hich had moved her so profoundly.

The contrast between the two men forced itself upon her. The convincing
alertness of Ralph Winston, clear and cool and bracing, the glowing
mystical enthusiasm of Elijah Berl that breathed upon her, laid hold
upon her like languorous exhalations from a tropic growth. She recalled
her childhood days with Ralph Winston. His masterful ways which flashed
out in open revolt against her impetuous temper, that took her in his
arms and in spite of her panting protests, soothed her into forgiving
smiles. There was no yielding to her wrongs, no tyranny in his right,
but a subtle stimulating air that suggested no personality, rather an
impersonal force which compelled him, even as it did her.

There were tears in her eyes now. There was a great longing to go to
Ralph as she had gone years ago, to hear again the words which had
melted her darkness into clear light. An almost irresistible impulse
came to her. "Why not go to him now?" He had opened the way. A word, a
motion, a glance from her eyes and the way would open again. She rose to
her feet and laid her hand upon the door.

Had Winston been in the hotel that night! But he was miles away and she
returned to her seat. Her brain went on and on, twisting and turning the
same old problem. Ralph knew Elijah Berl, yet he had cast in his lot
with him. Ralph trusted in his own strength, why should not she trust in
hers? She drew a long, shuddering breath. Elijah had asked her for
bread. Could she give him a stone?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Winston had been in earnest when he invited the old sea captain to make
him a visit. He had felt as strongly attracted to the kindly old man as
Uncle Sid had been to him. To a certain extent he was curious to know
just why Elijah's affairs so deeply interested him. The chance remark of
the old captain to the effect that he had known Elijah from childhood
up, was a partial explanation that opened the door to the desire to know
the cause in full. Evidently the youthful Elijah had displayed the same
characteristics which maturer years had developed in California. Winston
guessed that the weak spots in Elijah which had aroused his own
opposition, had not escaped the eyes of the captain. As day after day
passed by, he concluded that Uncle Sid was waiting for Helen and that
Helen was too busy to accompany him.

Whether Uncle Sid had become tired of waiting for Helen or whether he
decided that a proper time had elap