“There isna ony hope for thum that hasna been elected.  Ye might talk an’ pray a’ yer life and ’twould do ye na gude, I dinna ken where you’ve been a’ yer life, not to ken that afore.  With a’ yer furbelowed claithes and jewelled watch and trinkets, ye dinna ken much aboot the gospel.  And then, this new preacher a’ tellin’ the people they can be saved ony minut they choose to gie up their hearts to the Lord!  Its a’ tegither false.  I was taught in the Kirk o’ Scotland, that a mon might pray and pray a’ his days, and then he wadna be sure o’ bein’ saved.  That’s the blessed doctrine I was taught.  If ye are to be saved, ye will be.  There noo, go to sleep.  I’ll read the ward o’ God to ye”.

Alas! for the venerable church of old Scotia, had she many such exponents of her doctrine as Mrs. McNab.

Having thus relieved her mind, the nurse swallowed the contents of the tumbler.  She then rose, drew a chair towards a table, on which stood a shaded lamp and took from thence a Bible; but finding her eyesight rather dim, withdrew to a cot in one corner of the room, threw herself down and was soon sleeping, and snoring prodigiously.

Adele, who had, during the enactment of this scene, been prevented from rushing in and deposing Mrs. McNab at once, only by a fear of exciting the patient to a degree of frenzy, stole in quietly, bathed his head with some perfumed water, smoothed his pillow and seated herself, near the fire, where she remained until morning.

Mr. Brown slept only during the briefest intervals and was turning restlessly and talking incoherently all night.

Soon after day dawn, Aunt Patty began to bestir herself, but before she had observed her presence, Adele had escaped to her own room.  Soon, hearing Micah’s voice, she went to the kitchen.  She found his message from Mrs. Campbell, just the excuse she needed to enable her to dispose of Mrs. McNab.  She had become quite convinced that whatever good qualities that worthy woman might possess as a nurse, her unfortunate proclivities towards the whiskey bottle, united with her rigid theological tenets, rendered it rather unsafe to trust her longer with a patient, whose case required the most delicate care and attention.

The queer, old clock in the dining-room struck one.  Adele heard it.  She was still watching.  Mr. Brown still slept that quiet sleep.  Just then, Mrs. Dubois entered, took her daughter’s hand, led her to the door, and whispered—­

“Now, take some food and go to rest.  I will not leave him”.  Adele obeyed.

CHAPTER XII.

A CASE OF CONSCIENCE.

Mr. Brown remained in a peaceful slumber during the afternoon.  Mrs. Dubois aroused him occasionally, in order to moisten his parched lips, and with her husband’s aid and Mr. Norton’s to change his position in the bed.  At such times he opened his eyes, gazed at them inquiringly, feebly assented to their arrangements, then sank away into sleep again.