ightly embarrassed.

"I suppose you'd better tell the boy--everything?"

"I think it would be better. He's very fair-minded, and, besides,"
Monteith smiled, "he is not likely to feel any resentment against Miss
Isabel's uncle."

"That brings up a very important item in our bargain," said the Captain
frowningly, "and one upon which everything depends."

"Yes?"

"He'll have to understand that there's to be nothing between him and
Bluebell. It seems absurd to talk about such a thing already, but
Eleanor seems certain of danger. So you'll have to put the matter
plainly to the young man, and explain that if he's so much as caught
speaking to her, his position is gone as quick as a gunshot. I owe
that much to my sister. She couldn't stand the sight of him, and
neither of the youngsters is old enough to be hurt."

Monteith looked dubious, but he did not hesitate to comply. Ralph
would soon forget when he got away into the world, he told himself, and
Miss Herbert would probably make the keeping of the bargain very easy
for him.

"And now," cried Captain Herbert, rising with an expression of relief,
"that's over. It's been an abominable tangle all through, a perfect
mess, with everyone in the family mixed up in it, and it's a relief to
have it settled. Come along, let's go out and breathe some fresh air
and look at the dogs!"

XIII

THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

Out of the strife of conflict,
Out of the nightmare wild,
Thou bringest me, spent and broken,
Like the life of a little child.

Like the spume of a far-spent wave,
Or a wreck cast up from the sea,
Out of the pride of being,
My soul returns to Thee.
--WILLIAM WILFRED CAMPBELL.

Raye & Hemming, managers of that branch of the Great Lake Lumber
Company that had its headquarters in the town of Barbay, soon learned
that their new clerk was a young man of no mean parts. For beside an
unusual ability, young Stanwell brought to his work that tenacity of
purpose and tendency to unremitting toil which is the product of the
farm.

Scotty found himself treated with every consideration by his chiefs.
Captain Herbert's protege was evidently a person of some importance,
and he guessed that his generous salary was largely due to his patron's
influence. Though his feelings towards his benefactor were naturally
somewhat mixed, since hearing how he had defrauded him of his
birthright, nevertheless Scotty could find small room