Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) A DAMAGED REPUTATION BY HAROLD BINDLOSS AUTHOR OF "ALTON OF SOMASCO" "MISTRESS OF BONAVENTURE" ETC., ETC. [Illustration] R. F. FENNO & COMPANY 18 EAST 17TH STREET, NEW YORK Copyright, 1908, by R. F. FENNO & COMPANY CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Brooke Pauses to Reflect 9 CHAPTER II. Brooke Takes the Trail 25 CHAPTER III. The Narrow Way 37 CHAPTER IV. Saxton Makes an Offer 51 CHAPTER V. Barbara Renews an Acquaintance 64 CHAPTER VI. An Arduous Journey 79 CHAPTER VII. Allonby's Illusion 91 CHAPTER VIII. A Bold Venture 104 CHAPTER IX. Devine Makes a Suggestion 121 CHAPTER X. The Flume Builder 135 CHAPTER XI. An Embarrassing Position 151 CHAPTER XII. Brooke is Carried Away 166 CHAPTER XIII. The Old Love 179 CHAPTER XIV. Brooke Has Visitors 193 CHAPTER XV. Saxton Gains His Point 209 CHAPTER XVI. Barbara's Responsibility 222 CHAPTER XVII. Brooke Attempts Burglary 236 CHAPTER XVIII. Brooke Makes a Decision 249 CHAPTER XIX. Brooke's Bargain 264 CHAPTER XX. The Bridging of the Canon 278 CHAPTER XXI. Devine's Offer 293 CHAPTER XXII. The Unexpected Happens 305 CHAPTER XXIII. Brooke's Confession 317 CHAPTER XXIV. Allonby Strikes Silver 334 CHAPTER XXV. Barbara is Merciless 350 CHAPTER XXVI. The Jumping of the Canopus 365 CHAPTER XXVII. The Last Round 381 CHAPTER XXVIII. Brooke Does Not Come Back 395 CHAPTER XXIX. A Final Effort 406 CHAPTER XXX. The Other Chance 419 CHAPTER XXXI. Brooke is Forgiven 431 A DAMAGED REPUTATION. I. BROOKE PAUSES TO REFLECT. It was a still, hot night, and the moon hung round and full above the cedars, when rancher Brooke sat in his comfortless shanty with a whisky bottle at his hand. The door stood open, and the drowsy fragrance of the coniferous forest stole into the room, while when he glanced in that direction he could see hemlock and cedar, redwood and balsam, tower, great black spires, against the luminous blueness of the night. Far above them gleamed the untrodden snow that clothed the great peaks with spotless purity; but this was melting fast under the autumn sun, and the river that swirled by the shanty sang noisily among the boulders.