“Itoccurstome，“hesaid，“thatonethingatleastshouldbeimmediatelydone。Thoseresponsibleforthedisgracefulriotoflastevening，andImeanmorethantheactualringleadersintheaffair，shouldbebroughttojustice。“Heproceededtoelaborateupontheenormityofthecrime，thedangertotheStateofmobrule，thenecessityforsternmeasurestopreventtherecurrenceofsuchdisorders。Hesuggestedaspecialcitizens’committeeforthepreservationofpublicorder。
Hiswordsappearedtomeettheapprovalofalargenumberofthosepresent，especiallyoftheyoungermen。
Whilehewasspeaking，theaudienceappearedtobegreatlyrelievedtoseeDr。TempletonandtheReverendMurdoMathesonwalkinandquietlytaketheirseats。Theyremembered，manyofthem，howatarecentsimilargatheringthesegentlemenhadadvisedaprocedurewhich，iffollowed，wouldhaveundoubtedlypreventedthedisastersofthepreviousnight。
Givingabriefaccountoftheproceedingsofthemeetingtothepresentpoint，theMayorsuggestedthatDr。Templetonmightofferthemawordofadvice。
CourteouslythankingtheMayorforhisinvitation，theDoctorsaid:
“AsIcameinthisroom，Icaughtthewordsofmyyoungfriend，whosuggestedacommitteeforthepreservationofpublicorder。MayI
suggestedthatthepreservationofpublicorderinthecommunityissomethingthatcanbeentrustedtonocommittee？Itrestswiththewholecommunity。Wehaveallmademistakes，weareconstantlymakingmistakes。Wehaveyieldedtopassion，andalwaystooursorrowandhurt。Wehavevainlyimaginedthatbytheexerciseofforcewecansettlestrife。Noquestionofrightorjusticeissettledbyfighting，for，afterthefightingisdone，thematterindisputeremainstobesettled。Wehavetriedthatwayandto-daywearefrontedwithdisastrousfailure。Ihavecomefromahomeoverwhichtheshadowofdeathhangslow。Thereafatherandmotherlieprostratewithsorrow，agonisingforthelifeoftheirchild。Butadeepershadowliesthere，ashadowofsin，forthestingofdeathissin。Abrothertornwithself-condemnation，hisheartbrokenwithgriefforhissister，wholovedhimbetterthanherownlife，liesunderthatshadowofsin。But，gentlemen，cananyofusescapefromthatshadow？Dowenotallshareinthatsin？Forweallhaveapartinthedeterminingofourenvironment。
Canwenot，byGod’sgrace，liftthatshadowatleastfromourlives？Letusturnourfacesfromthepathofstrifetowardthepathofpeace，forthepathwayofrightdoingandofbrotherlykindnessistheonlypathtopeaceinthisworld。“
TheChairmanthencalledupontheReverendMurdoMathesontoexpresshismind。Butatthispoint，thewholeaudienceweregalvanisedintoanintensityofconfusedemotionbytheentranceoftheExecutiveoftheAlliedUnions，ledbyMcNishhimself。Simmonsalonewasabsent，beingatthatmoment，withsomehalfdozenothers，inthecareofthepolice。SilentlytheExecutiveCommitteewalkedtothefrontandfoundseats，McNishaloneremainingstanding。Grey，gaunt，hollow-eyed，hemetwithsteadygazetheeyesoftheaudience，someofthemaflamewithhostilewrath，forinhimtheyrecognisedtheresponsibleheadofthelabourmovementthathadwroughtsuchdisasterandgriefinthecommunity。
WithoutapologyorprefaceMcNishbegan:“Iamhereseekingpeace，“hesaid，inhishoarse，hard，gutturalvoice。“Ihavemademistakes。WouldIcouldsufferforthemalone，butno，othersmustsufferwithme。Ihaveonlycondemnationfortheoutragesoflastnight。Werepudiatethem，welamentthem。Wetriedtopreventthem，buthumanpassionandcircumstancesweretoostrongforus。
Wewouldundotheill——wouldtoGodcouldundotheill。HowgladlywouldIsufferallthathascometoothers。“Hisdeep，harshvoiceshookunderthestressofhisemotion。Heliftedhishead:“I
cannotdenymycause，“hecontinued，hisvoiceringingoutclear。
“Ourcausewasright，butthespiritwaswrong。“Hepausedafewmoments，evidentlygatheringstrengthtoholdhisvoicesteady。
