collection he forgot Ralph and all but his love. There was
no generosity in his heart; he had given himself up to the delights of
his passion. He claimed the fair Aim-sa to himself, and was ready to
uphold his claim so long as he had life.

All that long evening he heeded nothing of the dark expression of
Ralph's face. The furtive glances from his brother's eyes were lost upon
him, and even had he seen them their meaning would have had no terrors
for him. With all the blind selfishness of a first love he centred his
faculties upon obtaining Aim-sa's regard, and lived in the fool's
paradise of a reckless lover.

And all the time Ralph watched, and planned. The bitterness of his heart
ate into the uttermost part of his vitals, the canker mounted even to
his brain. The deep fire of hatred was now blazing furiously, and each
moment it gathered destructive force. All that was good in the man was
slowly devoured, and only a shell of fierce anger remained.

But what Nick failed to observe Aim-sa saw as plainly as only a woman
can see such things. Her bright eyes saw the fire she had kindled, and
from sheer wantonness she fanned the flame with all the art of which she
was mistress.

Slowly the hours passed. It was Nick who at last rose and gave the
signal for departure. It was an unwritten law between these two that
when one left Aim-sa's presence they both left it. Therefore Ralph
followed suit, and they retired to their sleeping-apartment.

Outside the night was fine, but the threat of storm hung heavily in the
air. The temperature had risen, a sure indication of the coming
blizzard. Ralph was the last to leave the woman's presence, and, ere he
closed the door, he looked back at the smiling face, so beautiful to
him, so seductively fair in his eyes; and the memory of the picture he
looked upon remained with him. He saw the dull-lit interior, with its
rough woodsman's belongings; the plastered walls of logs, coarse and
discoloured; the various utensils hanging suspended from five-inch
spikes driven in the black veins of timber; the blazing stove and
crooked stovepipe; the box of tin dishes and pots; the sides of bacon
hanging from the roof; the pile of sacks containing biscuit and dried
fish, the latter for the dogs; the outspread blankets which formed the
woman's bed; and in the midst of it all the dazzling presence of Aim-sa,
fair as the twilight of a summer evening.

The door closed softly, and as it closed Aim-sa ros