the man from glengarry-第21章

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As　the　evening　fell；　a　group　of　elders　stood　by　the　back　door　of
Long　John　Cameron's　sorrow…stricken　home；　talking　quietly　over　the
sad　event　and　arranging　for　the　〃exercises〃　of　the　night。　　At　a
little　distance　from　them　sat　Yankee；　with　Ranald　beside　him；　both
silent　and　listening　somewhat　indifferently　to　the　talk　of　the
others。　　Yankee　was　not　in　his　element。　　He　was　always　welcome　in
the　homes　of　his　comrades；　for　he　was　ready　with　his　tongue　and
clever　with　his　fingers；　but　with　the　graver　and　religious　side　of
their　lives　he　had　little　in　common。　　It　was；　perhaps；　this　feeling
that　drew　him　toward　Macdonald　Dubh　and　Ranald；　so　that　for　weeks
at　a　time　he　would　make　their　house　his　home。　　He　had　〃no　use　for
wakes；〃　as　he　said　himself；　and　had　it　not　been　that　it　was　one　of
the　gang　that　lay　dead　within；　Yankee　would　have　avoided　the　house
until　all　was　over　and　the　elders　safely　away。

Of　the　elders；　only　four　were　present　as　yet：　Donald　Ross；　who　was
ever　ready　to　bring　the　light　of　his　kindly　face　to　cheer　the
hearts　of　the　mourners；　Straight　Rory；　who　never；　by　any　chance；
allowed　himself　to　miss　the　solemn　joy　of　leading　the　funeral
psalm；　Peter　McRae；　who　carried　behind　his　stern　old　face　a　heart
of　genuine　sympathy；　and　Kenny　Crubach；　to　whom　attendance　at
funerals　was　at　once　a　duty　and　a　horror。

Donald　Ross；　to　whom　all　the　elders　accorded；　instinctively；　the
place　of　leader；　was　arranging　the　order　of　〃the　exercises。〃

〃Mr。　McCuaig；〃　he　said　to　Straight　Rory；　〃you　will　take　charge　of
the　singing。　　The　rest　of　us　will；　in　turn；　give　out　a　psalm　and
read　a　portion　of　Scripture　with　a　few　suitable　remarks；　and　lead
in　prayer。　　We　will　not　be　forgetting；　brethren；〃　said　old　Donald；
〃that　there　will　be　sore　hearts　here　this　night。'

Straight　Rory's　answer　was　a　sigh　so　woeful　and　so　deep　that　Yankee
looked　over　at　him　and　remarked　in　an　undertone　to　Ranald；　〃He
ain't　so　cheerful　as　he　might　be。　　He　must　feel　awful　inside。〃

〃It　is　a　sad　and　terrible　day　for　the　Camerons；〃　said　Peter　McRae。

〃Aye；　it　is　sad；　indeed；〃　replied　Donald　Ross。　　〃He　was　a　good　son
and　they　will　be　missing　him　bad。　　It　is　a　great　loss。〃

〃Yes；　the　loss　is　great；〃　said　Peter；　grimly。　　〃But；　after　all；
that　is　a　small　thing。〃

Straight　Rory　sighed　again　even　more　deeply　than　before。　　Donald
Ross　said　nothing。

〃What　does　the　old　duck　mean；　anyhow？〃　said　Yankee　to　Ranald。

The　boy　made　no　reply。　　His　heart　was　sick　with　horror　at　Peter's
meaning；　which　he　understood　only　too　well。

〃Aye；〃　went　on　Peter；　〃it　is　a　terrible；　mysterious　Providence；　and
a　heavy　warning　to　the　ungodly　and　careless。〃

〃He　means　me；　I　guess；〃　remarked　Yankee　to　Ranald。

〃It　will　perhaps　be　not　amiss　to　any　of　us；〃　said　Kenny　Crubach；
sharply。

〃Indeed；　that　is　true；〃　said　Donald　Ross；　in　a　very　humble　voice。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Ross；〃　said　Peter；　ignoring　Kenny　Crubach；　〃but　at　times
the　voice　of　Providence　cannot　be　misunderstood；　and　it　will　not　do
for　the　elders　of　the　church　to　be　speaking　soft　things　when　the
Lord　is　speaking　in　judgment　and　wrath。〃

Donald　was　silent；　while　Straight　Rory　assented　with　a　heartrending
〃Aye；　aye；〃　which　stirred　Yankee's　bile　again。

〃What's　he　talkin'　about？　　He　don't　seem　to　be　usin'　my　language；〃
he　said；　in　a　tone　of　wrathful　perplexity。　　Ranald　was　too
miserable　to　answer；　but　Kenny　was　ready　with　his　word。

〃Judgment　and　wrath；〃　he　echoed；　quickly。　　〃The　man　would　require
to　be　very　skillful　whatever　in　interpreting　the　ways　of　Providence；
and　very　bold　to　put　such　a　meaning　into　the　death　of　a　young　man
such　as　Malcolm　yonder。〃　　The　little　man's　voice　was　vibrating　with
feeling。

