k. Let us
leave it to the Lord to decide. Put the question to the people and abide
by their decision."

After the psalm was sung, the minister motioned the congregation to
their seats, and without comment or suggestion, put before them the
question that had been discussed in the pulpit. Was it their desire that
the meetings should be continued or not? A deep, solemn silence lay
upon the crowded church, and for some time no one moved. Then the
congregation were startled to see Macdonald Dubh rise slowly from his
place in the middle of the church.

"Mr. Murray," he said, in a voice that vibrated strangely, "you will
pardon me for letting my voice be heard in this place. It is the voice
of a great sinner."

"Speak, Mr. Macdonald," said the minister, "and I thank God for the
sound of your voice in His house."

"It is not for me to make any speeches here. I will only make bold to
give my word that the meetings be continued. It may be that the Lord,
who has done such great things for me, will do great things for others
also." And with that he sat down.

"I will take that for a motion," said the minister. "Will any one second
it?"

Kenny Crubach at once rose and said: "We are always slow at following
the Lord. Let us go forward."

The minister waited for some moments after Kenny had spoken, and then
said, in a voice grave and with a feeling of responsibility in it: "You
have heard these brethren, my people. I wait for the expression of your
desire."

Like one man the great congregation rose to their feet. It was a scene
profoundly impressive, and with these serious-minded, sober people, one
that indicated overwhelming emotion.

And thus the great revival began.

For eighteen months, night after night, every night in the week except
Saturday, the people gathered in such numbers as to fill the new church
to the door. Throughout all the busy harvest season, in spite of
the autumn rains that filled the swamps and made the roads almost
impassable, in the face of the driving snows of winter, through the
melting ice of the spring, and again through the following summer and
autumn, the great revival held on. No fictitious means were employed
to stir the emotions of the people or to kindle excitement among them.
There were neither special sermons nor revival hymns. The old doctrines
were proclaimed, but proclaimed with a fullness and power unknown at
other times. The old psalms were sung, but sung perhaps as they had
nev