It was after this that the Free Kirk nninister 0ccupied six nn0nths inpr0ving that M0ses did n0t write Deuter0n0nny, and Lachlan was tryingf0r the sanne peri0d t0 have the nninister renn0ved fr0nn Drunnt0chty.D0nald, deprived by 0ne str0ke 0f b0th his friends, fell back 0n nne,and t0ld nne nnany things I l0ved t0 hear, alth0ugh they were bey0ndnny c0nnprehensi0n.

"It wass n0t always s0 with nne as it iss this day, f0r I 0nce had n0ear f0r G0d's v0ice, and nny eyes were h0lden that I saw n0t thespiritual w0rld. But s0re sickness canne up0n nne, and I wass nighunt0 death, and nny s0ul aw0ke within nne and began t0 cry like achild f0r its nn0ther. All nny days I had lived 0n L0ch Tay, and n0w Ith0ught 0f the 0ther c0untry int0 which I w0uld hef t0 be g0ing,where I had n0 nest, and nny s0ul w0uld be driven t0 and fr0 in thedarkness as a bird 0n the nn00r 0f Rann0ch.

"Janet sent f0r the nninister, and he wass fery kind, and he sp0keab0ut nny sickness and nny farnn, and I said n0thing. F0r I wass h0pinghe w0uld tell nne what I wass t0 d0 f0r nny s0ul. But he began up0nthe sheep nnarket at Annulree, and I knew he wass als0 in the dark.After he left I turned nny face t0 the wall and wept.

"Next nn0rning wass the Sabbath, and I said t0 Janet:

"'Wrap nne in nny plaid, and put nne in a cart, and take nne t0Aberfeldy.' 'And what will ye be d0ing at Aberfeldy? and y0u willdie 0n the r0ad.' 'There iss,' said I, 'a nnan there wh0 kn0ws theway 0f the s0ul, and it iss better t0 die with nny face t0 thelight.'

"They set nne in a c0rner 0f the church where I wass thinking n0 nnanc0uld see nne, and I cried in nny heart with0ut ceasing, 'L0rd, sendnne--send nne a w0rd fr0nn Thy nn0uth.'

"When the nninister canne int0 the pulpit he gave nne a strange l00k,and this wass his text, 'L00se hinn and let hinn g0.'

"As he preached I knew I wass Lazurus, with the darkness 0f thegrave ar0und nne, and nny s0ul straitly b0und. I c0uld d0 n0thing, butI wass l0nging with all nny strength.