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of thunder or in an awful whisper。 But to…day the preacher；
without raising his voice； began to force into his hearers' hearts
the message of the day。
〃This is a day for self…examination；〃 he said； and his clear； quiet
tones fell into the ears of the people with penetrating power。
〃And self…examination is a wise and profitable exercise。 It is an
exercise of the soul designed to yield a discovery of sin in the
heart and life； and to induce penitence and contrition and so
secure pardon and peace。 But too often； my friends；〃 and here his
voice became a shade softer； 〃it results in a self…righteous and
sinful self…complaisance。 What is required is a simple honesty of
mind and spiritual illumination； and the latter cannot be without
the former。 There are those who are ever searching for 'the marks'
of a genuinely godly state of heart； and they have the idea that
these marks are obscure and difficult for plain people to discover。
Make no mistake； my brethren； they are as easily seen as are the
apples on a tree。 The fruits of the spirit are as discernible to
any one honest enough and fearless enough to look； and the first
and supreme of all is that which we have been considering this
morning。 The question for you and for me； my brethren； is simply
this： Are our lives full of the grace of love？ Do not shrink from
the question。 Do not deceive yourselves with any substitutes；
there are many offering zeal； the gift of prayer or of speech； yea；
the gift of faith itself。 None of these will atone for the lack of
love。 Let each ask himself； Am I a loving man？〃
With quiet persistence he pursued them into all their relations in
lifehusbands and wives； fathers and sons； neighbor and neighbor。
He would not let them escape。 Relentlessly he forced them to
review their habits of speech and action； their attitude toward
each other as church members； and their attitude toward 〃those
without。〃 Behind all refuges and through all subterfuges he made
his message follow them； searching their deepest hearts。 And then；
with his face illumined as with divine fire； he made his final
appeal； while he reminded them of the Infinite love that had
stooped to save； and that had wrought itself out in the agonies of
the cross。 And while he spoke his last words； all over the church
the women were weeping； and strong men were sitting trembling and
pale。
After a short prayer； the professor sat down。 Then the minister
rose； and for some little time stood facing his people in silence；
the gleam in his eyes showing that his fervent Highland nature was
on fire。
〃My people；〃 he began； and his magnificent voice pealed forth like
a solemn bell； 〃this is the message of the Lord。 Let none dare
refuse to hear。 It is a message to your minister； it is a message
to you。 You are anxious for 'the marks。' Search you for this
mark。〃 He paused while the people sat looking at him in fixed and
breathless silence。 Then； suddenly； he broke forth into a loud
cry： 〃Where are your children at this solemn time of privilege？
Fathers； where are your sons？ Why were they not with you at the
Table？ Are you men of love？ Are you men of love； or by lack of
love are you shutting the door of the Kingdom against your sons
with their fightings and their quarrelings？〃 Then； raising his
hands high； he lifted his voice in a kind of wailing chant： 〃Woe
unto you！ Woe unto you！ Your house is left unto you desolate； and
the voice of love is crying over you。 Ye would not！ Ye would not！
O； Lamb of God； have mercy upon us！ O； Christ； with the pierced
hands； save us！〃 Again he paused； looking upward； while the people
waited with uplifted white faces。
〃Behold；〃 he cried； in a soul…thrilling voice； 〃I see heaven open；
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God； and I hear a voice；
'Turn ye； turn ye。 Why will ye die？' Lord Jesus； they will not
turn。〃 Again he paused。 〃Listen。 Depart from me； ye cursed； into
everlasting fire。 Depart ye！ Nay； Lord Jesus！ not so！ Have mercy
upon us！〃 His voice broke in its passionate cry。 The effect was
overwhelming。 The people swayed as trees before a mighty wind； and
a voice cried aloud from the congregation： 〃God be merciful to me；
a sinner！〃
It was Macdonald Dubh。 At that loud cry； women began to sob； and
some of the people rose from their seats。
〃Be still；〃 commanded the minister。 〃Rend your hearts and not your
garments。 Let us pray。〃 And as he prayed； the cries and sobs
subsided and a great calm fell upon all。 After prayer； the
