y difficult to make an
impression, to work any lasting reform here."

"And you wish to?"

"I wish to if I can."

"I thought at first you were only a preacher."

He laughed. "Only a preacher! That conveys a great deal. You must
have but a poor idea of my vocation, of the saving grace and special
power of all true religion."

"Religion! But if religion can do so much, why would not Father Rielle
succeed as well as you?"

"Ah! there you have a problem, I admit. Perhaps, however, he has been
here too long; perhaps he is accustomed to the situation and is not so
deeply impressed by it. Besides, I am not so much concerned with the
habits of the rough fellows we see about here; as far as I can judge,
the lumbermen, mill-hands, labourers, and people of the village are
remarkably sober, considering the temptations and loneliness of the
life and certain contingencies which prevail. For example, when you
take two or three dozen uneducated men and isolate them for months in a
lumber camp, or a mine, or send them to work on remote booms and rafts,
depriving them of all family ties and Christian influences, and
removing them from all standards of conduct and character, what wonder
that you are confronted by this grave problem?

"But I was not thinking of such cases. I was thinking rather of a
successful man like Poussette, good-hearted, respected by all who know
him, and yet so weak! So weak in this respect that he neglects his
business and allows himself to be led into disgrace and humiliation
by----"

"I never knew Mr. Poussette drank!" exclaimed Miss Clairville
hurriedly. "I am quite surprised. He is such a kind man and a friend
of Henry's, and Father Rielle thinks highly of him, although he no
longer attends his church."

Ringfield was now satisfied that she had broken into his speech
purposely to avoid the mention of the Englishman's name, but he
determined to stand his ground.

"I was about to say that while I blame Poussette for his weakness I
blame still more the individual who in my opinion has led him on.
Living in the neighbourhood so long you must recognize the man I mean."

Her attitude did not in the least change, nor was her gay mood
impaired, but she did not reply, and the silence was a challenge to him.

"I mean the unfortunate Englishman who runs that grocery and liquor
shack across the road, who calls himself a gentleman, Crabbe, the
guide. You know him?"

"I have seen him."

"You _k