n. You see--but what's the use?"
continued the doctor. "You had changed. My picture of the girl I had
seen in the Highlands that day never changed and never will change." The
doctor's keen gray eyes burned into hers for a moment. A slight flush
came to her cheek and she found herself embarrassed for want of words.
Her embarrassment was relieved by the sound of hoofs pounding down the
trail.

"Hello, who's this?" said the doctor, as they stood watching the
horseman approaching at a rapid pace and accompanied by a cloud of dust.
Nearer and nearer he came, still on the gallop till within a few yards
of the group.

"My!" cried Moira. "Whoever he is he will run us down!" and she sprang
into her place in the democrat.

Without slackening rein the rider came up to the Stopping Place door
at a full gallop, then at a single word his horse planted his four feet
solidly on the trail, and, plowing up the dirt, came to a standstill;
then, throwing up his magnificent head, he gave a loud snort and stood,
a perfect picture of equine beauty.

"Oh, what a horse!" breathed Moira. "How perfectly splendid! And what a
rider!" she added. "Do you know him?"

"I do not," said the doctor, conscious of a feeling of hostility to
the stranger, and all the more because he was forced to acknowledge to
himself that the rider and his horse made a very striking picture. The
man was tall and sinewy, with dark, clean-cut face, thin lips, firm chin
and deep-set, brown-gray eyes that glittered like steel, and with that
unmistakable something in his bearing that suggested the breeding of a
gentleman. His horse was as distinguished as its rider. His coal black
skin shone like silk, his flat legs, sloping hips, well-ribbed barrel,
small head, large, flashing eyes, all proclaimed his high breeding.

"What a beauty! What a beauty!" breathed Moira again to the doctor.

As if in answer to her praise the stranger, raising his Stetson, swept
her an elaborate bow, and, touching his horse, moved nearer to the door
of the Stopping Place and swung himself to the ground.

"Ah, Cameron, it's you, sure enough. I can hardly believe my good
fortune."

"Hello, Raven, that you?" said Cameron indifferently. "Hope you are
fit?" But he made no motion to offer his hand nor did he introduce him
to the company. At the sound of his name Dr. Martin started and swept
his keen eyes over the stranger's face. He had heard that name before.

"Fit?" inquired the stranger whom C