lrousness of the act grated upon every fiber of his sensitively
attuned, high-minded nature. Yet, as Madam Lee had reminded him,
would he not be doing Cynthia a greater injustice if he married her
without love. Friendship and brotherly affection were all he could
honestly bestow, and although these he gave with all sincerity, as he
now examined his heart in the light of the revelations real love had
brought, he realized that beyond their confines existed a realm into
which Cynthia Galbraith, fair though she was, had never set foot. No
woman had crossed that magic threshold until now, when her presence
stirred all the blended emotions of his manhood. Humility, tenderness,
reverence possessed him; self descended from its throne of egoism and
yielded its scepter to another; the hot blood of the primitive, untamed
Viking raced in his veins. Soul, mind, heart, body were all awakened.
He was a dolt who confused genuine passion with the milder preferences
of callow youth.

Delight Hathaway was his mate, created for him before the hills in
order stood. It was as inevitable that they should come together as
that the river should sweep out to meet the sea, or the lily open to
the kiss of the sunlight. All that this woman was in purity, in
graciousness of heart, in brilliancy of intellect he loved, adored,
approved; all that she was in physical beauty he reverenced and
coveted. Her lot had been strangely cast and the scope of it limited
to a very narrow vista. Oh, for success to place at her feet the
riches of the earth! With such a goal to lure one on what was toil!
Faugh! He laughed aloud at the word.

Madam Lee, with her unerring intuition, had probed his heart and read
his destiny aright.

His future lay not with this pampered daughter of a great house whose
selfishness he had repeatedly excused and refused to recognize; nor
would he purchase worldly prosperity at the price of his soul. Casting
aside the easier way, he would follow the rough path that mounted
upward to the star of his desire. Before the waning of another moon
both of these women who had come into his world should know his
intentions and have the opportunity to accept or reject that which he
had to offer them. He hoped Cynthia would understand and forgive; he
was fond of Cynthia. And he hoped, prayed, implored Heaven that
Delight Hathaway would not turn a deaf ear to his entreaties, for
without the prize on which his hopes were set life's rac