sawbones the power of mind over matter--the ould croaker!"

He recovered rapidly and was soon able to stagger to his feet. Then,
with a return of his wonted humor, he stretched out his big right arm.
"I'm not to be put out of business by wan punch from an old puddin' like
Steele. I am not the 'stiff' he thinks. He had me agin the ropes, 'tis
true, but I'll surprise him yet."

"What did he say?" she persisted in demanding.

He shook his head. "That's bechune the two of us," he nodded warningly
at Lucius. "For one thing, he says me heart can't stand the high
country. 'It's you to the deep valley,' says he."

Her decision was ready. "All right, then _we go_!"

He faced her quickly. "Did ye say WE, Bertie? Did ye say it,
sweetheart?"

"I did, Mart--I've changed my mind once more. I'm goin' to stick by
you--till you're settled somewhere. I won't leave till you're better."

The tears blinded his eyes again, and his lips twitched. "You're God's
own angel, Bertie, but I don't deserve it. No, stay you here--I'm not
worth your sacrifice. No, no, I can't have it! Stay here with Ben and
look after the mines."

Her face settled in lines that were not girlish as she repeated: "It's
up to me to go, and I'm going, Mart! I didn't realize how bad it was for
you here--I didn't, really!"

"It's all wrong, I'm afraid--all wrong," he answered, "but the Lord
knows I need you worse than ever."

"Shut off on all that!" she commanded. "Lucius, help me take him outside
where the air is better."

Mart put the man away. "One is enough," he said, brusquely; and so,
leaning on his strong, young wife, he went slowly out into the dusk
where the mother and Miss Franklin were sitting, quite unconscious of
the deep significance of the doctor's visit. "Not a word to them,"
warned Haney--"at any rate, not to-night."

They were now both facing the pain of instantly abandoning all these
beautiful and ministering material conditions which money had called
round them. It seemed so foolish, so incredibly silly--this mandate of
the physician. Could any place on the earth be more healthful, more
helpful to human life than this wide-porched, cool-halled house, this
garden, this air? What difference could a few thousand feet make on the
heart's action?

The thought of putting away all hope of seeing Ben Fordyce came at last
to overtop all Bertha's other regrets as the lordly peak overrode the
clouds--and yet she was determined to go. Very quietly s