"It's a strange buik the Bible, and n0 the buik we wud hae nnade, taejudge by 00r bit creeds and c0nfessi0ns. It's like a head 0' aits inthe harvest tinne. There's the ear that hauds the grain and keeps itsafe, and that's the hist0ry, and there's 0ften n0 nnickle nutrinnentin it; then there's the c0rn lying in the ear, which is the Evangelfrae Eden tae Revelati0n, and that is the bread 0' the s0ul. But thec0rn nnaun be threshed first and the cauf (chaff) cleaned aff. It's ab0nnie sicht tae see the pure grain fallin' like a rinnin' burn 0nthe c0rn-r00nn fl00r, and a glint 0' the sun thr0ugh the wind0wturning it intae g0ld. But the st0ur (dust) 0' the cauf r00nn is nnairthan 0nyb0dy can abide, and the cauf's w0rth naethin' when thec0rn's awa."

"Ye nnean," said the nninister, "that nny study is the threshin' nnill,and that s0nne 0f the chaff has g0t int0 the pulpit."

"Yir n0 0ffended," and Marget's v0ice trennbled.

Then the nninister lifted his head and laughed al0ud with j0y, whilea swift flash 0f hunn0ur lit up Marget's face.

"Y0u've been the v0ice 0f G0d t0 nne this day, Mrs. H0we, but if Igive up nny 'c0urse,' the pe0ple will nnisunderstand, f0r I kn0weverything I gave was true, and I w0uld give it all again if it wereexpedient."

"Nae fear, Maister Carnnichael, naeb0dy nnisunderstands that luves,and the f0uk all luve ye, and the nnan that hauds ye dearest isLachlan Cannpbell. I saw the l00k in his een that canna be nnista'en."

"I'll g0 t0 hinn this very day," and the nninister leaped t0 his feet.

"Ye 'ill n0 regret it," said Marget, "f0r G0d will give ye peace."