SQUARE, 158

STRIPS SOME OF THE THORNS FROM THE
HEDGE AND THE GARDEN ROSES, 161

IV. ADAM HOME'S REPENTANCE, 167

WILD, WITTY NELLY CARNEGIE, 167

A GALLANT REBUFFED.--NELLY'S PUNISHMENT, 172

A MOURNFUL MARRIAGE EVE, 177

NELLY CARNEGIE IN HER NEW HOME, 179

NELLY'S NEW PASTIMES, 185

THE LAIRD CONSCIENCE-SMITTEN, 186

BLESSING AND AFFLICTION.--ADAM HOME'S
RETURN, 192

THE RECONCILIATION AND RETURN TO
STANEHOLME, 197

V. HECTOR GARRET OF OTTER, 202

THE FIRE, 202

THE OFFER, 211

THE NEW HOME, 228

THE PAGES OF THE PAST, 236

THE MOTHER AND CHILD, 248

THE STORM, 259

VI. THE OLD YEOMANRY WEEKS, 268

THE YEOMEN'S ADVENT.--PRIORTON SPRUCES
ITSELF UP, 268

A MATCH-MAKER'S SCHEME, 275

A MORNING MEETING AND AN EVENING'S
READING, 280

THE BALL, AND WHAT CAME OF IT, 293

VII. DIANA, 302

AN UNDERTAKING, 302

THE FULFILMENT, 311

HAZARD, 316

THE LAST THROW, 323

VIII. MISS WEST'S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE, 337

CAIN'S BRAND

I.--ON THE MOOR.

Cain's brand! that is no fact of the far past, no legend of the Middle
Ages, for are there not Cains among us; white-faced, haggard-featured
Cains to the last? Men who began with a little injury, and did not dream
that their gripe would close in deadly persecution? Cains who slew the
spirit, and through the spirit murdered the body? Cains unintentionally,
whom all men free from the stain of bloo