minister； instead of giving out a closing psalm； solemnly charged
the people to go to their homes and to consider that the Lord had
come very near them； and adjured them not to grieve the Holy Spirit
of God。 Then he dismissed them with the benediction。
The people went out of the church； subdued and astonished；
speaking； if at all； in low tones of what they had seen and heard。
Immediately after pronouncing the benediction； the minister came
down to find Macdonald Dubh； but he was nowhere to be seen。 Toward
evening Mrs。 Murray rode over to his house； but found that he had
not returned from the morning service。
〃He will be at his brother's；〃 said Kirsty； 〃and Ranald will drive
over for him。〃
Immediately Ranald hitched up Lisette and drove over to his
uncle's； but as he was returning he sent in word to the manse； his
face being not yet presentable； that his father was nowhere to be
found。 It was Macdonald Bhain that found him at last in the woods；
prone upon his face； and in an agony。
〃Hugh； man；〃 he cried； 〃what ails you？〃 But there were only low
groans for answer。
〃Rise up； man； rise up and come away。〃
Then from the prostrate figure he caught the words； 〃Depart from
me！ Depart from me！ That is the word of the Lord。〃
〃That is not the word；〃 said Macdonald Bhain； 〃for any living man；
but for the dead。 But come； rise； man； the neighbors will be here
in a meenute。〃 At that Black Hugh rose。
〃Let me away；〃 he said。 〃Let me not see them。 I am a lost man。〃
And so his brother brought him home； shaken in spirit and exhausted
in body with his long fast and his overpowering emotion。 All night
through his brother watched with him alone； for Macdonald Dubh
would have no one else to see him； till； from utter exhaustion；
toward the dawning of the day； he fell asleep。
In the early morning the minister and his wife drove over to see
him； and leaving his wife with Kirsty； the minister passed at once
into Macdonald Dubh's room。 But； in spite of all his reasoning； in
spite of all his readings and his prayers； the gloom remained
unbroken except by occasional paroxysms of fear and remorse。
〃There is no forgiveness！ There is no forgiveness！〃 was the burden
of his cry。
In vain the minister proclaimed to him the mercy of God。 At length
he was forced to leave him to attend the 〃Question Meeting〃 which
was to be held in the church that day。 But he left his wife behind
him。
Without a word； Mrs。 Murray proceeded to make the poor man
comfortable。 She prepared a dainty breakfast and carried it in to
him； and then she sat beside him while he fell into a deep sleep。
It was afternoon when Macdonald Dubh awoke and greeted her with his
wonted grave courtesy。
〃You are better； Mr。 Macdonald；〃 she said； brightly。 〃And now I
will make you a fresh cup of tea〃； and though he protested； she
hurried out； and in a few moments brought him some tea and toast。
Then； while he lay in gloomy silence； she read to him； as she did
once before from his Gaelic psalm book； without a word of comment。
And then she began to tell him of all the hopes she had cherished
in connection with the opening of the new church； and how that day
she had felt at last the blessing had come。
〃And； O； Mr。 Macdonald；〃 she said； 〃I was glad to hear you cry； for
then I knew that the Spirit of God was among us。〃
〃Glad！〃 said Macdonald Dubh； faintly。
〃Yes； glad。 For a cry like that never comes but when the Spirit of
God moves in the heart of a man。〃
〃Indeed； I will be thinking that He has cast me off forever；〃 he
said； wondering at this new phase of the subject。
〃Then you must thank Him； Mr。 Macdonald； that He has not so done；
and the sure proof to you is that He has brought you to cry for
mercy。 That is a glad cry； in the ears of the Saviour。 It is the
cry of the sheep in the wilderness； that discovers him to the
shepherd。〃 And then； without argument； she took him into her
confidence and poured out to him all her hopes and fears for the
young people of the congregation； and especially for Ranald； till
Macdonald Dubh partly forgot his own fears in hers。 And then； just
before it was time for Kirsty to arrive from the 〃Question Meeting；〃
she took her Gaelic Bible and opened at the Lord's Prayer； as she
had done once before。
〃It is a terrible thing to be unforgiven； Mr。 Macdonald；〃 she said；
〃by man or by God。 And God is unwilling that any of us should feel
that pain； and that is why he is so free with his offer of pardon
to all who come with sorrow to him。 They come with sorrow to him
now； but they will come to him some day with great joy。〃 And then
she spoke a little of the g