her head drooped. In answer to the mute expression of sorrow, her strange visitor continued:

"Nay, I would really make you a full promise on the subject, but an I am sure that I should break it, if I came across too many of those who remind me privately ever of one text in the Bible, and only one 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' I have sought guidance here and there, since he I spake of died, ay, of your own Covenanting Ministers; but I have been warned off, as it were. If they uttered not the words aloud, they thought them: 'Cast not your pearls before swine.' And so, madam, that I give ye not further time to consider that you have, yourself, disobeyed the injunction by bestowing kind words on me, I will say farewell!"

With a repetition of the courteous entrance bow, he stepped back to take leave. But in the very act of turning to depart, memory flashed back upon him an important circumstance, and he returned to the doorway with a half-smile.

"That is just the way with me," he said. I was departing with none of my errand performed. My tongue runs away at the slightest touch of the spur from the purpose I have at heart. Eighteen months and more ago a crystal perfume bottle was entrusted to this little lad here for your hands, hoping that it might some day be of service to one or both of you, if used as a reminder to him who gave it. With the fall of Middleton from power the talisman it may be-"

"Talisman!" ejaculated Kate McCall, lifting up her eyes with fear, not unmixed with the superstitious horror from which few indeed in those days were thoroughly free.

But her companion smilingly reassured her. "Nay, I used the word out of its accustomed sense. The bottle was but as a talisman to influence men, not spirits. As circumstances are now it may avail somewhat, and it may not. Should you need to try its powers, consult with old Elspeth Spence. She will be able to advise you. And so, once more, farewell.”

M

CHAPTER XVII.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM.

ANY and many a time, as the months flowed on, did Mistress McCall and Ivie discuss their twilight visitor, as those who live quiet and retired lives in lonely country spots do discuss the rare events of importance that break in upon the general monotony of their lives.

Time passed. Ivie still continued his studies at his uncle's, who was growing increasingly heart-sick at the course of events in his country, and the utter fruitlessness of his efforts to change their cruel and disastrous current. The Blairs still held aloof from Kate McCall. Or rather, William did. For his wife, she only did his bidding, and sighed and wept privately over the accumulations of the sorrows of her generation. Her husband had grown sterner and more silent than ever, and of late he had become cold and hard besides.

But the blame would lie on the oppressors of his country, not on him. This is what the historian

says of those drear days. The picture shows plainly enough how peaceable, affectionate subjects like William Blair got transformed into fierce haters and fanatics. So far from being persuaded to turn over to the opposing side themselves, it was utterly impossible that they could avoid thinking it the worst calamity that could befall any human being, that he should be induced, by either fair means or foul, to join himself to those who could behave so brutally.

"There was now (ever since the many Acts of 1662, you know,) a patent legislative machinery for harassment and punishment in force. To give it the more effect, military parties were sent to aid the civil authorities in the most conspicuously offending districts. The result was, what always will be the result of putting the enforcement of the civil law into the hands of the soldier-licence, oppression, and insult. In one district, a hard, rough soldier, Sir James Turner, was sent to command the troops. How terrible a curse he must have been to the people can be better understood from the dry detail of an official report than from aught else."

There was an investigation into this terrible man's conduct some years afterwards, and amongst an immense number of charges proved against him here is just one, to let you judge for yourselves what sort of justice was ever obtained at the hands of one whose duty it was to enforce laws.-" Reported by the Privy Council -He fined for whole years previous to his coming to the country."

The laws were harsh enough to beggar the whole country, but, under Sir James Turner's rule, it would be a subject of melancholy interest were it possible to find out now how many weak, and old, and sick, and how many little children, died of actual starvation, whilst Sir James Turner and his troops lived and rioted on the bread and money that should have gone to sustain their lives. But to pass that sad reflection by, and to return to the characters of our tale.

Whilst the wave of oppression was deluging wide districts with misery, Kate McCall and her son were sheltered in their fast adhesion to the Covenant by their relationship to the Bis hop of Dunblane. Indeed, no one dared make it their very special business to inquire what of the Bishop's own ministrations his sister and nephew attended, or if any of them at all. Both were at the palace rather frequently, and once Kate had ventured so far to indulge herself as to be present at her brother's preaching of one of his most eloquent and Scriptural sermons. He had been quick to note her presence, and equally quick to supply her with one of the "safe-conducts" demanded in those inquisitorial times-a minister's certificate.

But, beyond increasing the indignation of William Blair, who by some means came to hear of it, the certificate had been a useless document up to the year 1666, when Ivie McCall was just fifteen years of age, and though still rather short, and younger-looking than his years, was sturdy as a Scotch boy should be, of singularly keen intelligence which had been already