This is the story of the one man whose weak and uncertain hand held aloft the Banner of Blue that I have striven to tell—his failures mostly, his loves and hates, his few bright days and his many dark nights. Yet withal I have found green vales of rest between wherein the swallow swept and the cuckoo called to her mate the cry of love and spring.

Who would know further and better of the certainty of these things must procure and read A Cameronian Apostle, by my excellent friend, the Reverend H. M. B. Reid, presently minister of the parish wherein these things were done, in whose faithful and sympathetic narrative they will find many things better told than I can tell them. The book may be had of the Messrs. Gardiner, of Paisley, in Scotland.

Yet even in this imperfect narrative of strange events there may be heard the beating of a man’s heart, weak or strong, now arrogant, and now abased, not according to the fear of man or even of the glory of God, but more according to the kindness which dwelt in woman’s eyes.

For there is but one thing stronger in the world than the love of woman. And that is not of this world.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
[I.][—The year terrible][1]
[II.][—The blood of the martyrs][15]
[III.][—The little Lady of Earlstoun][22]
[IV.][—My sister Anna][30]
[V.][—I construct a raft][42]
[VI.][—Across the moonlight][52]
[VII.][—My brother Hob][60]
[VIII.][—The muster of the hill folk][69]
[IX.][—I meet Mary Gordon for the second time][76]
[X.][—The blue banner is up][85]
[XI.][—The red Grant][93]
[XII.][—The lass in the kirkyard][105]
[XIII.][—My lady of pride][112]
[XIV.][—The tale of Mess Hairry][120]
[XV.][—Alexander-Jonita][129]
[XVI.][—The corbies at the feast][137]
[XVII.][—The bonny lass of Earlstoun][144]
[XVIII.][—One way of love][154]
[XIX.][—Another way of love][169]
[XX.][—Mutterings of storm][185]
[XXI.][—The eyes of a maid][193]
[XXII.][—The anger of Alexander-Jonita][204]
[XXIII.][—At bay][215]
[XXIV.][—Mary Gordon’s last word][225]
[XXV.][—Behind the broom][233]
[XXVI.][—Jean Gemmell’s bargain with God][240]
[XXVII.][—Rumour of war][252]
[XXVIII.][—Alexander-Jonita’s victory][262]
[XXIX.][—The elders of the hill folk][269]
[XXX.][—Silence is golden][275]
[XXXI.][—The fall of Earlstoun][286]
[XXXII.][—Love or duty][293]
[XXXIII.][—The demoniac in the garret][304]
[XXXIV.][—The cursing of the Presbytery][310]
[XXXV.][—Like the spirit of a little child][317]
[XXXVI.][—The stone of stumbling][325]
[XXXVII.][—Fare you well!][331]
[XXXVIII.][—“I love you, Quintin!”][338]
[XXXIX.][—The last roaring of the bull][350]

THE STANDARD BEARER.

CHAPTER I.
THE YEAR TERRIBLE.

This is what I, Quintin MacClellan, saw on the grassy summit of the Bennan—a thing which, being seen and overpast in an hour, changed all my life, and so in time by the grace of God and the chafe of circumstances made me for good or evil the man I am.