d again. "You
are not a good dissembler. If quick at making statements you are not
prepared to substantiate them," she declared. "You would do anything
to dispel my fears--but the one most necessary thing I ask. You have
passed through, or are now facing, a crisis, and though some knowledge
of it would be of great help to me you do not consider me worthy of
your confidence."

"Heaven forbid that I should think so. There is no one more
worthy--but----" Helen checked him with a gesture.

"I desire the simple truth and not indifferent compliments," she said.
"You will not tell it to me, and I will plead with you no further, even
for my father's sake. When will you men learn that a woman's
discretion is at least equal to your own?" With a flash in her eyes,
she added: "How dare you once offer what you did to a woman you had no
trust in?"

"You are almost cruel," Geoffrey answered, clenching his hand as he
mastered his own anger. "Some day, perhaps, you will yet believe I
tried to do what was best. Meantime, since I dare not presume to
resent it, I must try to bear your displeasure patiently."

He might have said more, but that Helen left him abruptly.

"It is confoundedly hard. Once strike a certain vein of bad luck and
you can neither get around nor under it, but there's no use
groaning--and what on earth could I have done?" he said to the
whispering firs.

He went back presently to the ranch, and found Helen, who apparently
did not notice his return, chatting with Halliday. When the two men
bade their host farewell, Halliday, who lingered a few minutes,
observed to Thomas Savine:

"I always knew my friend was reckless, but when I spoke as I did I
failed to comprehend what was at once his incentive and justification.
I must thank you for your attempt to aid me, but even against the
dictates of my judgment I can't help sympathizing with him now. If you
don't mind my saying so--because I see you know--I think what he hopes
to win is very well worth the risk."

"I certainly know, and perhaps I am prejudiced in favor of my niece,
but I feel tempted to agree with you," answered Savine. "There are few
better women in the Dominion, but she is wayward, and whether Geoffrey
will ever win her only Heaven knows. Meantime, though we depend so
much upon him, I am often ashamed to let him take his chances with us.
Believe me, I have endeavored to dissuade him."

Halliday smiled. "I am a kinsman of his and kno