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dominance in the business world of Winnipeg。 〃There's really nothing we can do。 It seems to me that we must keep our heads and as far as possible prevent undue excitement and guard against panic。〃
〃Perhaps you are right； Mr。 Rushbrooke。 The thought in my mind was that we ought to get a meeting together in Winnipeg soon。 But everybody is away。 A great many are here at the Lake； it seemed a good opportunity to make some preliminary arrangement。〃
〃My dear Mr。 Murray；〃 said Mrs。 Rushbrooke； 〃I cannot help feeling that you take this too seriously； besides there can hardly be need for such precipitate action。 Of course； we are at war； and Canada will do her part； but to introduce such a horrible theme in a company of young people seems to me to be somehow out of place。〃
〃Very well； Mrs。 Rushbrooke； if you say so。 I have no desire to intrude；〃 said Mr。 Murray。
〃But； Mr。 Rushbrooke； the thing has to be faced；〃 interposed Mr。 McPherson。 〃We cannot shut our eyes to the fact of war； and this is the supreme fact in our national life to…day。 Everything else is secondary。〃
〃Oh； I do not agree with you； Mr。 McPherson；〃 said Mrs。 Rushbrooke； taking the word out of her husband's mouth。 〃Of course war is terrible and all that； but men must do their work。 The Doctor here must continue to look after his sick； Mr。 Murray has his business； you must care for your congregation。〃
〃I do not know about that； Mrs。 Rushbrooke；〃 said the minister。 〃I do not know about that at all。〃
〃Why； Mr。 McPherson； you surprise me！ Must not my husband attend to his business； must not the Doctor look after his patients？〃
A number of men had gathered about during the course of the conversation。 〃No；〃 said Mr。 McPherson； his voice ringing out in decided tones。 〃There is only one 'must' for us now； and that is War。 For the Empire； for every man； woman； and child in Canada； the first thing； and by comparison the only thing； is War。〃
That dread word rang out sharp； insistent； penetrating through the quiet hum of voices rising from the groups about the fire。 By this time a very considerable number of men present had joined themselves to the group about the speakers。
〃Well； Mr。 Murray；〃 said Mr。 Rushbrooke； with a laugh； 〃it seems to me that we cannot help it very well。 If you wish to discourse upon the war； you have your audience and you have my permission。〃
〃It is not my intention to discourse upon the war； Mr。 Rushbrooke； but with your permission I will just tell our friends here how my mind has worked since learning this terrible news this morning。 My first impulse was to take the first train to Winnipeg； for I know that it will be necessary for me to readjust my business to the new conditions created by war。 My second thought was that there were others like me； that； in fact； the whole business public of Winnipeg would be similarly affected。 I felt the need of counsel so that I should make no mistake that would imperil the interests of others。 I accepted Mrs。 Rushbrooke's invitation to come to… night in the hope of meeting with a number of the business men of Winnipeg。 The more I think of it the more terrible this thing becomes。 The ordinary conditions of business are gone。 We shall all need to readjust ourselves in every department of life。 It seems to me that we must stand together and meet this calamity as best we can； wisely； fairly and fearlessly。 The main point to be considered is； should we not have a general meeting of the business men of Winnipeg； and if so； when？〃
Mr。 Murray's words were received in deep silence； and for a time no one made reply。 Then Mr。 Rushbrooke made answer。
〃We all feel the importance of what Mr。 Murray has said。 Personally； though； I am of the opinion that we should avoid all unnecessary excitement and everything approaching panic。 The war will doubtless be a short one。 Germany； after long preparation； has decided to challenge Great Britain's power。 Still； Britain is ready for her。 She has accepted the challenge； and though her army is not great； she is yet not unprepared。 Between the enemy and Britain's shores there lies that mighty； invisible and invincible line of defence； the British navy。 With the French armies on the one side and the Russian on the other； Germany can not last。 In these days； with the terrible engines of destruction that science has produced； wars will be short and sharp。 Germany will get her medicine and I hope it will do her good。〃
If Mr。 Rushbrooke expected his somewhat flamboyant speech to awaken enthusiastic approval； he must have been disappointed。 His words were received in grave silence。 The fact of war was far too unfamiliar and too overwhelming to make it easy for them to compass it in their thoughts or to deal in any adequate way with its possible issues。
