It seemed to the elders that Lachlan dealt hardly with young peopleand those that had gone astray, but they learned one evening thathis justice had at least no partiality. Burnbrae exclaimed afterwardsthat Lachlan "looked like a ghaist comin' in at the door," but hesat in silence in the shadow, and no one marked the agony on hisface till the end.

"If that iss all the business, Moderator, I hef to bring a case ofdiscipline before the Session, and ask them to do their duty. It issknown to me that a youthful woman who hass been a member of this churchhass left her home and gone into the far country. There will be nouse in summoning her to appear before the Session, for she willnever be seen again in this parish. I move that she be cut off fromthe roll, and her name iss "--and Lachlan's voice broke, but in aninstant he recovered himself--"her name iss Flora Campbell."

Carmichael confessed to me that he was stricken dumb, and thatLachlan's ashen face held him with an awful fascination.

It really was Burnbrae that first found a voice, and showed that night thefine delicacy of heart that may be hidden behind a plain exterior.

"Moderator, this is a terrible calamity that hes befaen oor brither,and a'm feelin' as if a' hed lost a bairn o' my ane, for a sweeterlassie didna cross oor kirk entrance. Nane o' us want tae know what heshappened or where she hes gane, and no a word o' this wull cross oorlips. Her faither's dune mair than cud be expeckit o' mortal man,and noo we have oor duty. It's no the way o' this Session tae cutaff ony member o' the flock at a stroke, and we 'ill no begin withFlora Campbell. A' move, Moderator, that her case be left tae herfaither and yersel, and oor neebur may depend on it that Flora'sname and his ain will be mentioned in oor prayers, ilka mornin' an'nicht till the gude Shepherd o' the sheep brings her hame."

Burnbrae paused, and then, with tears in his voice--men do not weepin Drumtochty--"With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him isplenteous whiteemption."

The minister took the aged man's arm and led him into the manse, andset him in the big chair by the study fire. "Thank God, Lachlan, weare friends now; tell me about it as if I were your son and Flora'sbrother."