“Yes，thespiritwaswrongandthisdayisablackdaytome。Wecometoaskforpeace。GodknowsIhavenoheartforwar。“
Againhepaused，hisstrongsternfaceworkingstrangelyunderthestressoftheemotionswhichhewasfightingtosubdue。“Wesuggestacommitteeofthree，withpowerstoarbitrate，andwenameasourmanonewhotillrecentlywasoneofourUnion，amanoffairandhonestmind，amanwithoutfearandwithaheartforhiscomrades。OurmanisCaptainMaitland。“
Hiswords，andespeciallythenameoftherepresentativeofthelabourunionsproducedanoverwhelmingeffectupontheaudience。
NosoonerhadhefinishedthantheReverendMurdoMathesontookthefloor。Hespokenoeconomics。Heofferednoelaborateargumentforpeace。Inplain，simplewordshetoldofexperiencesthroughwhichhehadrecentlypassed:
“LikeonewhomIfeelitanhonourtocallmyfather，“hebegan，bowingtowardDr。Templeton，“I，too，havemadeavisitthismorning。Nottoahome，buttoaplacethemostunlikeahomeofanyspotinthissadworld，ajail。Sevenofourfellow-citizensareconfinedthere，sixofthemboys，mereboys，dazedandpenetratedwithsorrowfortheirfolly——theymeantnocrime——Iamnotrelievingthemoftheblame——theother，aman，embitteredwithalong，hardfightagainstpoverty，injusticeandcruelcircumstanceinanotherland，withdistortedviewsoflife，crazedbydrink，committedacrimewhichthismorningfillshimwithhorrorandgrief。LatelastnightIwassenttothehomeofoneofmypeople。ThereIfoundanagedlady，carryingwithabraveheartthesorrowsandburdensofnearlyseventyyears，waitinginanxietyandgriefandfearforherson，whowaskeepingvigilatwhatmaywellbethedeathbedofthegirlheloves。Youhavejustheardhispleaforpeace。Someofyouareinclinedtolaytheblamefortheillsthathavefallenuponusuponcertainclassesandindividualsinthiscommunity。Theyhavetheirblameandtheymustbeartheresponsibility。But，gentlemen，ajusterestimateofthecausesoftheseillswillconvinceusthattheyaretheproductofourcivilisationandforthesethingswemustallacceptourshareofresponsibility。More，wemustseektoremovethemfromamongus。
Theyareanaffronttoourintelligence，aninsulttoourholyreligion，anoutrageupontheloveofourbrothermanandourFather，God。Letushumbly，resolutelyseekthebetterway，thewaywehavesetbeforeusthismorning，thewayofrightdoing，ofbrotherlykindnessandofbrotherlylovewhichisthewayofpeace。“
Itwasasubduedcompanyofmenthatlistenedtohisappeal。Insilencetheysatlookingstraightbeforethemwithfacesgraveandfrowning，asisthewaywithmenofourracewhendeeplystirred。
Itwasamorningofdramaticsurprises，butnoneweresostartling，nonesodramaticasthespeechofMcGinnisthatfollowed。
“Thisisadayforconfessions，“hesaid，“andIamheretomakeoneformyself。Ihavebeenafighter，toomuchofafighter，allmylife，andIhaveoftensufferedforit。Isufferedaheavylosslastnightandto-dayIamsickoffighting。ButIhavefoundthis:thatyoucan’tfightmeninthisworldwithoutfightingwomenandchildren，too。GodknowsIhavenowarwiththeold，grey-
hairedladythePadrehasjusttoldusabout。Ihavenowarwiththatbroken-heartedfatherandmother。AndIhavenowarwithAnnettePerrotte，deargirl，Godpreserveher。“Atthispoint，McGinnis’scommandquiteforsookhim。Hisvoiceutterlybrokedown，whilethetearsrandownhisruggedfightingface。“Iamdonewithfighting，“hecried。“TheyhavenamedCaptainMaitland。
Weknowhimforastraightmanandawhiteman。LetmetalkwithCaptainJackMaitland，andletusgettogetherwiththePadrethere，“pointingtotheReverendMurdoMatheson，“andinanhourwewillsettlethismatter。“
Inatumultofapprovalthesuggestionwasaccepted。Itwasconsideredaperfectlyfittingthing，thoughafterwardsmenspokeofitwithsomethingofwonder，thattheMayorshouldhavecalledupontheReverendDoctortoclosethemeetingwithprayer，andthatheshoulddosowithoutmakingaspeech。
