e the thing isn't
a secret at the settlement." Clarke turned and his eyes rested on
Blake. "I'm by no means the only man who has come to Canada under a
cloud. There was a famous police-court affair that I figured in.
Nothing was proved against me, but my practise afterward fell to bits.
As a matter of fact, I was absolutely innocent of the offense. I had
acted without much caution, out of pity, and laid myself open to an
attack that was meant to cover the escape of the real criminal."

Blake thought he spoke the truth, and he felt some sympathy; but Clarke
went on:

"In a few weeks I was without patients or friends; driven out from the
profession I loved and in which I was beginning to make my mark. It
was a blow that I never altogether recovered from; and the generous
impulse which got me into trouble was the last that I ever yielded to."

His face changed, growing hard and malevolent, and Blake now felt
strangely repelled. It looked as if the man had been soured by his
misfortunes, and had turned into an outlaw who took a vindictive
pleasure in making such reprisals as he found possible upon society at
large. This conclusion was borne out by what Blake had learned at the
settlement.

No one made any comment, and there was silence for a few minutes while
the smoke whirled about the group and the drips from the dark boughs
above fell upon the brands. Then, after a little casual talk, Clarke
rose to go.

"I shall start at daybreak, and your way lies to the east of mine," he
said. "You'll find traveling easier when the snow comes. I wish you
good luck."

Though the loneliness of the wilds had now and then weighed upon them,
they all felt relieved when he left. After Benson went to sleep, Blake
and Harding continued talking for a while.

"That's a man we'll have to watch," the American declared. "I suppose
it struck you that he made no attempt to get your friend back?"

"I noticed it. He may have thought it wouldn't succeed, and didn't
wish to show his hand. Benson already looks a different man; I saw
Clarke studying him."

"He could have drawn him away by the sight of a whisky flask, or a hint
of a jag in camp. My opinion is that he didn't want him."

"That's curious," said Blake. "He seems to have stuck to Benson pretty
closely, no doubt with the object of fleecing him; and you think he's
not altogether ruined yet."

"If what he told me is correct, there are still some pickings left on
him."