e of its whole system, underlying principles of
right thinking and pure living.

When, a few days later, word came to Tolchaco that Ross Van Shaw had
recovered sufficiently to be taken home and that he would probably
suffer no permanent crippling from his fall, Helen found herself simply
in a mild way glad to know the fact, but that was all, and Van Shaw
faded out of her mind even more quickly than he had blossomed into it.

All through this first day's travel towards the mission, Felix Bauer was
also going through some tumult of feeling over the events that had made
history since the party had left the mission.

He was sore at heart over much that had taken place and could not
reconstruct his former image of Helen as at heart a maidenly, dignified
girl, worthy of the most exalted worship. He said to himself that even
after she must have known from her mother what Van Shaw was, she had
gone to see him, to say good-bye, to encourage him, to--his mind could
find no excuse for her and do what he would, he felt himself growing
more and more distressed over it.

Mrs. Douglas was a very wise woman and Bauer's trouble did not escape
her notice. She understood the reason for it, but it was only at the
close of the day, during the preparations for the night camp, that she
found an opportunity to speak to Bauer alone.

"Felix," she said, using his first name as she had begun to do of late,
to Bauer's quiet pleasure, "I know what is troubling you now. But Helen
did not go over to see Van Shaw of her own wish. She went because his
mother came over and brought a request from him to see Helen. No, I
don't think you need to know what was said there in our presence. It
ought to be enough for you to know that I am quite sure Helen has passed
the place of her infatuation, if indeed she has gone so far as to yield
to such a feeling. I could not let you imagine that Helen was really
lacking in real maidenly conduct."

Bauer's face shone with delight. "Oh, thank you, Mrs. Douglas! I have
been doing her injustice all day. You have no idea how relieved I feel.
And I have been sitting in judgment on everybody. Oh, if I were a monk
now, like one of my ancestors, I would lash myself bloody. What a fool I
must be to think I have a right to judge others as I have. And I have
let hatred and malice and revenge creep into my soul at the thought of
Van Shaw. I don't see how God can forgive me."

"He has forgiven a good many worse men than you,