 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. To the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands. The smith, the mighty man, is he. Yes, the great poet Henry Wildworth Longfellow was so inspired by the physical strength of the village blacksmith that he immortalized him by writing this famous poem. Well, we have a giant smith in Naughty Pine. His shop is at the main intersection of two highways just at the north edge of town. Jacques Macintosh is his name. He has arms like the piston rods on a steam locomotive. Every morning you can hear him in his shop singing praises to his lord. Jacques uses a five pound steel maul like most of us would use a tack hammer. He's a spiritual giant in the community too, as well as a physical tower of strength. A lot of truck drivers and townsfolk purposely pass this place of business just to hear his singing. But things weren't always this way with the beloved Scotsman, who carries some of his father's accent and his speech, and who radiates the love of God in the joy of salvation like the heat from the forge in his shop. But let's go back a couple of years and begin the story in Jacques's own home with his wife Anne. I like to call this one The Wrong Value. Oh Fred, how are you? Oh, I'm fine. How about yourself? Oh, I'm fine, thanks. But right now I'm up to my elbows and canning. I can't talk very long, Fred, because I've got a batch of watermelon pickles in the jars, and they're in the oven and due to come out soon. I can't talk long either. How's that big brother-law of mine? Am I nephew? Oh, they're both fine. Ernie's in school and he goes over to the shop after school to give Jacques a hand and also to learn the trade. How are Phyllis and the children? Oh, they were fine when I left. Oh, you're not on the road again. Any girl? Well, the boss says Freddie Boy hit the road. Freddie Boy hits the road. Oh, that's a shame. You haven't been back more than three weeks from the last one. I know. Maybe next year I'll get promoted. Then I can stay at home like I want. Oh, Fred, I must hang up. It's time to open the oven. Oh, right. It's time for me to get to work. Bye. Bye. It was so nice to hear from you. Hello, Bill. Afternoon, Jacques. I wonder where the fire is. I don't know, man, but it's been some time since I've heard the sirens crying out their bitter wail. I can tell you that. Well, what's on your mind? When can I bring the horses in for new shoes? When can you go out on the trail and take care of the rest of them? You know, man, I've got the jump on you. I've already taken to the order of the shoes. And next week they should be here. And I can do the whole job in three days. One day here in the shop and two in the trail. How does that strike you, Fessy? That strikes it fine. Jacques, we just took your wife to the hospital. She's badly hurt. Her stove blew up. You wouldn't be jokin' with me now, would you? Come on, man. Get in. Go on, Jacques. I'll close up. All right. Ernie will be... Jacques, stop walking in circles. I'll take care of everything. Oh, go on. Get in the squad. That's where the fire engines were going. Hi, you're Bill. Oh, hello, Annie. How's school, huh? Okay. Say where's Dad? Out on a job? No, son. He's over at the hospital. Is he hurt? No, but your mother is. She is? How? I don't know. Take it easy. She had an accident. I'll take you over in my car. I'll make it quicker on my bike. Hey, hey, Ernie. Come here. Hey, Cal, you look like you lost your last friend. What's wrong? Finish up locking up the shop and get in. I'll take you over to the hospital. What? Did Anne die? No. Well, spill it, man. What's wrong? Jacques, by Ernie, has been hit by a car. Jacques, how is she? I don't know, man. The doctor's still with her. Jacques, I've got to add to your load of grief. I'm sorry, but you must be told. I already know about Ernie. Well, how did you find out? I was in the hall when they brought the laddie in. Oh, Jacques, that was my fault. I should have made him right in the car. The laddie's impulsive, man. He told me you asked him to ride in the car. Well, there's nothing I can say. The English language doesn't have words to express my sorrow and sympathy. But I'll pray for all three of you, Jacques, that the Lord will heal your loved ones and give you strength to pair the load. Hello, Jacques. You want me to leave? No, no. Stay by all means. Jacques can need all the help he can get. Uh, Jacques, the doctor wants to talk to you. Aye, I'm listening. Give me the bad news. Jacques, your wife is blind. Her eyes are filled with glass fragments. Is there no hope? Not right now, Jacques. Perhaps later. How's the laddie? His right leg's filled with multiple fractures. It'll take months to heal, and he may never have full use of it. Jacques, I'm brokenhearted for you and your family. I'm sorry. I'm only a doctor, not the Lord himself. How can you do this to me? I've been a good man. I've been a good Christian. I've honored you all the