it
worth while to organise three?'

'Well,' replied Craig, smiling for the first time, 'the organisation
won't be elaborate, but it will be effective, and, besides, loyalty
demands obedience.'

We sat long that afternoon talking, shrinking from the breaking up; for
we knew that we were about to turn down a chapter in our lives which we
should delight to linger over in after days. And in my life there is but
one brighter. At last we said good-bye and drove away; and though many
farewells have come in between that day and this, none is so vividly
present to me as that between us three men. Craig's manner with me was
solemn enough. '"He that loveth his life"; good-bye, don't fool with
this,' was what he said to me. But when he turned to Graeme his whole
face lit up. He took him by the shoulders and gave him a little shake,
looking into his eyes, and saying over and over in a low, sweet tone--

'You'll come, old chap, you'll come, you'll come. Tell me you'll come.'

And Graeme could say nothing in reply, but only looked at him. Then they
silently shook hands, and we drove off. But long after we had got
over the mountain and into the winding forest road on the way to the
lumber-camp the voice kept vibrating in my heart, 'You'll come, you'll
come,' and there was a hot pain in my throat.

We said little during the drive to the camp. Graeme was thinking hard,
and made no answer when I spoke to him two or three times, till we came
to the deep shadows of the pine forest, when with a little shiver he
said--

'It is all a tangle--a hopeless tangle.'

'Meaning what?' I asked.

'This business of religion--what quaint varieties--Nelson's, Geordie's,
Billy Breen's--if he has any--then Mrs. Mavor's--she is a saint, of
course--and that fellow Craig's. What a trump he is!--and without his
religion he'd be pretty much like the rest of us. It is too much for
me.'

His mystery was not mine. The Black Rock varieties of religion were
certainly startling; but there was undoubtedly the streak of reality
though them all, and that discovery I felt to be a distinct gain.

CHAPTER VII

THE FIRST BLACK ROCK COMMUNION

The gleam of the great fire through the windows of the great camp gave
a kindly welcome as we drove into the clearing in which the shanties
stood. Graeme was greatly touched at his enthusiastic welcome by the
men. At the supper-table he made a little speech of thanks for their
faithfulness during his absence, specia