ld chief asleep, and when he was awake and
I told him what I wanted it took me one hour to answer all the
questions he asked. Then he made a long speech about his ancestors,
and how the wonderful roots had cured so many of them. By the time he
was through another hour had slipped by. But at last I got what I
wanted and here it is, so I am going to begin at once upon that racking
cough."

"Mr. Steadman," said Constance, "will you please tell me where all
these things came from which we found in this room?"

"What things?" queried Keith, as he carefully unwrapped the precious
roots from their thin bark covering.

"Why, this splendid bear-skin rug on the floor; that large wolf skin on
my father's cot, and those pictures on the walls; they do not belong to
us."

"Do you mind very much, Miss Radhurst? If you are offended I'll take
them away, for it was I who brought them here."

Receiving no reply, he continued: "When I came to light the fire, so as
to have the building warm for your arrival, I noticed how bare the room
looked, and turned over in my mind how to improve its appearance, and
so brought these over. That bearskin rug is from one of the finest
grizzlies ever seen in the North. I brought him down one morning when
he was about to make a breakfast of me."

Keith did not tell that in killing the animal he had risked his own
life to save an Indian youth, who was in the creature's grip. The lad
was a stranger to him, and when he was released he gave one quick,
searching glance of gratitude at the missionary and then sped like a
deer up the long, deep ravine. He had never seen the lad since, but
his bright face and manly figure were often in his mind.

To Keith, the days that followed were full of peace and happiness. The
Reading Room was well attended and, more important still, the church
was filled every Sunday with an orderly number of men. It now appeared
that the turn of affairs on the night of the debate had discouraged
Pritchen entirely from his opposition.

Keith became a regular visitor at the Radhurst cabin, and Constance
always awaited his coming with pleasure. They read aloud from some
favourite author, during the long evenings, when Mr. Radhurst was an
eager listener until he fell asleep.

"I wish I had my copy of Browning," said Keith one night, "but I have
lost it somewhere. I had it on the trail, and well remember the last
time I read from it. It was in an open camp, where I must h