gs to the rim-rock of the upper cliffs, then on through the
black pines to Hundred Mile. We herded her up the pack-trail, my bear
and I, and pointed her on her way, alone, afoot. If she lived through
that eighty miles, she would remember the way, the way which is barred.

* * * * *

_Kate's Narrative_

I was waiting for Jesse until the low sun shone into the cave. All that
letter, which had been a blur of horror, cleared now before my mind, but
Father Jared held me by the hands, drawing the pain away. He had given
me tea, he had made me a very throne of comfort in front of his
camp-fire. David slept in my lap, and now while the dear saint held my
hands, and I looked through the smoke out toward the setting sun, he
spoke of quaint sweet doings in his hermitage. He spoke as a worldly
anchorite with a portable bath, of his clumsy attempts to patch a
worn-out cassock, and how the squirrels tried to superintend his prayers
at even-song. Then the sun caught the walls of the cave and the roof to
glowing beryl and ethereal ruby, the smoke was a rose-hued thread of
light, and the deep canyon at our feet filled with a shadowy sea of
flooding amethyst.

"Kate, it is even-song. We see the steep way of to-morrow's journey, the
pain and sorrow from here to the next hill. But presently our way shall
be revealed from star to star. We pass from earthly sunshine and fretted
time, into the timeless ageless glory of the heavens. We sleep in
Heaven, and when we wake again we rise filled with the presence of the
Eternal to put immortal power into our daily service."

The sun had set, and the first star just shone out, as Jesse came,
standing at the mouth of the cave, dark against the glory. I could not
see his face.

The father released me, turning to my dear man. "Jesse," he said, "won't
you shake hands with me?

"You see," he said, "I made a mistake myself, thinking a priest should
be celibate to win love from on high. But in its fullest strength God's
love comes through a woman to shine upon our life--and so I've missed
the greatest of His gifts. Your wife has told me everything, and I'm so
envious. Won't you shake hands? I've been so lonely. Won't you?"

But my man stood in the mouth of the cave, as though he were being
judged.

"This filth," he said, "out of the past. Filth!"

His voice sounded as though he were dead.

"The law," he said. "I've come to find out what's the law?"

"Man's law