THE MAN FROM GLENGARRY
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 golblamed 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.
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