for the truth--even to death. Is it not so, Mr.
Cameron?"

The young man to whom the old Covenanter turned was one of the most
noted among the men who fought and died for the Covenant. An earnest
godly young minister, he had just returned from Holland with the
intention of taking up the standard which had been almost dropped in
consequence of the hotter persecutions which immediately followed the
battle of Bothwell Bridge.

"Of course you know that I agree with you, Mr. Cargill. When you
licensed me to preach the blessed Gospel, Mr. Welsh, you encouraged me
to independent thought. Under the guidance, I believe, of the Holy
Spirit, I have been led to see the sinfulness of the Indulgence, and I
am constrained to preach against it. Truly my chief concern is for the
salvation of souls--the bringing of men and women and children to the
Saviour; but after that, or rather along with that, to my mind, comes
the condemnation of sin, whether public or private. Consider what the
Indulgence and persecution together have done now. Have they not
well-nigh stopped the field-preaching altogether, so that, with the
exception of yourselves and Mr. Thomas Douglas and a few others, there
is no one left to testify? Part of my mission has been to go round
among the ministers on this very point, but my efforts have been in vain
as far as I have yet gone. It has been prophesied," continued Cameron
with a sad smile, "that I shall yet lose my head in this cause. That
may well be, for there is that in my soul which will not let me stand
still while my Master is dishonoured and sin is triumphant. As to the
King, he may, so far as I know, be truly descended from the race of our
kings, but he has so grievously departed from his duty to the people--by
whose authority alone magistrates exist--and has so perjured himself,
usurped authority in Church matters, and tyrannised in matters civil,
that the people of Scotland do no longer owe him allegiance; and
although I stand up for governments and governors, such as God's Word
and our covenants allow, I will surely--with all who choose to join me--
disown Charles Stuart as a tyrant and a usurper."

The discussion had continued so long that the ministers, as if by mutual
consent, dropped it after this point, and turned to Ramblin' Peter, who
was appeasing his hunger with a huge "luggie o' parritch." But the poor
boy had no heart to finish his meal on learning that Marion Clark and
Isabel Scot