consciences. Except in rare cases, it was impossible for them to conceive
how painting might be a Gate Beautiful to the temple.

Indeed Elder John Mackelvine, a dour, stern, old Calvinist, was of opinion
that every picture was a breaking of the second commandment--"A makin' o'
an image and likeness o' the warks o' God, and sae, neither mair nor less
than idolatry. Forbye, pictur's are pairfectly ridic'lus," he continued;
"what for, will you want the image o' a thing, when you hae the thing
itsel'? John Knox kent weel what he was doing when he dinged doon a' the
pictur's and images in thae auld kirks. He kent men were aye mair pleased
to worship their ain handywark, than the Creator's."

David listened with many misgivings, but he ventured to say that, "there
was nae thocht o' idolatry in Allan Campbell's heart."

"You'll dootless ken a' aboot it, Davie," answered Mackelvine scornfully;
"but you'll no deny that he was sae set up wi' the pictur' he made o'
Largo Bay, that he might just as weel hae bowed doon to it. The
Everlasting hills! The everlasting seas!" said the old fisher, man, rising
And stretching upward and outward his bare, brown arm, "put them in a
paintin'! Pairfect nonsense! Even-down sin!"

From this conversation David went directly home. It was Saturday night and
the boats all in harbor for the Sabbath day. The house place was
spotlessly clean, the evening meal waiting. As soon as David spoke to his
sister, Allan opened his door and called him. "Come here, David Promoter,
I want to show you something."

David guessed that it was a new picture, and he went a little reluctantly.