re for
personal gain. In truth, the attraction was understandable. The
bishop responded easily to his guest's magnetic presence, and perceived
in him the focal power that energized each one of his successive
undertakings, while to Clark came the strength and benignity of the
bishop's high and blameless spirit. They were doing each other good,
and each silently acknowledged it.

"You are accomplishing great things up at the rapids, Mr. Clark," said
the bishop presently. "I was very much impressed by what I saw last
week."

Clark nodded contentedly. "We're really only at the beginning of it,
and the country about here has been only scratched so far. We're on
the doorstep, so to speak."

"Then developments should increase?"

"In ten years St. Marys will be the center of great and widespread
activities. The district can and will yield a greater variety of
natural products than has been imagined."

"You feel this?"

"I know it."

The conviction in his voice was so impressive that the bishop paused.
"Well, Mr. Clark," he said after a moment, "like others I must thank
you for having made a remarkable improvement in our physical comfort.
Even my friend Fisette down there,"--he pointed to the halfbreed's
cabin that lay between the See House and the river--"even my friend
Fisette has electric light in his house."

"Ah! Is that where Fisette lives?"

"You know him?"

"He works for me."

"Then he's like most of my friends in St. Marys. The pulp mills are
doing well?"

"Their capacity will shortly be doubled."

The bishop nodded and scanned the keen face with renewed interest. "I
have heard it stated that the measure of a country's industrial
progress depends largely on the degree to which it produces steel and
iron. Now I'm no student of economics, but the assertion seems
reasonable. Your countrymen across Lake Superior have, I know,
enormous deposits, and of course there's not a question as to their
industrial progress, but so far as I have ascertained there are none in
this region. I assume that you have considered the matter and I would
be interested to know your opinion."

"I have reason to believe," answered Clark, staring fixedly at
Fisette's vine-grown cabin, "that large deposits do exist within a
reasonable distance of St. Marys. You will understand, of course, that
this is not an official statement, and I would be obliged if you would
not repeat it. I offer it," he added with a glance of