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for peace。 In plain； simple words he told of experiences through
which he had recently passed：
〃Like one whom I feel it an honour to call my father；〃 he began；
bowing toward Dr。 Templeton； 〃I； too； have made a visit this
morning。 Not to a home； but to a place the most unlike a home of
any spot in this sad world； a jail。 Seven of our fellow…citizens
are confined there； six of them boys； mere boys； dazed and
penetrated with sorrow for their follythey meant no crimeI am
not relieving them of the blamethe other； a man； embittered with
a long； hard fight against poverty； injustice and cruel
circumstance in another land； with distorted views of life； crazed
by drink； committed a crime which this morning fills him with
horror and grief。 Late last night I was sent to the home of one of
my people。 There I found an aged lady； carrying with a brave heart
the sorrows and burdens of nearly seventy years； waiting in anxiety
and grief and fear for her son； who was keeping vigil at what may
well be the deathbed of the girl he loves。 You have just heard his
plea for peace。 Some of you are inclined to lay the blame for the
ills that have fallen upon us upon certain classes and individuals
in this community。 They have their blame and they must bear the
responsibility。 But； gentlemen； a juster estimate of the causes of
these ills will convince us that they are the product of our
civilisation and for these things we must all accept our share of
responsibility。 More； we must seek to remove them from among us。
They are an affront to our intelligence； an insult to our holy
religion； an outrage upon the love of our brother man and our
Father； God。 Let us humbly； resolutely seek the better way； the
way we have set before us this morning； the way of right doing； of
brotherly kindness and of brotherly love which is the way of
peace。〃
It was a subdued company of men that listened to his appeal。 In
silence they sat looking straight before them with faces grave and
frowning； as is the way with men of our race when deeply stirred。
It was a morning of dramatic surprises； but none were so startling；
none so dramatic as the speech of McGinnis that followed。
〃This is a day for confessions；〃 he said； 〃and I am here to make
one for myself。 I have been a fighter； too much of a fighter； all
my life； and I have often suffered for it。 I suffered a heavy loss
last night and to…day I am sick of fighting。 But I have found
this： that you can't fight men in this world without fighting women
and children； too。 God knows I have no war with the old； grey…
haired lady the Padre has just told us about。 I have no war with
that broken…hearted father and mother。 And I have no war with
Annette Perrotte； dear girl； God preserve her。〃 At this point；
McGinnis's command quite forsook him。 His voice utterly broke
down； while the tears ran down his rugged fighting face。 〃I am
done with fighting；〃 he cried。 〃They have named Captain Maitland。
We know him for a straight man and a white man。 Let me talk with
Captain Jack Maitland； and let us get together with the Padre
there；〃 pointing to the Reverend Murdo Matheson； 〃and in an hour we
will settle this matter。〃
In a tumult of approval the suggestion was accepted。 It was
considered a perfectly fitting thing； though afterwards men spoke
of it with something of wonder； that the Mayor should have called
upon the Reverend Doctor to close the meeting with prayer； and that
he should do so without making a speech。
That same afternoon the three men met to consider the matter
submitted to them。 Captain Jack Maitland laid before the committee
his figures and his charts setting forth the facts in regard to the
cost of living and the wage scale during the past five years。 In
less than an hour they had agreed upon a settlement。 There was to
be an increase of wages in keeping with the rise of the cost of
living； with the pledge that the wage scale should follow the curb
of the cost of living should any change occur within the year。 The
hours of labour were shortened from ten to nine for a day's work；
with the pledge that they should be governed by the effect of the
change upon production and general conditions。 And further； that a
Committee of Reference should be appointed for each shop and craft；
to which all differences should be submitted。 To this committee
also were referred the other demands by the Allied Unions。
It was a simple solution of the difficulty and upon its submission
to the public meeting called for its consideration； it was felt
that the comment of the irrepressible Victor Forsythe was not
entirely unfitting：
〃Of course！〃 said Victor； cheerfully。 〃It is the only thing。 Why
didn't the Johnnies think of it before； or why didn't they ask me？〃
The committee； however； did more than settle the dispute immediately
before them。 They laid before the public meeting and obtained its
approval for the creation of a General Board of Industry； under
whose guidance the whole question of the industrial life of the
community should be submitted to intelligent study and control。
CHAPTER XVII
SHALL BE GIVEN
For one long week of seven long days and seven long nights Annette
fought out her gallant fight for life； fought and won。 Throughout
the week at her side Adrien waited day and night； except for a few
hours snatched for rest； when Patricia took her place； for there
was not a nurse to be had in all that time and Patricia begged for
the privilege of sharing her vigil with her。
Every day and in the darkest days all day long； it seemed to
Adrien； McNish haunted the Maitland homefor he had abandoned all
pretence of workhis gaunt； grey face and hollow eyes imploring a
word of hope。
But it was chiefly to Jack throughout that week that Adrien's heart
went out in compassionate pity； for in his face there dwelt a
misery so complete； so voiceless that no comfort of hers appeared
to be able to bring relief。 Often through those days did Annette
ask to see him； but the old doctor was relentless。 There must be
absolute quiet and utter absence of all excitement。 No visitors
were to be permitted； especially no men visitors。
But the day came when the ban was lifted and with smiling face；
Adrien came for Jack。
〃You have been such a good boy；〃 she cried gaily； 〃that I am going
to give you a great treat。 You are to come in with me。〃
With face all alight Jack followed her into the sick room。
〃Here he is； Annette；〃 cried Adrien。 〃Now； remember； no fussing；
no excitement； and just one quarter of an houror perhaps a little
longer；〃 she added。
For a moment or two Jack stood looking at the girl lying upon the
bed。
〃Oh； Annette； my dear； dear girl；〃 he cried in a breaking voice as
he knelt down by her side and took her hand in his。
So much reached Adrien's ears as she closed the door and passed to
her room with step weary and lifeless。
〃Why； Adrien；〃 cried her sister； who was waiting to relieve her；
〃you are like a ghost！ You poor dear。 You are horribly done out。〃
〃I believe I am； Patricia；〃 said Adrien。 〃I believe I shall rest
awhile。〃 She lay down on the bed； her face turned to