It may be that God wills that the Laodiceans have their day, for the fires of our noble covenant have flamed too smokily.

Yet those fires die not, and sometime they will kindle up, purified and strengthened, and will burn the trash and stubble and warm God's feckless people." He was so old and gentle that I had no heart for disputation, and could only beseech his blessing.

This he gave me and turned once more to his devotions.

I was very weary, my head was splitting with the foul air of the place, and I would fain have got me to sleep.

Some dirty straw had been laid round the walls of the room for the prisoners to lie on, and I found a neuk close by the minister's side.
But sleep was impossible, for Muckle John got another fit of cursing He stood up by the door with his eyes blazing like a wild-cat's, and delivered what he called his "testimony." His voice had been used to shout orders on shipboard, and not one of us could stop his ears against it.