g his own cross--and accept the outcome according as his
preparation for the ordeal had fitted him.

It was ten o'clock of the following day, when Drew was roused from his
reading beside the study fire by a sharp knock on the door.

He was beginning, lately, to regard this room of his as a kind of
Confessional, and every knock interested him.

"Come!" he called.

Gaston strode in. Whatever the night had meant to him, his face bore
little trace of anything but stern purpose.

"Good morning, Drew," he said quietly. "Joyce Lauzoon has left my house.
Can you tell me anything about her?"

"Very little, Gaston." The onslaught, so direct and unerring, rather
took Drew's breath, but he caught himself in time. "Lay off your coat,"
he said cordially, "and draw up to the fire. The cold seems to be
increasing."

Gaston flung hat and coat from him, and pulled a chair nearer the blaze.

"It will continue to grow colder from now on until the break-up. Drew, I
cannot waste time, nor have I any inclination to mince matters. I know
that you have, in no small measure, influenced Joyce Lauzoon's thought.
I know she has spoken of the effect of your words upon her life and,
finding her gone upon my return, I naturally come to you thinking that
perhaps--and from the highest motives--you may have said something to
her that has led her to take this step.

"Whatever has been said, has been said by some one who could affect her
as one speaking, if you can understand, from my side of the question. No
one else could have any power over her."

"Gaston, I have not seen, nor have I had any communication with Joyce
Lauzoon, since you left this last time. While you were away before, she
came to me, and I talked with her as I felt should, under the
circumstances."

"I know all about that"; a sharp line formed on Gaston's forehead; "it
was indirectly on account of that conversation between you that I left
so abruptly again. Pardon me, Drew, but don't you think your aunt or
your sister--might have followed up your line of argument by--their
own?"

Drew flushed scarlet.

"I am quite sure they did not," he said emphatically.

"I've got to find her, Drew"; Gaston breathed hard; "none of you
understand the situation in the least."

"Perhaps we do, Gaston." The minister-instinct rose within the weak man,
and gave him the sudden dignity that had always impressed Jock Filmer.

For the life of him Gaston could not despise the young fellow. Ther