powerful in his way as Lapierre was in his. The one man who had spies
in Lapierre's employ, and who did not fear him. The one man Pierre
Lapierre feared--Bob MacNair. And he, too, bided his time.

CHAPTER VIII

A SHOT IN THE NIGHT

As Lapierre made his way to the camp of the Indians he pondered deeply.
For Lapierre was troubled. The fact that MacNair had twice come upon
him unexpectedly within the space of a month caused him grave concern.
He did not know that it was entirely by chance that MacNair had found
him, an unwelcome sojourner at Fort Rae. Accusations and
recriminations had passed between them, with the result that MacNair,
rough, bluff, and ready to fight at any time, had pounded the
quarter-breed to within an inch of his life, and then, to the
undisguised delight of the men of the H.B.C., had dragged him out and
pitched him ignominiously into the lake.

Either could have killed the other then and there. But each knew that
to have done so, as the result of a personal quarrel, would have been
the worst move he could possibly have made. And the forebearance with
which MacNair fought and Lapierre suffered was each man's measure of
greatness. MacNair went about his business, and to Lapierre came
Chenoine with his story of the girl and the plot of Vermilion, and
Lapierre, forgetting MacNair for the moment, made a dash for the Slave
River.

For years Lapierre and MacNair had been at loggerheads. Each
recognized in the other a foe of no mean ability. Each had sworn to
drive the other out of the North. And each stood at the head of a
powerful organization which could be depended upon to fight to the last
gasp when the time came to "lock horns" in the final issue. Both
leaders realized that the show-down could not be long delayed--a year,
perhaps--two years--it would make no difference. The clash was
inevitable. Neither sought to dodge the crisis, nor did either seek to
hasten it. But each knew that events were shaping themselves, the
stage was set, and the drama of the wilds was wearing to its final
scene.

From the moment of his meeting with Chloe Elliston, Lapierre had
realized the value of an alliance with her against MacNair. And being
a man whose creed it was to turn every possible circumstance to his own
account, he set about to win her co-operation. When, during the course
of their first conversation, she casually mentioned that she could
command millions if she wanted them, his