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〃What　is　it；　James？〃　said　Mrs。　Murray。

Mr。　Murray　repeated　the　news　to　her。

〃Germany　at　war？〃　she　said。　　〃I　thought　it　was　Austria　and　Servia。　Isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　my　dear；〃　said　Mr。　Murray　hastily；　as　if　anxious　to　cover　up　his　wife's　display　of　ignorance　of　the　European　situation。　〃Austria　has　been　at　war　with　Servia　for　some　days；　but　now　Germany　has　declared　war　apparently　upon　France　and　Russia。〃

〃But　what　has　Germany　to　do　with　it；　or　Russia　either；　or　France？〃

They　moved　off　together　from　the　docks　toward　the　church；　discussing　the　ominous　news。

〃Oh；　look；　Jane；〃　said　Isabel　once　more。　　〃There's　Ramsay　Dunn。　Isn't　he　looking　funny？〃

〃Pickled；　I　guess；〃　said　Jim；　with　a　glance　at　the　young　man　who　with　puffed　and　sodden　face　was　gazing　with　dull　and　stupid　eyes　across　the　lake。　　On　catching　sight　of　the　approaching　party　Ramsay　Dunn　turned　his　back　sharply　upon　them　and　became　intensely　absorbed　in　the　launch　at　his　side。　　But　Jane　would　not　have　it　thus。

〃Ask　him　to　come　over　this　afternoon；〃　she　said　to　Ethel。　　〃His　mother　would　like　it。〃

〃Good　morning；　Ramsay；〃　said　Ethel　as　they　passed　him。

Ramsay　turned　sharply；　stood　stiff　and　straight；　then　saluted　with　an　elaborate　bow。　　〃Good　morning；　Ethel。　　Why；　good　morning；　Jane。　You　down　here？　　Delighted　to　see　you。〃

〃Ramsay；　could　you　come　over　this　afternoon　to　our　island？〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Jane　is　going　back　this　week。〃

〃Sure　thing；　Ethel。　　Nothing　but　scarlet　fever；　small…pox；　or　other　contectious　or　infagious；　confagious　or　intexiouseh；　disease　will　prevent　me。　　The　afternoon　or　the　evening？〃　he　added　with　what　he　meant　to　be　a　most　ingratiating　smile。　　〃The　late　afternoon　or　the　early　evening？〃

The　little　girls；　who　had　been　staring　at　him　with　wide；　wondering　eyes；　began　to　giggle。

〃I'll　be　there；〃　continued　Ramsay。　　〃I'll　be　there；　I'll　be　there；　when　the　early　evening　cometh；　I'll　be　there。〃　　He　bowed　deeply　to　the　young　ladies　and　winked　solemnly　at　Isabel；　who　by　this　time　was　finding　it　quite　impossible　to　control　her　giggles。

〃Isn't　he　awfully　funny？〃　she　said　as　they　moved　off。　　〃I　think　he　is　awfully　funny。〃

〃Funny！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Disgusting；　I　think。〃

〃Oh；　Ethel；　isn't　it　terribly　sad？〃　said　Jane。　　〃Poor　Mrs。　Dunn；　she　feels　so　awfully　about　it。　　They　say　he　is　going　on　these　days　in　a　perfectly　dreadful　way。〃

The　little　brick　church　was　comfortably　filled　with　the　townsfolk　and　with　such　of　the　summer　visitors　as　had　not　〃left　their　religion　behind　them　in　Winnipeg；〃　as　Jane　said。　　The　preacher　was　a　little　man　whose　speech　betrayed　his　birth；　and　the　theology　and　delivery　of　whose　sermon　bore　the　unmistakable　marks　of　his　Edinburgh　training。　　He　discoursed　in　somewhat　formal　but　in　finished　style　upon　the　blessings　of　rest；　with　obvious　application　to　the　special　circumstances　of　the　greater　part　of　his　audience　who　had　come　to　this　most　beautiful　of　all　Canada's　beautiful　spots　seeking　these　blessings。　　To　further　emphasise　the　value　of　their　privileges；　he　contrasted　with　their　lot　the　condition　of　unhappy　Servia　now　suffering　from　the　horrors　of　war　and　threatened　with　extinction　by　its　tyrannical　neighbour；　Austria。　　The　war　could　end　only　in　one　way。　　In　spite　of　her　gallant　and　heroic　fight　Servia　was　doomed　to　defeat。　　But　a　day　of　reckoning　would　surely　come；　for　this　was　not　the　first　time　that　Austria　had　exercised　its　superior　power　in　an　act　of　unrighteous　tyranny　over　smaller　states。　　The　God　of　righteousness　was　still　ruling　in　his　world；　and　righteousness　would　be　done。

