see an adder set your
heel upon it! When a wolf goes by take your firelock and after him!
When a denier and a cheat is near you tell the world as much and help
to set the snare! Where there are betrayers and persecutors hunt the
wild plant shall make a cup like their ain!" He fell to coughing,
coughing more and more violently.

Strickland rose and came to the bedside, and the two watchers gave him
water and wine to drink, and would have had him, when the fit was
over, cease from all speech. He shook them off.

"Alexander, ye're like me. Ye're mair like me than any think! Where ye
find your Grierson of Lagg, clench with him--clench--Alexander!"

He coughed, lifting himself in their arms. A blood-vessel broke.
Tibbie Ross, answering the calling, hurried in. "Gude with us! it's
the end!" Mrs. Grizel came, wrapped in a great flowered bed-gown. In a
few minutes all was over. Strickland and Alexander laid him straight
that had been the laird.

CHAPTER IX

The month was May. The laird of Glenfernie, who had walked to the
Kelpie's Pool, now came down the glen. Mother Binning was yet in her
cot, though an older woman now a