"He can," I answered smiling, "and he was taught at a British university.
Now he hews logs for a living, and sometimes works for me. Let me
introduce you to my uncle from Lancashire, Martin Lorimer--Lance
Chisholm."

"Very glad to meet you, sir," said the latter. "I promised to look in on
Morgan in the saloon; will you join us?"

When we elbowed our way through the noisy room toward the bar Chisholm
proffered the usual refreshment, and with a comprehensive wave of his hand
bade the tender, "Set them up!"

Martin Lorimer stared bewilderedly at the row of glasses deftly flung in
front of him, and there was a roar of laughter when, glancing at me
appealingly, he said, "It's a hospitable country; but, bless us, Ralph!
are we expected to drink all of this? And I'm a churchwarden!"

A bearded giant in blue jean smote him on the shoulder. "You've got the
right grit in you, stranger," he said. "Start right in, and do the best
you can," while the old man joined in the merriment when I explained that
the invitation included all in the vicinity who cared to accept it. I left
him with Harry and Johnston presently because one of the guests brought
word that Alice desired to see me, and I found her on the veranda of the
best house the citizens could place at the strangers' disposal. There were
ladies among them. I drew two chairs into a corner where a flowering
creeper screened half the trellis, and from where we sat a wonderful vista
rolled away before us. Alice had changed but little, save that she seemed
even more delicate. I had changed much, and now as we chatted with a
resumption of ancient friendliness I wondered how it was that her innate
goodness and wisdom had never impressed me more in the old days. Few would
have called her handsome at first sight, but she was dowered with
qualities that were greater than beauty.

"You will wonder what brought us here," she said at length, "and your
uncle forgot to tell you. Ever after that--unfortunate mistake--he talked
constantly about our headstrong lad, but when he lay dangerously ill for
weeks together I was unable to write you. The doctors had little hope most
of the time, and one said he recovered chiefly because he had made his
mind up he would not die, and when they forbade all thought of business
and recommended travel he made me buy the latest map of Canada, and we are
now staying at the new mountain chalet. My own health has not improved
latterly, and that helped to deci