esh shrivelling at the touch of
time, eyes dimmed with the shedding of many tears, every footstep
trembling with the passing of the weary milestones of life, are bonds
which the fires of hell cannot melt, nor the peace of heaven dissolve
away. Amy did not know it, she could not have grasped the fact had it
been told her, that she was laying hold of the saving element of life,
that animated as she had been by a love that was still seeking itself
alone, she was yet nourishing a power that would raise her from the
ashes of despair.

Amy had not forgotten the task she had set herself. She had obtained "A
& B's Elements," and day after day, she was striving to master the
simple problems that would enable her to take Helen Lonsdale's place in
her husband's life. The coming of Mrs. MacGregor had not interfered with
her purpose, nor with her hours of study. Through the day, Mrs.
MacGregor and Elijah were absent, inspecting the desolate stretches of
red hillsides, or the struggling green of seeping springs in deep
arroyos.

Mrs. MacGregor's plans with Elijah were shaping to a desired end,
but,--there was an uncertain element which she could not resolve. There
was no lack of keen, exact penetration in Elijah; but there was now a
reticence about his personal feelings which she did not dare openly to
break. Indirect openings which she gave, he passed by without notice.
She was unable to decide whether his reticence was due to wounded pride,
in that he had been betrayed into an exhibition of the inner chambers of
his heart, or whether it was due to a growing resentment of her attack
upon Helen Lonsdale. Another surmise and nearer the truth, had she known
it, was that he had been brought face to face with his position as
regarded his wife. If Mrs. MacGregor had been sure of Elijah's ultimate
decision, her course of action might have been different. As it was, she
was fairly confident that she knew every element in Elijah, and that she
could predicate its logical end. She was certain that she knew Amy, and
that sooner or later a separation would come, and that the sooner it
came, the better it would be for her own personal designs.

Mrs. MacGregor soon reached another conclusion which she regarded as
final. She had carefully studied Amy in every contact with Elijah. She
saw in her every attitude before him, in her every word to him, an eager
assurance of confidence and love which in reality was an evident doubt
of it, or at least a