rgive--"

But his brother caught his arm and drew it down swiftly, saying:
"Whisht, man. Don't tempt the Almighty." Then he added, "You would not
be shutting yourself out from the presence of the Lord and from the
presence of those he has taken to himself?"

His brother stood silent a few moments, his hard, dark face swept with a
storm of emotions. Then he said, brokenly: "It is not for me, I doubt."

But his brother caught him by the arm and said to him, "Hear me, Hugh.
It is for you."

They walked on in silence till they were near the house. Ranald and
Yankee were driving their teams into the yard.

"That is a fine lad," said Macdonald Bhain, pointing to Ranald.

"Aye," said his brother; "it is a pity he has not a better chance. He
is great for his books, but he has no chance whatever, and he will be a
bowed man before he has cleared this farm and paid the debt on it."

"Never you fear," said his brother. "Ranald will do well. But, man, what
a size he is!"

"He is that," said his father, proudly. "He is as big as his father, and
I doubt some day he may be as good a man as his uncle."

"God grant he may be a better!" said Macdonald Bhain, reverently.

"If he be as good," said his brother, kindly, "I will be content; but I
will not be here to see it."

"Whisht, man," said his brother, hastily. "You are not to speak such
things, nor have them in your mind."

"Ah," said Macdonald Dubh, sadly, "my day is not far off, and that I
know right well."

Macdonald Bhain flung his arm hastily round his brother's shoulder. "Do
not speak like that, Hugh," he said, his voice breaking suddenly. And
then he drew away his arm as if ashamed of his emotion, and said, with
kindly dignity, "Please God, you will see many days yet, and see your
boy come to honor among men."

But Black Hugh only shook his head in silence.

Before they came to the door, Macdonald Bhain said, with seeming
indifference, "You have not been to church since you got up, Hugh. You
will be going to-morrow, if it is a fine day?"

"It is too long a walk, I doubt," answered his brother.

"That it is, but Yankee will drive you in his buckboard," said Macdonald
Bhain.

"In the buckboard?" said Macdonald Dubh. "And, indeed, I was never in a
buckboard in my life."

"It is not too late to begin to-morrow," said his brother, "and it will
do you good."

"I doubt that," said Black Hugh, gloomily. "The church will not be doing
me much good any more."

"D