Thatsameafternoonthethreemenmettoconsiderthemattersubmittedtothem。CaptainJackMaitlandlaidbeforethecommitteehisfiguresandhischartssettingforththefactsinregardtothecostoflivingandthewagescaleduringthepastfiveyears。Inlessthananhourtheyhadagreeduponasettlement。Therewastobeanincreaseofwagesinkeepingwiththeriseofthecostofliving，withthepledgethatthewagescaleshouldfollowthecurbofthecostoflivingshouldanychangeoccurwithintheyear。Thehoursoflabourwereshortenedfromtentonineforaday’swork，withthepledgethattheyshouldbegovernedbytheeffectofthechangeuponproductionandgeneralconditions。Andfurther，thataCommitteeofReferenceshouldbeappointedforeachshopandcraft，towhichalldifferencesshouldbesubmitted。TothiscommitteealsowerereferredtheotherdemandsbytheAlliedUnions。
Itwasasimplesolutionofthedifficultyanduponitssubmissiontothepublicmeetingcalledforitsconsideration，itwasfeltthatthecommentoftheirrepressibleVictorForsythewasnotentirelyunfitting:
“Ofcourse！“saidVictor，cheerfully。“Itistheonlything。Whydidn’ttheJohnniesthinkofitbefore，orwhydidn’ttheyaskme？“
Thecommittee，however，didmorethansettlethedisputeimmediatelybeforethem。TheylaidbeforethepublicmeetingandobtaineditsapprovalforthecreationofaGeneralBoardofIndustry，underwhoseguidancethewholequestionoftheindustriallifeofthecommunityshouldbesubmittedtointelligentstudyandcontrol。
ForonelongweekofsevenlongdaysandsevenlongnightsAnnettefoughtouthergallantfightforlife，foughtandwon。ThroughouttheweekathersideAdrienwaiteddayandnight，exceptforafewhourssnatchedforrest，whenPatriciatookherplace，fortherewasnotanursetobehadinallthattimeandPatriciabeggedfortheprivilegeofsharinghervigilwithher。
Everydayandinthedarkestdaysalldaylong，itseemedtoAdrien，McNishhauntedtheMaitlandhome——forhehadabandonedallpretenceofwork——hisgaunt，greyfaceandholloweyesimploringawordofhope。
ButitwaschieflytoJackthroughoutthatweekthatAdrien’sheartwentoutincompassionatepity，forinhisfacetheredweltamiserysocomplete，sovoicelessthatnocomfortofhersappearedtobeabletobringrelief。OftenthroughthosedaysdidAnnetteasktoseehim，buttheolddoctorwasrelentless。Theremustbeabsolutequietandutterabsenceofallexcitement。Novisitorsweretobepermitted，especiallynomenvisitors。
Butthedaycamewhenthebanwasliftedandwithsmilingface，AdriencameforJack。
“Youhavebeensuchagoodboy，“shecriedgaily，“thatIamgoingtogiveyouagreattreat。Youaretocomeinwithme。“
WithfaceallalightJackfollowedherintothesickroom。
“Hereheis，Annette，“criedAdrien。“Now，remember，nofussing，noexcitement，andjustonequarterofanhour——orperhapsalittlelonger，“sheadded。
ForamomentortwoJackstoodlookingatthegirllyinguponthebed。
“Oh，Annette，mydear，deargirl，“hecriedinabreakingvoiceashekneltdownbyhersideandtookherhandinhis。
SomuchreachedAdrien’searsassheclosedthedoorandpassedtoherroomwithstepwearyandlifeless。
“Why，Adrien，“criedhersister，whowaswaitingtorelieveher，“youarelikeaghost！Youpoordear。Youarehorriblydoneout。“
“IbelieveIam，Patricia，“saidAdrien。“IbelieveIshallrestawhile。“Shelaydownonthebed，herfaceturnedtowardthewall，andsoremainedtillPatriciawentsoftlyaway，leavingher，asshethought，tosleep。
DownstairsPatriciafoundVictorForsytheawaitingher。
“PoorAdrienisreallyusedup，“shesaid。“Shehasadeathlylookinherface。Justthesamelookasshehadthatnightofthehockeymatch。Doyouremember？“
“Thenightofthehockeydance？DoIremember？Aghastlynight——ahorridnight——anightofunspeakablewretchedness。“
AsVicwasspeaking，Patriciakepthereyessteadilyuponhimwithapondering，puzzledlook。