days of my life, and my family has honored you too. I've accepted your son as my savior. I've lived by your laws. I've given you my money, and I've testified of salvation to men. Is this what I get for my reward? Are you gonna strip me like your dead job? How do you feel? Very good, Jacques. Dear Burns, pain you much? Not too badly. How's Ernie? He's in good spirits. But the doctor has no encouraging news. Here. Here, I'll get the water for you. No, no, dear. I've got to begin to find things for myself. You should've let me get the water for you. Don't you realize you can't see? Jacques, how can you say that? Forgive me, lass. I'm beside myself with despair. For Ernie and me, or for yourself? Explain yourself. Give me your hand, Jacques. What's come over, Ernie? I'm worried about you, dear. I worry constantly how you're going to take this. God has turned this back on me like it did to Joe. No, no, no, please. Please, you mustn't be bitter. Oh, the Lord has a reason for all this. If it's His will that I shall be blind, then we must abide by His will. How can it be God's will that a wonderful woman like you should lose her sight? And the young lady of ours, it cannot walk and may never be able to walk very well again. I tell you, and the God has forsaken us. No, Jacques, no, promise me you'll never say that again. What good will I do because I'll be thinking it, even if I'm not speaking it? Horace of yours takes a king-size shoe, man. That storm's a big horse, Jacques. Thanks to your expert craftsmanship, you got a fine pair of feet. Yeah, that should fit like a glove. I stopped by the hospital last night. So, Andy and the lad had told me, who now storm, who? Come on, get your weight off your foot. Ah, that's fine now. Have beer while you hand me that trimmer knife. I've got to shave his hoof just a wee bit. There you are. Thank you, man. Who now stormed? Oh, woe storm, easy big fella. He's full of energy, makes him restless. Why don't you get a good workout this afternoon? Ah, that's a fine fit. I'll rasp his hoof smooth to the shoe and he can run to his heart's content. Jacques, you're really a master craftsman. That's a beautiful job. Thank you, man. I was hoping that Ladiomine would follow in his father's footsteps and learn the trade. But God has fixed that so it can't be done now. Jacques, why do you use the forge? I thought you'd know that, man. To soften the metal so I can mold it and shape it to size and to temper the metal. How many times have you read your Bible through? Three, and I'll begin in the fourth. Then you know how many times God refers to tempering Christians by the fire of affliction. I wouldn't care if God made me suffer, man. But to blind and burn my wife and cripple my Ladi? That I cannot say what God would do. I've been faithful to God and I've served him all of my life. God did not do this to my father, not to my grandfather. Why should he do it to me? Answer me. Can you tell me why he should do it to me? Can you tell me that, man? Can you? No, I can, Jacques. But it could be that God is testing your faith just like it is Job's. God and Satan had an agreement about Job. I cannot see how they could have won about Jacques McIntyre. I cannot see it at all. God has dealt cruelly with me, I tell you. Even though he has done this to me. But I'll go him one better. What do you mean? I will not turn my back upon God. How are you today, Ladi? I'm fine, Dad. Except for this leg. Sometimes it's pretty painful. There now, Ladi. I'll ask the doctor if he won't be giving you some more sedative. That'll help. Dad, is it true I'll never be able to walk again? That is something nobody can say, Ladi. It'll take time to find it out. Yeah, I guess so. This is a cruel thing for God to do to you, Ladi. But it's done now. Don't, don't blame God, Dad. It was my fault. First of all, I should have let Bill drive me here. And secondly, I should have been more careful riding my bike. Hey, Al Campbell, how are you? I'm fine, but my poor old flat feet are killing me. Well, set a spell and rest, man. Thinks I'm pretty restful here at the firehouse tonight. Maybe this room in and maybe this room in itch. And I'll get back to pounding my beat. You know, the boys don't sleep. I like babes, they are, Al. Everything's quiet. Hey, that's a Box Alarm movie. That's right. Let's take a look. That's Box Seven. A horrible thought just struck me, Mervie. I think I can read your mind, man. And Box Alarm came from there. Jock splashed myself. You're in my mind, all right. No, but it's not true, though. The poor man's had enough grief. Man, is that place burning? Ah, much good stuff and tools run. Oh, see, everything will be ruined. Oh, Jock has insurance. Hey, where's Bill? Over there with Jock. You stay away. It's no place for us now. You said it, sonny. Man feels foolish saying I'm sorry in a mess like this. Ain't no worries to describe how it feels for Jock and his family. Best thing to do is say nothing. You're right, old timer. We're almost out now. They not need us. All right. Let's go home. Get some more sleep. We've got a big day coming up. Yeah, I saw Jock. He probably wishes it'll never come. I've read a lot of your tools and equipment are ruined from the fire, Jock. Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me none. Let's put them all in the boxes I brought and I'll cut them across the street to that old grouch. I'm gonna carry on my business there temporarily. Mrs. Schneider can send it back to work then, huh? Aye. I thought she was an old grouch. But after talking to her, I find she's a fine old lady. She said she was going to offer the grouch to me. How about that? You made a new friend, huh? I hope I don't have to have a fire every time I make a new friend. What's that silly grin on your face, man? I don't see anything funny. You are, Jock. Me? How so? You're trying so hard to be better and it just doesn't come natural to you. It will. It will. Just give me time. Ann, I came as soon as I could. Glad you did, Bill. I had the nurse help me to earn his room here because I wanted to discuss our problem. Our problem? Yeah, Bill. Mom and I want to talk to you about... about Dad. All right. Go ahead, talk. Do you both good to get out of here what's all bundled up? Jock is so bitter against the Lord. He blames God for all this. How can we change his mind? Accidents happen all the time to people. I don't see how anybody can blame God for them. Well, you have to understand Jock's feeling on these unfortunate happenings. He told me he wouldn't care if he had to do the physical suffering himself, but he can't reconcile himself to the fact that his wife and son have to be stricken down. I see. I can't get him to talk about it. He closes up like a clam, and I felt tears on his face. That's the whole point. He can't stand to see his loved one suffer. How did he take the fire? I really don't know. He hasn't said much about it. Bill, will you try to help him as much as possible? Spiritual help, I mean? Yes, you're saying I will, but there's one thing you must understand. Yes. Jock has to come around to God's point of view on this, and he has to do it himself. I'll try to help him in this, if you like me. Jock, what's the matter? You keep your blood pressure down, man. Ah, that's easy for you to say. You don't have to work in this makeshift blacksmith's shop. Nothing fits. I don't have the room I need, and I'm going to lose business if I can't get the right place to work. Did the insurance company settle yet? Well, yeah. Why'd you ask, man? You ought to be able to get started building your new shop. All the builders are tied up. It would take a miracle to get it done in less than two months. Did you deposit the check? What check? I don't have any check. The insurance settlement? Oh, though that check. It'll be here in two days, and I'll deposit it. Jock, I'll make you a proposition. What have you got in your mind? If I get your shop built within a week, will you sit down with me for your bitterness toward the Lord? Bill, you've been a good friend, but now I think you've gone daft. How can you get the new shop built in a week's time? Let me worry about that. You gain? What good will it do? God's turned his back on Jock McIntosh, and that's for sure. Answer my question and stop feeling sorry for yourself. All right. You have my word. It's all I want to know. Now I got work to do. I can't do it, Bill. I've got three architects besides myself, and we're all snowed with work. Look, Mal, remember what you promised the time I carried your son two miles through heavy snow to get him to the hospital for an appendectomy? Remember you promised me something, and I never asked you to live up to it until now. I should have said yes right at the start and saved all this discussion, Bill. I don't know, and I wouldn't win anyhow. I'll have the plans ready in about 24 hours. That is the foundation plans, and the rest will follow. Thanks, Mal. You're a gentleman. I've got four foundations to pour this week, and you asked me to pour one in 24 hours. Who do you think I am? Remember the time your little girl wandered off into the forest? My arrangers and I stayed on the job 40 hours before we found her? 40 hours without a minute's rest. Okay, okay. I'll do it. When the blueprints are in my hand, I'll get my boys and we'll do the job. Come on, thieves. Don't make me twist your arm. Nah, you don't have to do that, Bill. I owe you too much for that. I'm just trying to plan my work so we can do it. I'll take half my crew of masons and carpenters. I'll talk to Johnny Olson. I know he'll help, too. You can be sure we'll get the job done like you want. Thanks, Knives. Thanks a lot. New forge and bellows and all this new equipment and tools. How many days? One week. Okay, I'll have it. No fight? Listen, the words around town is to what you have in mind. We think it's pretty wonderful. I'll get the stuff if I have to run a truck I cannot