her. She was thankful as well that he liked
Jasper and welcomed his visits to the house. She, too, had wondered if
he would come as often as he did to Mrs. Bean's. When Margaret arrived
he might think that he was not needed and would stay away.

Jasper, however, did not stay away. He came as often as before, even
after Margaret arrived. He now believed that Lois cared for him and
looked forward with pleasure to his visits. Never before had the
Sundays seemed so far apart. She was his inspiration in all that he
did and she was ever in his mind throughout the week. How delightful
it was to listen to her playing upon the piano, and then when she and
Margaret sang, as they did so well together, it seemed to him as if
heaven had opened and poured upon him its greatest joys. His past
trials were all forgotten, and he did not worry about the future.

One balmy spring Sunday evening they were all gathered around the piano
as usual singing several of their favourite hymns. Lois was playing,
and the soft light from the shaded lamp fell upon her face. Jasper
standing near thought he had never seen her look so beautiful. It
seemed to him that her face was almost radiant and her eyes glowed with
an intense light of holy fervour. Everything in that room spoke of
peace and harmony. The singers were happy in one another's company,
and no worry troubled them.

As they sang, the shades of night deepened over the land and brighter
the light seemed to shine through the large window facing westward. A
man standing just outside watched all that was going on within the
room. He had approached cautiously and now stood back far enough from
the window that he might not be observed should any one happen to look
in his direction. To all outward appearance he might have been drawn
there out of mere curiosity or by the sound of the music. His lean,
smooth-shaven face betrayed nothing, and his steel-grey eyes which
rested alternately upon Jasper and the fair young player were
expressionless. Well it was for Lois' peace of mind that she did not
see that face out there in the night, for it was the same face which
had been haunting her for months.

CHAPTER XX

BUSINESS DETAILS

As spring drew near David became anxious for more definite news about
the work at the falls. He knew what Jasper and his men were doing and
how the portable mill was busy sawing the logs which had been hauled
out. But he was impatient to see wha