“A more deeply-rooted evil than this,” he went on to say, “is theft.  We all inherit, in a greater or less degree, the desire to possess our neighbour’s goods; and, with the earliest development of the mind, comes the activity of that desire.  It is seen in the child when he appropriates the plaything of another child, and in the so-called good and honest citizen when, in bargaining, he secures an advantage at the expense of his brother.”

Descending, gradually, to the introduction of particular forms of overreaching as practised in trade, all of which Mr. C—­designated as instances of theft, he finally brought forward an instance so nearly resembling the one in which Mr. Grant had been engaged, that the latter felt himself, as has been seen, particularly pointed out, and left the church at the close of the service in a state of excitement and indignation.  To have that old matter, about which he had already suffered enough, “raked over,” as he said, “and exposed to light again,” was a little more than he was disposed to submit to with patience.  As has been seen, he did not conceal what was in his mind.

On Monday, a brother-member of the church dropped in to see the jeweller.

“How did you like Mr. C—?” was the natural inquiry.

“Not at all,” replied Mr. Grant, in a positive tone.

“You didn’t?  Why, I was delighted with him!  What is your objection?”

“He was personal in his discourse.”

“I perceived nothing personal.”

“Though I did, and of the grossest kind.”

“How was it possible for a stranger like Mr. C—­to be personal?  He knows nothing of the characters or conduct of individuals here.”

“Strangers generally have quick ears, and there are always plenty of news-venders to fill them.  He’s been with the Harrisons, and we all know what they are.”

“To whom did he refer?” was asked.

“He referred to me.”

“To you?”

“Certainly he did.  And I don’t like it at all.  That’s not the way to preach the gospel.  This running off with one side of a story, and, taking all for granted, holding a man up to public odium, is not, as I conceive, following in the footsteps of our Great Master.”

“I’m sorry you should have taken up such an impression,” was replied to this.  “I cannot believe that Mr. C—­really intended to hold you up to public odium.  He couldn’t have meant to designate you.”

“He must have meant me.  Don’t I know?”

So another and another objection was made to Mr. C—­on the same ground; and before the week was out, it was pretty widely known that the new preacher had indulged in reprehensible personalities.  Some said this was an error in the preacher; others, that he was highly blamable; while others affirmed that there must be some mistake about the matter.

On the following Sunday, Mr. Grant was absent from his usual place in the church.  It would do him no good to sit under the ministry of Mr. C—.