At　the　close　of　the　service；　while　they　were　singing　the　final　hymn；　Mr。　McPherson；　after　a　whispered　colloquy　with　Mr。　Murray；　made　his　way　to　the　pulpit；　where　he　held　an　earnest　conversation　with　the　minister。　　Instead　of　pronouncing　the　benediction　and　dismissing　the　congregation　when　the　final　〃Amen〃　had　been　sung；　the　minister　invited　the　people　to　resume　their　seats；　when　Mr。　McPherson　rose　and　said；

〃Friends；　we　have　just　learned　that　a　great　and　terrible　evil　has　fallen　upon　the　world。　　Five　days　ago　the　world　was　shocked　by　the　announcement　that　Austria　had　declared　war　upon　Servia。　　Through　these　days　the　powers　of　Europe；　or　at　least　some　of　them；　and　chief　among　them　Great　Britain；　have　been　labouring　to　localise　the　war　and　to　prevent　its　extension。　　To…day　the　sad；　the　terrible　announcement　is　made　that　Germany　has　declared　war　upon　both　Russia　and　France。　　What　an　hour　may　bring　forth；　we　know　not。　　But　not　in　our　day；　or　in　our　fathers'　day；　have　we　faced　so　great　a　peril　as　we　face　to…day。　　For　we　cannot　forget　that　our　Empire　is　held　by　close　and　vital　ties　to　the　Republic　of　France　in　the　entente　cordiale。　　Let　us　beseech　Almighty　God　to　grant　a　speedy　end　to　war　and　especially　to　guide　the　King's　counsellors　that　they　may　lead　this　Empire　in　the　way　that　is　wise　and　right　and　honourable。〃

In　the　brief　prayer　that　followed　there　fell　upon　the　people　an　overpowering　sense　of　the　futility　of　man's　wisdom；　and　of　the　need　of　the　might　and　wisdom　that　are　not　man's　but　God's。

Two　days　later　Mr。　Murray　and　the　children　accompanied　Dr。　Brown　and　Jane　to　Kenora　on　their　way　back　to　the　city。　　As　they　were　proceeding　to　the　railway　station　they　were　arrested　by　a　group　that　stood　in　front　of　the　bulletin　board　upon　which　since　the　war　began　the　local　newspaper　was　wont　to　affix　the　latest　despatches。　The　group　was　standing　in　awed　silence　staring　at　the　bulletin　board　before　them。　　Dr。　Brown　pushed　his　way　through；　read　the　despatch；　looked　around　upon　the　faces　beside　him；　read　the　words　once　more；　came　back　to　where　his　party　were　standing　and　stood　silent。

〃What　is　it？〃　inquired　Mr。　Murray。

〃War；〃　said　Dr。　Brown　in　a　husky　whisper。　　Then　clearing　his　throat；　〃WarBritain　and　Germany。〃

War！　　For　the　first　time　in　the　memory　of　living　man　that　word　was　spoken　in　a　voice　that　stopped　dead　still　the　Empire　in　the　daily　routine　of　its　life。　　War！　　That　word　whispered　in　the　secret　silent　chamber　of　the　man　whose　chief　glory　had　been　his　title　as　Supreme　War　Lord　of　Europe；　swift　as　the　lightning's　flash　circled　the　globe；　arresting　multitudes　of　men　busy　with　their　peaceful　tasks；　piercing　the　hearts　of　countless　women　with　a　new　and　nameless　terror；　paralysing　the　activities　of　nations　engaged　in　the　arts　of　peace；　transforming　into　bitter　enemies　those　living　in　the　bonds　of　brotherhood；　and　loosing　upon　the　world　the　fiends　of　hell。

