For some time he sulkily rejected all John's efforts to mitigate his present condition, or to prepare him for his future.

But at last the tender spot in his heart was found.
John discovered his affection for his half-savage mother, and promised to provide for all her necessities.
"It's only ta poun' o' taa, an' ta bit cabin ta shelter her she'll want at a'," but the tears fell heavily on the red, hairy hands; "an' she'll na tell her fat ill outsent cam to puir Sandy." "Thou kens I will gie her a' she needs, an' if she chooses to come to Orkney--" "Na, na, she wullna leave ta Hieland hills for naught at a'." "Then she shall hae a siller crown for every month o' the year, Sandy." The poor, rude creature hardly knew how to say a "thanks;" but John saw it in his glistening eyes and heard it in the softly-muttered words, "She was ta only are tat e'er caret for Santy Beg." It was a solemn day in Stromness when he went to the gallows.

The bells tolled backward, the stores were all closed, and there were prayers both in public and private for the dying criminal.

But few dared to look upon the awful expiation, and John spent the hour in such deep communion with God and his own soul that its influence walked with him to the end of life.
And when his own sons were grown up to youths, one bound for the sea and the other for Marischal College, Aberdeen, he took them aside and told them this story, adding, "An' know this, my lads: the shame an' the sorrow cam a' o' ane thing--I made light o' my mother's counsel, an' thought I could do what nane hae ever done, gather mysel' with the deil's journeymen, an' yet escape the wages o' sin.

Lads! lads! there's nae half-way house atween right and wrang; know that." "But, my father," said Hamish, the younger of the two, "thou did at the last obey thy mother." "Ay, ay, Hamish; but mak up thy mind to this: it isna enough that a man rins a gude race; he maun also _start at the right time_.