h accompanied his former London dinner-parties. He did not dare to
think of Elise at all. She was the intoxicating climax of his past
life. She was the blending of his life's melodies into a brief, tender
nocturne of love that his heart would never hear again.

In place of all that, he had the spiritual vanity of martyrdom. Few
voyagers but have felt the exultation of mid-ocean: that desire of the
soul to leap the distance to the skies and claim its kinship to the
stars. It comes to men on the Canadian prairies; it throbs in one's
blood when the summit of a mountain is reached; it is borne on the
wings of the twilight harmonies in a lonely forest.

Unknown to himself, perhaps, that was Selwyn's compensation. From his
hermit's seclusion in the great metropolis he felt the thrill of one
who challenges the gods.

II.

His man-servant had hardly left the room when the bell in the front
hall rang, and Smith reappeared to announce a visitor.

'Who is it?' asked Selwyn.

'A Mr. Watson, sir.'

'I wonder if it can be Doug Watson of Cambridge. Bring him right up.'

A moment later a young man entered the cosily shaded room, and they met
with the hearty hand-clasp and the sincere good-feeling which come when
a man who is abroad meets a friend who is a fellow-countryman. The
new-comer was younger than Selwyn, and though of lighter complexion and
hair, was unmistakably American in appearance. Like the author, he was
clean-shaven, but there was more repose in the features. His face was
broad, and in the poise of his head and thick neck there was the clear
impression of great physical and mental driving-power. Although still
a student, the mark of the engineer was strongly stamped on him. He
was of the type that spans a great river with a bridge; that glories in
the overcoming of obstacles by sheer domination of will.

'Well, Doug,' said Selwyn as they drew their chairs up to the fire,
'when did you leave Cambridge?'

'Last week,' said the other. 'I couldn't stand it any longer with
every one gone. I don't think that one of the bunch I played around
with is there now.'

'That was a bully week-end I had with you at the university.'

'We sure had a good time, didn't we?'

'But how did you know I was here?'

'Jarvis sent me a note that he and his wife were running hack to New
York, and that you were taking his rooms. Damn fine place, isn't it?
There's a woman's touch all over here. But you're looking pre