Mr。　Murray　turned　to　his　boy。　　〃Jim；〃　he　said；　〃I　must　go　to　Winnipeg。　　Take　the　children　home　and　tell　their　mother。　　I　shall　wire　you　to…morrow　when　to　meet　me。〃　　Awed；　solemnised　and　in　silence　they　took　their　ways。

Arrived　at　the　railway　station；　Mr。　Murray　changed　his　mind。　　He　was　a　man　clear　in　thought　and　swift　in　action。　　His　first　thought　had　been　of　his　business　as　being　immediately　affected　by　this　new　and　mighty　fact　of　war。　　Then　he　thought　of　other　and　wider　interests。

〃Let　us　go　back；　Dr。　Brown；〃　he　said。　　〃A　large　number　of　our　business　men　are　at　the　Lake。　　I　suppose　half　of　our　Board　of　Trade　are　down　here。　　We　can　reach　them　more　easily　here　than　any　place　else；　and　it　is　important　that　we　should　immediately　get　them　together。　　Excuse　me　while　I　wire　to　my　architect。　　I　must　stop　that　block　of　mine。〃

They　returned　together　to　the　launch。　　On　their　way　back　to　their　island　they　called　to　see　Mr。　McPherson。　　〃You　were　right；〃　was　Mr。　Murray's　greeting　to　him。　　〃It　has　come；　Britain　has　declared　war。〃

Mr。　McPherson　stood　gazing　at　him　in　solemn　silence。　　〃War；〃　he　said　at　length。　　〃We　are　really　in。〃

〃Yes；　you　were　right；　Mr。　McPherson；〃　said　Dr。　Brown。　　〃I　could　not　believe　it；　I　cannot　believe　it　yet。　　Why　we　should　have　gone　into　this　particular　quarrel；　for　the　life　of　me　I　cannot　understand。〃

〃I　was　afraid　from　the　very　first；〃　said　McPherson；　〃and　when　once　Russia　and　France　were　in　I　knew　that　Britain　could　not　honourably　escape。〃

As　they　were　talking　together　a　launch　went　swiftly　by。　　〃That's　the　Rushbrooke's　launch；〃　said　Jim。

Mr。　Murray　rushed　out　upon　the　pier　and；　waving　his　hand；　brought　it　to　a　halt　and　finally　to　the　dock。　　〃Have　you　heard　the　news？〃　he　said　to　the　lady　who　sat　near　the　stern。　　〃Britain　has　declared　war。〃

〃Oh；〃　replied　Mrs。　Rushbrooke；　〃why　on　earth　has　she　done　that？　　It　is　perfectly　terrible。〃

〃Terrible；　indeed；〃　said　Mr。　McPherson。　　〃But　we　must　face　it。　　It　changes　everything　in　lifebusiness；　society；　home；　everything　will　immediately　feel　the　effect　of　this　thing。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　McPherson；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Rushbrooke；　〃I　can　hardly　see　how　it　will　quite　change　everything　for　us　here　in　Canada。　　For　instance；〃　she　added　with　a　gay　laugh；　〃I　do　not　see　that　it　will　change　our　bonfire　tonight。　　By　the　way；　I　see　you　are　not　gone；　Dr。　Brown。　　You　and　Jane　will　surely　come　over；　and；　Mr。　Murray；　you　will　bring　your　young　people　and　Mrs。　Murray；　and；　Mr。　McPherson；　I　hope　you　will　be　able　to　come。　　It　is　going　to　be　a　charming　evening　and　you　will　see　a　great　many　of　your　friends。　　I　think　a　bonfire　on　one　of　the　islands　makes　a　very　pretty　sight。〃

〃I　am　not　sure　whether　I　can　take　the　time；　Mrs。　Rushbrooke；〃　said　Mr。　Murray。　　〃I　had　thought　of　seeing　a　number　of　our　business　men　who　are　down　here