you would save your bairn, strip your back bare, and give the woman there your belt. Kneel down, man of lies, and until the woman has scarred your back with the leather thong, your bairn hangs betwixt life and death. Quick, Paraig. And you, woman, if you would spare your bairn, see that you spare not the man of lies." In an instant the woman began to pull the man's coat off. And with a groan Paraig Gunn knelt down with a bare back, and handed his leather belt to the woman. She was more eager than any of the three to begin. For she was a mother. Then the blows fell fast and cruel, and the kneeling man groaned at every lash. Strange to say, the woman increased in fury at each stroke. She did not see that the buckled strap was now bloody. She was muttering to herself all the time. In the thought of the wee one she forgot the pain of the man whose back she was ploughing up into great red furrows. Yet he was the father of her bairn. This was Paraig's bitter fate. 'Enough, woman," laughed Rob from the edge of the cliff, "let the man of lies stand up." And Paraig Gunn rose with a fearful groan to his feet. But he could not stand straight. "Give me my bairn now!" cried the woman, and she rushed towards Rob Dearg. But, with another laugh, Rob gathered the wee one in his arms, and leapt far out into the air, crying as he went "Here's another for the Dark Road, and a curse on the man of lies!" The woman swooned on the heather, and when the man with the bleeding back crept to the edge of the cliff, he saw a stir in the trees far below, where a hoodie crow was flying. And then-there was silence. TORQUIL MACLEOD. JOHN MURDOCH. THE HIGHLANDER. F one were to ask, who is the best known Highlander of the present day? there would be a general concensus of opinion in declaring Mr. Murdoch to be that individual. Indeed, he is so well known to Highlanders everywhere, that it is difficult to say anything regarding him that is not already known. Mr. Murdoch was born at Lynemore, Ardchlach, Nairnshire, on 15th January, 1818, so that he is now in the eighty-second year of his age, and we can say of him that "his eye is not dimmed nor his natural force abated." Although born in the north, Mr. Murdoch is by education and upbringing an Islayman, and his heart's best emotions are centred in that island. Entering the excise in 1838, he was during his connection with that service stationed in Stirling, Dublin, Lancashire, Shetland, and Inverness. He retired in 1872, to the regret of many friends of the service, who marked their appreciation of his valuable services by a handsome testimonial. During his connection with the excise he was continually contributing to the formation of public opinion on a variety of questions, such as the Repeal of the Corn Laws, Temperance, and the Land Question. With the Temperance movement he has been connected for over sixty years, while as regards the Land Question, he is generally acknowledged to be the apostle of Land Law Reform. As early as 1853 he contributed a series of articles on the subject to the Nation and the Mark Lane Express; and to a perusal of these articles, in the seventies, the writer is indebted for his first lesson in Highland economics. On his retirement from the excise Mr. Murdoch started The Highlander newspaper in Inverness, in which he advocated the cause of the people, and particularly the right of the Gaelic people to their native soil. The paper lived for eight years, and did much to formulate that healthy opinion regarding this important question, of which the Crofters' Act is the first fruits, and doubtless an earnest of further concessions to the Highland people. Mr. Murdoch in 1883 gave valuable evidence before the Highland Commission, of which Lord Napier was chairman. At present he is enamoured with the mode of cultivation adopted by Sir Arthur Cotton, at Dorking, and is advocating its adoption by small cultivators everywhere. Mr. Murdoch has not only been the advocate of the Highland people in the past, but also the warm and trusted friend of the "sea-divided Gaels." He is a fluent speaker in Gaelic and English, and a typical Highlander, wearing the kilt summer and winter. As a fitting conclusion to this brief sketch we cannot do better than quote Professor Blackie's opinion of honest John Murdoch God bless thee Murdoch! thou'rt a man to stand Now to the Saxon lordling duck them low, People may differ from Mr. Murdoch, but all respect and regard him, and we know of no one who will not fervently respond to our wish of mair beò! FIONN. BADENOCH AND LOCHABER LORDSHIP COURTS AND RECORDS. BY C. FRASER-MACKINTOSH, LL.D. HE ancient jurisdictions conferred upon the owners of Lordships and Baronies in Scotland served their day; and the time does not seem far distant when the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace shall be superseded by the Sheriff Courts, possessing