rying intervals, until the Bell
River Valley became a black, dangerous spot in the minds of all people,
and both Indians, and any chance white adventurer, who sought shelter
at the Fort, received due warning to avoid this newly infected plague
spot.

It was nearly ten years since these things had occurred. And during
all that time the primitive life on the banks of Snake River had
continued to progress in its normal calm. Each year brought its added
prosperity, which found little enough outward display beyond the
constant bettering of trade conditions which went on under Murray's
busy hands. A certain added comfort reached the mother's home in the
Mission clearing. But otherwise the outward and visible signs of the
wealth that was being stored up were none.

Father Jose's Mission grew in extent. The clearing widened and the
numbers of savage converts increased definitely. The charity and
medical skill of the little priest, and the Mission's adjacency to a
big trading post, were responsible for drawing about the place every
begging Indian and the whole of his belongings. The old man received
them, and his benefits were placed at their service; the only return he
demanded was an attendance at his religious services, and that the
children should be sent to the classes which he held in the Mission
House. It was a pastoral that held every element of beauty, but as an
anachronism in the fierce setting north of "sixty" it was even more
perfect.

Allan Mowbray looked on at all these things in his brief enough
leisure. Nor was he insensible to the changed conditions of comfort in
his own home, due to the persistent genius of his partner. The old,
rough furnishings had gone to be replaced by modern stuff, which must
have demanded a stupendous effort in haulage from the gold city of
Leaping Horse, nearly three hundred miles distant. But Ailsa was
pleased. That was his great concern. Ailsa was living the life he had
always desired for her, and he was free to roam the wilderness at his
will. He blessed the day that had brought Murray McTavish into the
enterprise.

Just now Allan had been away from the Fort nearly the whole of the open
season. His return was awaited by all. These journeys of his brought,
as a result, a rush of business to the Fort, and an added life to the
Mission. Then there was the mother, and her now grown children,
waiting to welcome the man who was their all.

But Allan Mowbray had not ye