  In a previous paper, we reported the results of a partial-wave analysis of
the pion-nucleon ($\pi N$) differential cross sections (DCSs) of the CHAOS
Collaboration and came to the conclusion that the angular distribution of their
$\pi^+ p$ data sets is incompatible with the rest of the modern (meson-factory)
database. The present work, re-addressing this issue, has been instigated by a
number of recent improvements in our analysis, namely regarding the inclusion
of the theoretical uncertainties when investigating the reproduction of
experimental data sets on the basis of a given `theoretical' solution,
modifications in the parameterisation of the form factors of the proton and of
the pion entering the electromagnetic part of the $\pi N$ amplitude, and the
inclusion of the effects of the variation of the $\sigma$-meson mass when
fitting the ETH model of the $\pi N$ interaction to the experimental data. The
new analysis of the CHAOS DCSs confirms our earlier conclusions and casts doubt
on the value for the $\pi N$ $\Sigma$ term, which Stahov, Clement, and Wagner
have extracted from these data.
