“That is a hard question to answer, Miss Gurney,” was the reply.  “Some say it is the Heavenly Spirit working within them; others think the spirit is not of a heavenly origin; others, again, say they are getting relief from the bondage of sin.”

“Well, if that is the way they show their relief, I think it would be better to stay in bondage,” said Dexie.  “I wonder if it can be the same craze that used to affect the colored people down South.  Grandma’s people kept slaves, and I have heard of such actions amongst them, but if I ever heard the explanation of them I have completely forgotten it.  Still one would hardly think that a superstitious negro craze would affect the clear-headed Scotch people in the same manner.  It is a mystery to me how they live through it.”

Mr. Holbrook laid back his head and laughed.

“But they are human, like other people, Mr. Holbrook,” she urged; “and how is it that they do not hurt themselves?  There was a man with a shock of red hair, sitting near the chimney, who took the ‘jerks.’  I daresay you noticed him.  Now, unless his head is made of something different than ours, it must be smashed in on one side, for he struck the chimney with such rapidity and force that it sounded quite sickening from where we sat.  Really, I should not have been surprised had he fallen dead to the floor.”

“I daresay he never felt it,” said Mr. Holbrook, smiling.  “I do not believe that any of them know what they are about when they take the ‘jerks,’ or else some of the women are very careless of appearances.”

“Oh! well, don’t let us talk about them any more,” said Elsie.  “Papa often says that everyone has a right to his own belief, and these people seem to believe something, and they really must believe it without merely saying so, as so many of us do, or else they could not act out their belief in such a dreadful manner; but whatever their belief is, it must be awful!”

In a short time they entered the village, which was situated on both sides of a river, connected by the bridge that gave the place its name.  Mr. Holbrook drove at once to a house where he knew the girls would have every attention, and the pleasant face of the woman who welcomed them at the door seemed to speak of rest and security to be found beneath her roof.

With a few words of explanation Mr. Holbrook left them, promising to be back in good season with Lancy.  He then returned with all speed to the church of the McDonalds, where he found the energetic members still in active motion.

CHAPTER XXII.

“What a relief to find ourselves safe and quiet once more!” said Elsie, as she leaned back in her chair with a sigh of content.  “I did not know I was so tired.”

“A visit to the McDonaldite church is apt to fatigue both body and mind,” said their hostess, Mrs. Gardner.  “It does not seem right, does it, for people to leave their own church to witness such doings?” she added seriously.  There was a mild rebuke in her words, and Elsie remembered with a pang that it was Sunday.  She had given little thought to the fact during the last few hours.