ainst the hill, the
blackened stumps littering the hillside, and the gloomy forest beyond.
The figures of a few men were visible along the beach, and once I saw
a black-robed priest emerge from the door of the mission house, and
start down the steep path.

The picture slowly faded as we advanced, until finally the last
glimpse of the log chapel disappeared in the haze, and we were alone
on the mystery of the great lake, gliding along a bare, uninhabited
shore. I was aroused by the touch of Cassion's hand on my own as it
grasped the side of the canoe.

"Adele," he said, almost tenderly. "Why should you be so serious?
Cannot we be friends?"

My eyes met his in surprise.

"Friends, Monsieur! Are we not? Why do you address me like that?"

"Because you treat me as though I were a criminal," he said earnestly.
"As if I had done you an evil in making you my wife. 'Twas not I who
hastened the matter, but La Barre. 'Tis not just to condemn me
unheard, yet I have been patient and kind. I thought it might be that
you loved another--in truth I imagined that De Artigny had cast his
spell upon you; yet you surely cannot continue to trust that
villain--the murderer of your uncle."

"How know you that to be true?" I asked.

"Because there is no other accounting for it," he explained sternly.
"The quarrel last evening, the early departure before dawn--"

"At your orders, Monsieur."

"Ay, but the sergeant tells me the fellow was absent from the camp for
two hours during the night; that in the moonlight he saw him come down
the hill. Even if he did not do the deed himself, he must have
discovered the body--yet he voiced no alarm."

I was silent, and my eyes fell from his face to the green water.

"'Twill be hard to explain," he went on. "But he shall have a
chance."

"A chance! You will question him; and then--"

He hesitated whether to answer me, but there was a cruel smile on his
thin lips.

"Faith, I do not know. 'Tis like to be a court-martial at the Rock, if
ever we get him there; though the chances are the fellow will take to
the woods when he finds himself suspected. No doubt the best thing I
can do will be to say nothing until we hold him safe, though 'tis hard
to pretend with such a villain."

He paused, as if hoping I might speak, and my silence angered him.

"Bah, if I had my way the young cockerel would face a file at our
first camp. Ay! and it will be for you to decide if he does not."

"What is your me