all civil and criminal authority within limits already fixed, or to be hereafter fixed, by Parliament. The records of several of the Lordship Courts have been preserved, including those of Badenoch and Lochaber, with their corresponding Registry of Estate Deeds, forming interesting and valuable reading, coupled with authenticity not permitting of challenge. an It As showing how people in bye-gone days behaved, and the manner in which justice was dispensed, some extracts of an interesting or exceptional character, from the proceedings in the Badenoch and Lochaber Courts, held by authority of the family of Gordon, are now given. may be said in a sentence that, as a rule, the decisions pronounced were founded upon justice and equity. In one case to be referred to, a serious charge of murder, with the intervention of a jury, was held at Ruthven. The Lochaber Gordon cases were tried in Badenoch-the Gordons thus endeavouring by side wind to avoid the jurisdiction of Mackintosh, who held the office of Steward of all Lochaber, by grants from the Lords of the Isles, confirmed by the Scottish Kings, prior to the acquisition by the Gordons of a foot of land in Lochaber. The ancient Lords of Lochaber were Comyns and Macdonalds. I.-Extracts from the Register of Deeds of the Regality of Huntly. The first Register, commencing in 1686, has these words of preface : "Note by Patrick Gordon (of Glastirim) that as he is empowered by the undernoted Commission to appoint deputies for registering and giving extracts of all papers mentioned in the said Commission, he ordains James Stewart, Nether Boat of Spey, clerk to the Lordship of Gordon, to register and extract the same. He reserves power to appoint any other depute. He delivers to the said James Stewart this book, consisting of 385 leaves. Dated at Gordon Castle, 20th October, 1685. (Signed) P. GORDON. The deeds are not to be found in any public register. 1687-February 24.-Registration of Bond granted by John Gordon, of Littlemiln, to George, Earl of Huntly, for 250 merks of bor rowed money. January, 1658. Dated Bog O'Gight, 15th Same year-March 19.-Contract of marriage registered, dated at Dalmaine, 29th July, 1682, between John Leslie, of Tillichallum, and Margaret Stewart, daughter of the deceased Andrew Stewart, tutor of Tannachie, for whom John Gordon, of Achynachie, is "cautioner" as to the lady's tocher of 1600 merks. This sum is to be weared out on land or annuals at sight of the said tutor of Tannachie, John Leslie, of Wardhouse, and John Leslie, of Parkhill. John Leslie agrees to assign a legacy of 200 merks left to him by Andrew Stewart in the year 1655. The witnesses to the contract are John Leslie, of Wardhouse; Robert Derg, in Achynachie; John Gordon, of Bognie; and Patrick Stewart, apparent of Tannachie. 1688-March 14.-Bond registered, granted by William Macpherson, of Noide, narrating that his late father, Donald Macpherson, of Noide, had granted a wadset to Beatrix Gor don, then his spouse, now his relict, in which she is provided to the life-rent of 3600 merks, Macpherson, his sister, and second daughter of the fee falling to their children. Now, Helen his father, Donald, was unprovided for. Therepherson, of Knockdars, John Grant, of Gaich, fore, he as principal, and with him Paul Macand John Macpherson, of Benchar, as cautioners, obliges him to pay to his sister £1000 Scots at the first term after she attains the age of 18 years, the annual rent going to her mother, Beatrix Gordon, while Helen remains with her unmarried. Witnesses at Allenbay, 1st June, 1681, Robert Gordon, of Cairnfield; Patrick Gordon, of Glastirrim; John Rose, of Allenbay; and Andrew Macpherson, notary. Eo Dié.-Another bond by Noide to his sister, Anna, youngest daughter of Donald Macpherson, of Noide, for 100 merks only. Signed and witnessed ut supra. 1695-June 5.-Registered bond by Angus Mackintosh, in Garsabeg, to Alexander Gordon, for 70 merks. Gordon gets tack of the lands, and is not to be removed until the debt be paid, although the tack may have run out. Dated at Ruthven, 13th June, 1686. 1702-May 8.-Contract of wadset, dated Gordon Castle, 28th May, 1701, whereby the Duke of Gordon wadsets to Robert Gordon, eldest lawful son to the deceased Ludovick Gordon, brother german to Sir Robert Gordon, of Gordonstoun, in respect of 4000 merks advanced by William Mackintosh, of Borlum, the pupil's grandfather and tutor, the lands of Haugh, in the Parish of Inverness. Witnesses -Sir Robert Gordon, of Gordonstoun; George Gordon, of Swelltoune; and Andrew Macpherson, notar. 1705 June 25.-Bond, Duncan Macpherson, of Invertromie, to George, Duke of Gordon, for £11 12s. Od., dated Edinburgh, 5th December, 1696. Witnesses-Mr. George Gordon and George Rioch, servitors to the Duke. 1706-May 11.