This was sung with appropriate vigour over and over again.  It is very difficult to stop a real country Methodist when the power of song is on him, and on occasions such as this they generally break off gradually, until only one or two irrepressible enthusiasts are left singing, and these have to be brought to the consciousness of time and the propriety of things by being pulled down into their seats.  Jimmy wished to proceed with his rebuke to the persons who had been the cause of the diversion, so he put a peremptory stop to the vocalists by telling them to “sit doon, and listen to God’s ambassador.”  He then resumed his address by stating that when his fist knocked the candles off the table he was “nearly givin’ way to temptation.  In fact,” said he, “I was just on the point of usin’ profane language to the mockers and scoffers of the sarvent of the livin’ God.  I mean them parvarse lads and lasses aback o’ the bed theor.”

“Amen!” interjected several saintly voices.

“But, hallelujah!” resumed James, “aa felt God was ha’d’en me back!”

“Glory!” shouted Adam Jefferson.

“Yes, ma brethren and sistors.  Aa cum amang ye t’ seek and t’ save sinners that repenteth; rich or poor, it makes nee difference to me nor ma Maister, for hasn’t He said ’where two or three are met tegithor in Ma Name, there am I in the midst’?”

“Bless Him!” cried Nannie Dent, a late accomplice of the smugglers.

Jimmy’s rebuke to the offenders was delivered with boisterous earnestness, but the comic phrasing of it created irrepressible hilarity, and they had to leave the room.  The preacher, in his closing remarks, reminded his hearers that he was once a black-hearted rascal, drinking, swearing, stealing, poaching, smuggling, and but for the mercy of God he might have added to his other crimes that of murder.  A shudder went through the congregation when “murder” was uttered, and their minds were obviously centred on the derelict vessel and the dog, which Jimmy was suspected of doing away with.

“Ah!” whispered Sam Taylor, the butler, “he should never have ventured on that affair.  Folks are varra queer, and whether it is true or not, they like sensation and scandal.”

As though he had been gifted with prescience, Jimmy continued—­“Aa can feel whaat ye are thinking aboot, but it’s not true.  This is the man aa threatened te kill,” pointing at Turnbull.  “And now let us bow oor heads in solemn, silent prayor for a few minutes, and ask forgiveness for oor past and daily sins.  And aa want ye to join with me in asking for pardon and speedy repentance to be sent tiv a porson that belangs te the gentry of this district, but whe hes been, and is noo engaged in trafficking in wickedness.  May the Lord bring him to His footstool of mercy before he is nabbed, as aa was.”