believe my own eyes, man. It's a miracle. No, it isn't, Jack. You have a lot of friends. Friends who believe in you, love you. And it must be. Tony poured the concrete footings two days ago. Now the concrete is hard and they start the walls. Look at those masons laying brick. Yeah, and the carpenters are ready to work right behind them in a few hours. It's a miracle. And you know who gets the credit, don't you? Sherman, you do. Oh, not me. God. But you asked these men to help build a new shop in a week. The Lord put the answer in their hearts or gave me leverage to get them to help. If the Lord didn't want your new shop to go up, it wouldn't. Look at this shop, man. Everything is brand spanking new. I'll say it is. You've got more room now than you ever had because it's laid out better. I cannot believe it yet. Well, you will. And now you've got a promise to live up to, Jack. All right. I'll listen. Where's your Bible? It's right over here. Here you are. Thanks. Let's sit here on the bench. All right. You know the trials and tribulations that Job went through, don't you? I? What did Job say after everything he loved and owned had been taken, his body covered with sores? He said, though his slay may, yet will it trust him? That's the first sign of Job's faith in God. Now, Job wanted to talk his problem out with God, too. He wanted a reason with God face to face. And that's what I would like to do. I want to ask God why I have to suffer all of this when I've been faithful and have honored him. Well, tonight I want you to read God's answer to Job. It's in these chapters. I want you to pray and ask the Lord to take the bitterness out of your heart. The whole answer is faith, Chuck. When Job came to the place in his mind and heart he was ready to accept all that had happened by pure faith and God blessed you because of his faith. You want me to have faith in God that all of his trouble is to test my faith and nothing more? Is that what you mean? When you can say to the Lord, even though you kill me, I'll trust you, then you'll have the answer that you want. No man can reason with God. That's what God tells Job in the last chapters. Chuck, how can you reason with God? Why not? Can you stop the ocean waters at high tide? Can you make the rain and the wind? Can you feed all the birds of the earth? Do you know where the universe begins and ends? I see what you mean. After you finish reading Job, then read the 23rd Psalm. And you'll find out you've been walking in the wrong valley, Chuck. Get out of the valley of bitterness and despair and walk in God's valley. Chuck, I was just driving by your house and Mrs. Morgan stopped me. Your wife is making supper. She can see you through the window. She'd kill herself. Get my home quick. Chuck, you're home early. What's wrong? Honey girl, have you gone daft? Or do you want to put me in an early grave? Chuck, you're shaking. Honey girl, you'll kill yourself trying to... Wait a minute, Chuck. What's wrong, Cal? How does Annie know you're shaking? She's 10 feet from you. How does she know? Annie. Annie, you can see. Annie, you can see. Yes, Chuck, I can see. A few hours ago, my sight began to come back. It's almost completely returned now. That's the time after Bill left and I got down in a parade. I ask God to forgive me for crying out against him. Hiya, Dad. Well, it sure is good to hear you sing and be happy. I've learned to trust in God and to take everything He does by faith, laddie. Who am I to question God? Watch your crutches on the wet floor. What did the doctor have to say about your leg? He's beginning to think it might men pretty good. Maybe good is new. He says I'm strong and young and healthy. And that's your laddie. What's more, your father's learned to walk in God's valley now. What do you mean, Dad? Someday I'll explain it to your laddie. Someday soon, I'll tell you how to keep walking in God's valley. Why are we stopping here, Uncle Jim? Listen. That bike Smith sure is a big man. A much bigger man than you know, Dennis. Every chance I get I come by this way. He gives me a real lift. There's a real man of God. How do you like delivering mail in the rain, Mr. Phelps? You're a fine officer, Campbell. Just fine. You've passed the blacksmith's shop already. Yes, that's right. There's a really wonderful man. He helps me every day with his singing. Listen to him. So it is right now as you come into the north end of town with the two highways meet. Early in the morning and far into the night you can see the glow of the forge and hear the methodical pounding of the five-pound steel hammer. And above this sound of hard work you can hear Jacques's booming voice singing praises to his Lord. Hundreds of people stop in the course of a year to listen to him. They lean on this tower of strength, not his physical strength, but his spiritual strength, his deep and pure faith in God. Never again will Jacques leave God's valley. Well, see you next week. For adventure with...