-Another bond by Invertromie to the Duke of Gordon for 200 merks, dated Edinburgh, 11th March, 1698. A sum of 2000 merks was mortified for the support of a schoolmaster in Badenoch, and frequent traces of its being lent out, and failure in payment of principal or interest, or both, are to be found in the annals of the Lordship. The following refers to this mortification of the early date of 1656:-Gilbert Hannay was schoolmaster for a considerable period, and wrote or witnessed many of the Badenoch legal documents of his time. After his death, his relict, Mrs. Annand, was a source of much trouble to the managers of the school and heritors of Kingussie, being in very truth "an importunate widow." That 1707 February 21-Discharge of George, Duke of Gordon, as assignee, narrating that the deceased John Macpherson, of Ballachroan, as principal; and with him Ewen Macpherson, tutor of Clunie; Donald Macpherson, of Noide; and Malcolm Macpherson, of Kingussie-Mor, as cautioners, by bond dated 18th June, 1656, bound and obliged themselves to pay to the incumbent master of the Grammar School in Badenoch the interest of the sum of 2000 merks, while that sum remained in the hands of the deceased John Macpherson; and that James Macpherson, now of Ballachroan, as heir of his deceased father, John, had granted a bond of corroboration on 10th October, 1684, in favour of Gilbert Hannay, then schoolmaster. Hannay, on 22nd February, 1700, had assigned the bond to the Duke of Gordon, who had taken steps against the said John Macpherson, as representing his said father James, and William Macpherson, now of Noide, as representing his said father, Donald, and against the said Malcolm Macpherson, of Kingussie-Mor, for payment of five years' interest on the said sum. Ballachroan alleging that he had already paid interest for two of the years claimed for, to the Duke's chamberlain, and had instantly paid the other three years, is discharged by the Duke in full; but if Ballachroan fail to exhibit the chamberlain's discharges, claim for the two years alleged to be paid is reserved. Discharge signed at Gordon Castle, 9th November, 1706. (To be continued.) CLAN GREGOR.-At the last meeting-Rev. Dr. MacGregor, Edinburgh, presiding-several votes of money were made for charitable and educational purposes. The total sum given away exceeded £50. GEALL AIR SON BHREUGAN. HACHAIR gu 'n do chuir duine àraidh a mhacgu muileann le sìol a chum a bhleith. Ach mu 'n do chuir e air falbh a mhac mhol e dhà gun e a bhleith an t-sìl am muileann 'sam bith far an tachradh dhà coinneachadh ri Fear-gun-fheusaig. Dh' fhalbh an gille agus thàinig e gu muileann ; ach bha Fear-gun-fheusaig an sin roimhe. "Gu'm beannachadh Dia thu, Fhir-gun-fheusaig" ars an gille. "Gu 'm beannachadh Dia thusa," ars an duine. "Am faigh mi mo shìol air a bhleith?" dh' fheòraich an gillle, "C'ar son nach faigheadh,"ars Fear-gun-fheusaig, tha mo shìol-sa gu bhi uile bleithte, agus faodaidh thusa bleith a'm dhéigh." Ach chuimhnich an t-òganach air comhairle athar, agus dh' fhàg e am muileann sin agus chaidh e gu muileann eile. Ach ghabh Fear-gun-fheusaig cuibhrionn d'a shìol agus shiubhail e le cabhaig air rathad aithghearr, agus ràinig e am muileann gus an robh an t-òganach a' dol ròimhe; agus chuir e cuid d'a shìol g' a bhleith. Ach air do 'n ghille ruigheachd, ciod bu mhò a chuireadh iongantas air na e a dh' amharc Fear-gun-fheusaig 'sa mhuileann roimhe; agus thill e gu muileann eile. Ach rinn Fear-gun-fheusaig cabhag a rìs, a' dol air slighe aithghearr, agus bha e aig an treas muileann roimh an òganach; agus thug e cuibhrionn d'a shìol gu bhi air a bleith. Rinn e an nì ceudna 's a cheathramh muileann. Ach mu 'n àm so bha an gille a fàs sgìth de 'n ghnothach, oir bha e am beachd gu 'm biodh Fear-gunfheusaig roimhe aig a h-uile muileann. Air an aobhar sin leig e sìos a shac, agus rinn e suas inntinn gu'm bleitheadh e a ghràn anns a mhuileann so ged bha Fear-gun-fheusaig ann. 'Nuair thàinig gràn an òganaich gu bhi g' a bleith, thubhairt Fear-gun-fheusaig ris, "Eisd rium, a mhic; deanamaid breacag de 'n mhin mhìn.". Ach am feadh na h-ùine so uile bha 'n t-òganach a' beachd-smaointeachadh air briathran athar; ach cha bu'rrainn da an gnothuch a chuideachadh. Uime sin dh'aontaich e le Fear-gun-fheusaig. Dh'éirich Fear-gun-fheusaig agus thòisich e ri measgadh na min mhìn an uisge; agus bha e a' measgadh gus an robh a ghràn uile bleithte ; agus mheasg e a mhin mhìn uile 'na h-aon bhonnach mór. An sin rinn iad teine agus ghreidh e 'n t-aran. Agus an uair a bha e greidhte, chàraich e a suas ris a' bhalla am bonnach; agus thubhairt e, "A mhic, éisd ri mo dheadh chomhairle. Ma roinneas sinn a' bhuileann so, cha bhi gu leòr ann do gach aon againn; ach innsidh mi dhuit ciod a nì sinn. Innseadh gach aon againn breugan, agus an tì a dh'innseas a' bhreug a's mò, gheibh e am bonnach uile gu léir. Sheas an t-òganach car tacain an ioma-cheist agus thubhairt e ris féin, "Cha bhi mi cho faoin a's |