Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 4, 1896

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
the King in the lirst instance, and the assassi-
nation of the Regent in the second, Y>ut an end
to all the hopes that might have been enter-
tained by Keppoch for so desirable a settlement
in this direction. Ranald is accredited with
ha%'ing given his children a Uberal education.
He died aljout the year 156-1. By his wife, a
daughter of Stewart of Appin, he had issue : —
1. — Alasdair, who succeeded him; 2 — Donald;
3. — Angus ; 4. — a daughter, who married
MacFarlane of Lus.
Alasdair X., of Keppoch, is said to have
been in Rome finishing his education at the
time of his father's death, and this probablj'
accounts for his succession being commonly
dated from the year 1678, fourteen years after
the event. He was famous in his day, and in
his country as a performer of miracles. It
would seem that part of the education he
received at Rome was a knowledge of arts akin
to the " three card " and other " sleight of
hand " tricks of to-day, a knowledge which
would have been beyond the imderstandLng of
his uninitiated countrymen, and which could
easily account for the marvellous powers
attributed to him. It was owing to his having
been an adept in this way that he came to be
known as " Alasdair-nan Cleas " (Alexander of
A.NOR'H Jlllul; FKO.M llOV BRIDGE, L0CHAI.E;K.
the tricks). Alasdair-nan-Cleas was considered
one of the most accomplished men of his day.
A great friendship is said to have existed
between himself and his brother-in-law, Mac-
Farlane of Lus. They used often to visit one
another, and Keppoch House, during his time,
is said to have been the scene of many a feast
graced by the presence of guests from the
north and south of the kingdom. In this
connection there is a story told of Alasdair
which was beautifully illustrated in a picture,
exhibited in the Royal Academy some years
ago, entitled ''The Chieftain's Candlesticks."
While on his way home from Spain he made a
short stay in England, as the guest of an
EngUsh baron who had been a companion of
his during his college days at Rome. The
visit was celebrated by a banquet given in
Alasdaii-'s honour, at which there was a
gorgeous display of silver plate. Six massive
silver candlesticks, of rare workmanship, used
on the occasion, became the subject of conversa-
tion. The Englishman laughingly challenged
Alasdair to produce candlesticks as valuable
from among the treasures of his moimtain
home. Keppoch's Highland pride was roused,
and he accepted the challenge, promising to
forfeit three times their value if he did not