After some moments of silence the minister spoke。 〃I wish I could agree with Mr。 Rushbrooke；〃 he said。 〃But I cannot。 My study of this question has impressed me with the overwhelming might of Germany's military power。 The war may be short and sharp； and that is what Germany is counting upon。 But if it be short and sharp； the issue will be a German victory。 The French army is not fully prepared； I understand。 Russia is an untrained and unwieldy mass。 There is； of course； the British navy； and with all my heart I thank God that our fleet appears to be fit for service。 But with regard even to our navy we ought to remember that it is as yet untried in modern warfare。 I confess I cannot share Mr。 Rushbrooke's optimistic views as to the war。 But whether he be right or I； one thing stands out clear in my mindthat we should prepare ourselves to do our duty。 At whatever cost to our country or to ourselves； as individuals； this duty is laid upon us。 It is the first； the immediate； the all…absorbing duty of every man； woman and child in Canada to make war。 God help us not to shrink。〃
〃How many in this company will be in Winnipeg this week； say to… morrow？〃 inquired Mr。 Murray。 The hand of every business man in the company went up。 〃Then suppose we call a meeting at my office immediately upon the arrival of the train。〃 And to this they agreed。
The Rushbrooke bonfire was an annual event and ever the most notable of all its kind during the holiday season at the Lake。 This year the preparations for the festive gathering had exceeded those of previous years； and Mrs。 Rushbrooke's expectations of a brilliantly successful function were proportionately high。 But she had not counted upon War。 And so it came that ever as the applause following song or story died down； the Spectre drew near； and upon even the most light…hearted of the company a strange quiet would fall； and they would find themselves staring into the fire forgetful of all about them； thinking of what might be。 They would have broken up early but Mrs。 Rushbrooke strenuously resisted any such attempt。 But the sense of the impending horror chilled the gaiety of the evening and halted the rush of the fun till the hostess gave up in despair and no longer opposed the departure of her guests。
〃Mr。 McPherson；〃 she said； as that gentleman came to bid her good… night； 〃I am quite cross with you。 You made us all feel so blue and serious that you quite spoiled our bonfire。〃
〃I wish it were only I that had spoiled it； Mrs。 Rushbrooke；〃 said Mr。 McPherson gravely。 〃But even your graceful hospitality to… night； which has never been excelled even by yourself at the Lake of the Woods； could not make us forget； and God forgive us if we do forget。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 McPherson；〃 persisted Mrs。 Rushbrooke； in a voice that strove to be gaily reproachful； 〃we must not become pessimistic。 We must be cheerful even if we are at war。〃
〃Thank you for that word；〃 said the minister solemnly。 〃It is a true word and a right word； and it is a word we shall need to remember more and more。〃
〃The man would drive me mad；〃 said Mrs。 Rushbrooke to Mr。 Murray as they watched the boats away。 〃I am more than thankful that he is not my clergyman。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 said her husband； who stood near her and shared her feelings of disappointment。 〃It seems to me he takes things far too seriously。〃
〃I wonder；〃 said Dr。 Brown； who stood with Mr。 Murray preparatory to taking his departure。 〃I wonder if we know just how serious this thing is。 I frankly confess； Mr。 Rushbrooke； that my mind has been in an appalling condition of chaos this afternoon； and every hour the thing grows more terrible as I think of it。 But as you say； we must cheer up。〃
〃Surely we must；〃 replied Rushbrooke impatiently。 〃I am convinced this war will soon be over。 In three months the British navy together with the armies of their allies will wind this thing up。〃
Through a wonder world of moonlit waterways and dark； mysterious channels； around peninsulas and between islands； across an open traverse and down a little bay； they took their course until Jim had them safely landed at their own dock again。 The magic beauty of the white light upon wooded island and gleaming lake held them in its spell for some minutes after they had landed till Mrs。 Murray came down from the bungalow to meet them。
〃Safe back again；〃 she cried with an all too evident effort to be cheery。