They believe in Dunvegan that McArthur was but a type of all men, that the evil heritage of the Shadow of the Attacoa came upon him in exaggerated form because it was needful that the works of God might be manifested in him. They still speak with such pious quaintness in the dreamy village. And they tell their child who shows the evil heart of how Ervin McArthur fought in his awful death-struggle on Attacoa with Tawiskara, the Dark One, and endured unto blood, striving against his sin; of how he, as all men may do, in the strength of Ioskeha, cast the Daemon out.
It is thus that they apologize for the horror with which his life-story was laden, it being in their eyes like the black, ill-odored ink of the press which is yet needful to make the page of each story perfect. They shudder in the telling of it, as the reader must have shuddered in hearing—these are they who hear the mutterings of Tawiskara in their own hearts. And there must be those who dwell in Dunvegan who call the story precious because that through it they have been delivered from much tribulation and anguish of spirit which comes to all those who would perfect the light of their souls by exorcising the Daemons that infest it. These consider that in the horror of the story lies its true meaning and value, and they discountenance the softer versions which have sprung up with the newer generation in the village. If their souls have known deeper night than that of Ervin McArthur, let them love the parable of how they were delivered.
So there are pilgrims who sometimes visit the little graveyard where the shadows are dense at noonday, and where Ervin McArthur lies. They tread lightly upon the blue periwinkle, and there are those who loose reverently the sandals from their feet for fear that God may be near in some wayside bush.
The End.
HISTORY OF THE HALS
CHAPTER XVIII—HOW THE BISHOP BROKE THE RECORD
By John Trotwood Moore
Greeley, Col., Jan. 10, 1907.
Editors Taylor-Trotwood Magazine, Nashville, Tenn.
Gentlemen:—I write to ask that in the very interesting “History of the Hals,” now running in your magazine, you will persuade Mr. Moore to include the famous story, “How the Bishop Broke the Record.” This was published years ago in the “Horse Review,” and is the best thing of its kind ever written. I know hundreds of people who have said they would like to see it again and it ought to be in the “History of the Hals.” Very truly yours,