Epilogue

           TheReverendJohnDennistoun,inhisonce-famouswork,Satan’sArtificesagainsttheElect(writtenintheyear1719,butnotpublishedtill1821,whenthemanuscriptcameintothehandsofSirWalterScott),hasachapteronthedisturbancesinWoodilee.Inhispagescanbefoundthetraditionwhichestablisheditselfduringthenextfiftyyears.HehasheardofthedoingsinMelanudrigill,buthelaysnoblameforthemontheparish.ThepoweroftheKirkhasbeensufficienttosanctifyChasehope;inMr.Dennistoun’spagesheappearsasanelderofnotedpiety,whowasthechiefmarkfortheenmityoftheAdversary,andwhowas,asthatAdversary’slastresort,drivencrazybyhellishassaultsonhispersontillhislifeendedinafallfromtherocksintheGarpleLinn.ThereisnomentionofReiverslaw,andAmosRitchieistreatedwithrespect,forAmoscarriedhisgrandfather’smatchlocktoRullionGreen,playedanotablepartintheKillingTime,wasanallyoftheBlackMacmichael,andhasaparagraphtohimselfinNaphtali.Mr.DennistounrepresentsthetroubleasadeliberatecampaignoftheDevilagainstaparishfamedforitsgodliness,andDavidasanunwittinginstrument.TheministerofWoodileeheportraysasayoungmanofgoodheartbutofsmallexperience,unstable,puffedupinhisownconceit.Herecordsthattherewasafactionintheplacethattookhisside,andthathismisfortunes,justlydeservedastheywere,werenotunlamented.