Then　Yankee　began　to　understand。　　〃I'll　be　gol…blamed　to　a　cinder！〃
he　exclaimed；　in　a　low　voice；　falling　back　upon　a　combination　that
seemed　more　suitable　to　the　circumstances。　　〃They　ain't　sendin'　him
to　hell；　are　they？〃　　He　shut　up　the　knife　with　which　he　had　been
whittling　with　a　sharp　snap；　and　rising　to　his　feet；　walked　slowly
over　to　the　group　of　elders。

〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　judge　what　is　not　to　be　seen；〃　said　Peter。
〃But　we　are　allowed　and　commanded　to　discern　the　state　of　the　heart
by　the　fruits。〃

〃Fruits？〃　replied　Kenny；　quickly。　　〃He　was　a　good　son　and　brother
and　friend；　he　was　honest　and　clean；　and　he　gave　his　life　for
another　at　the　last。〃

〃Exactly　so；〃　said　Peter。　　〃I　am　not　denying　much　natural　goodness；
for　indeed　he　was　a　fine　lad；　but　I　will　be　looking　for　the
evidence　that　he　was　in　a　state　of　grace。　　I　have　not　heard　of　any；
and　glad　would　I　be　to　hear　it。〃

The　old　man's　emotion　took　the　sharpness　out　of　Kenny's　speech；　but
he　persisted；　stoutly；　〃Goodness　is　goodness；　Mr。　McRae；　for　all
that。〃

〃You　will　not　be　holding　the　Armenian　doctrine　of　works；　Mr。
Campbell？〃　said　Peter；　severely。　　〃You　would　not　be　pointing　to
good　works　as　a　ground　of　salvation？〃

Yankee；　who　had　been　following　the　conversation　intently；　thought
he　saw　meaning　in　it　at　last。

〃If　I　might　take　a　hand；〃　he　said；　diffidently；　〃I　might　contribute
somethin'　to　help　you　out。〃

Peter　regarded　him　a　little　impatiently。　　He　had　forgotten　the
concrete；　for　the　moment；　in　the　abstract；　and　was　donning　his
armor　for　a　battle　with　Kenny　upon　the　〃fundamentals。〃　　Hence　he
was　not　too　well　pleased　with　Yankee's　interruption。　　But　Donald
Ross　gladly　welcomed　the　diversion。　　The　subject　was　to　him
extremely　painful。

〃We　will　be　glad；〃　he　said　to　Yankee；　〃to　hear　you；　Mr。　Latham。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Yankee；　slowly；　〃from　your　remarks　I　gathered　that　you
wanted　information　about　the　doings　of〃　he　jerked　his　head　toward
the　house　behind　him。　　〃Now；　I　want　to　say；〃　he　continued；
confidentially；　〃you've　come　to　the　right　shop；　for　I've　ate　and
slept；　I've　worked　and　fought；　I've　lived　with　him　by　day　and　by
night；　and　right　through　he　was　the　straightest；　whitest　man　I　ever
seen；　and　I　won't　except　the　boss　himself。〃　　Yankee　paused　to
consider　the　effect　of　this　statement；　and　to　allow　its　full　weight
to　be　appreciated；　and　then　he　continued：　　〃Yes；　sir；　you　may　just
bet　youryou　may　be　right　well　sure；〃　correcting　himself；　〃that
you're　safe　in　givin'〃here　he　dropped　his　voice；　and　jerked　his
head　toward　the　house　again〃in　givin'　the　highest　marks；　full
value；　and　no　discount。　　Why；〃　he　went　on；　with　an　enthusiasm　rare
in　him；　〃ask　any　man　in　the　gang；　any　man　on　the　river；　if　they
ever　seen　or　heard　of　his　doin'　a　mean　or　crooked　thing；　and　if　you
find　any　feller　who　says　he　did；　bring　him　here；　and；　by〃Yankee
remembered　himself　in　time〃and　I　give　you　my　solemn　word　that
I'll　eat　him；　hat　and　boots。〃　　Yankee　brought　his　bony　fist　down
with　a　whack　into　his　hand。　　Then　he　relapsed　into　his　lazy　drawl
again：　　〃No；　siree；　hoss！　　If　it's　doin's　you're　after；　don't　you
be　slow　in　bankin'　your　little　heap　on　HIS　doin's。〃

Donald　Ross　grasped　Yankee's　hand　and　shook　it　hard。　　〃I　will　be
thanking　you　for　that　word；〃　he　said；　earnestly。

But　Peter　felt　that　the　cause　of　truth　demanded　that　he　should
speak　out。　　〃Mr。　Latham；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　〃what　you　have　been
saying　is　very　true；　no　doubt；　but　if　a　man　is　not　'born　again　he
cannot　see　the　kingdom　of　God。'　　These　are　the　words　of　the　Lord
himself。〃

〃Born　again！〃　said　Yankee。　　〃How？　　I　don't　seem　to　get　you。　　But　I
guess　the　feller　that　does　the　right　thing　all　round　has　got　a
purty　good　chance。〃

〃It　is　not　a　man's　deeds；　we　are　told；〃　said　Peter；　patiently；　〃but
his　heart。〃

〃There　you　are；〃　said　Yankee；　warmly；　〃right　again；　and　that's　what
I　always　hold　to。　　It's　the　heart　a　man　carries　round　in　his
inside。　　Never　mind　your　talk；　never　mind　your　actin'　up　for　people
to　see。　　Give　me　the　heart　that　is　warm　and　red；　and　beats　proper
time；　you　bet。　　Say！　you're　all　right。〃　　Yankee　gazed　admiringly　at
the　perplexed　and　hopeless　Peter。

〃I　am　afraid　you　are　not　remembering　what　the　Apostle　Paul　said；
Mr。　Latham；〃　said　Peter；　determined　to　deal　faithfully　with　Yankee。
〃'By　the　deeds　of　the　law　shall　no　flesh　be　justified。'〃

It　was　now　Yankee's　turn　to　gaze　helplessly　at　Peter。　　〃I　guess　you
have　dropped　me　again；〃　he　said；　slowly。

〃Man；〃　said　Peter；　with　a　touch　of　severity；　〃you　will　need　to　be
more　faithful　with　the　Word　of　God。　　The　Scriptures　plainly　declare；
Mr。　Latham；　that　it　is　impossible　for　a　man　to　be　saved　in　his
natural　state。〃

Yankee　looked　blank　at　this。

〃The　prophet　says　that　the　plowing　and　sowing；　the　very　prayers；　of
the　wicked　are　an　abomination　to　the　Lord。〃

〃Why；　now　you're　talkin'；　but　look　here。〃　　Yankee　lowered　his　tone。
〃Look　here；　you　wouldn't　go　for　to　call〃here　again　he　jerked　his
head　toward　the　house〃wicked；　would　you？　　Fur　if　you　do；　why；
there　ain't　any　more　conversation　between　you　and　me。〃

Yankee　was　terribly　in　earnest。

〃'There　is　none　righteous；　no；　not　one；'〃　quoted　Peter；　with　the
air　of　a　man　who　forces　himself　to　an　unpleasant　duty。

〃That's　so；　I　guess；〃　said　Yankee；　meditatively；　〃but　it　depends
some　on　what　you　mean。　　I　don't　set　myself　up　for　any　copy…book
head…line；　but　as　men　gomen；　say；　just　like　you　hereI'd　put
I'd　put　him　alongside；　wouldn't　you？　　You　expect　to　get　through
yourself；　I　judge？〃

This　was　turning　the　tables　somewhat　sharply　upon　Peter；　but
Yankee's　keen；　wide…open　eyes　were　upon　him；　and　his　intensely
earnest　manner　demanded　an　answer。

〃Indeed；　if　it　will　be　so；　it　will　not　be　for　any　merit　of　my　own；
but　only　because　of　the　mercy　of　the　Lord　in　Christ　Jesus。〃
Peter's　tone　was　sincerely　humble。

〃Guess　you're　all　right；〃　said　Yankee；　encouragingly；　〃and　as　for
as　forhimdon't　you　worry　about　that。　　You　may　be　dead　sure
about　his　case。〃

But　Peter　only　shook　his　head　hopelessly。　　〃You　are　sorely　in　need
of　instruction；　Mr。　Latham；〃　he　said；　sadly。　　〃We　cannot　listen　to
our　hearts　in　this　matter。　　We　must　do　honor　to　the　justice　of　God；
and　the　word　is　clear；　'Ye　must　be　born　again。'　　Nothing　else
avails。〃　　Peter's　tone　was　final。

Then　Yankee　drew　a　little　nearer　to　him；　as　if　settling　down　to
work。

〃Now　look　here。　　You　let　me　talk　awhile。　　I　ain't　up　in　your　side
of　the　business；　but　I　guess　we　are　tryin'　to　make　the　same　point。
Now　supposin'　you　was　in　for　a　hoss　race；　which　I　hope　ain't　no
offense；　seein'　it　ain't　likely　but　suppose；　and　to　take　first
money　you　had　to　perdoose　a　two…fifteen　gait。　　'Purty　good　lick；'
says　you；　'now　where　will　I　get　the　nag？'　　Then　you　sets　down　and
thinks；　and；　says　you；　'By　gum；　which　of　course　you　wouldn't；　but
supposin'　says　you；　'a　Blue　Grass　bred　is　the　hoss　for　that　gait'；
and　you　begin　to　inquire　around；　but　there　ain't　no　Blue　Grass　bred
stock　in　the　country；　and　that　race　is　creepin'　up　close。　　One　day；
just　when　you　was　beginnin'　to　figure　on　takin'　the　dust　to　the
hull　field；　you　sees　a　colt　comin'　along　the　road　hittin'　up　a
purty　slick　gait。　　'Hello；'　says　you；　'that　looks　likely；'　and　you
begin　to　negotiate；　and　you　finds　out　that　colt's　all　right　and　her
time's　two…ten。　　Then　you　begin　to　talk　about　the　weather　and　the
crops　until　you　finds　out　the　price；　and　you　offer　him　half　money。
Then；　when　you　have　fetched　him　down　to　the　right　figure；　you　pulls
out　your　wad；　thinkin'　how　that　colt　will　make　the　rest