Produced by Al Haines Alter Ego A TALE by Rev. W. W. Walker Author of "By Northern Lakes," "Sabre Thrusts at Freethought," "Plain Talks on Health and Morals, Part II," and "Occident and Orient." AUTHOR'S EDITION TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS 1907 Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand nine hundred and seven, by WILLIAM WESLEY WALKER, at the Department of Agriculture To Lydia Kirby Walker the granddaughter of a cultured Frenchman and the faithful partner of my joys and sorrows, this volume is affectionately dedicated. The author is indebted to the great national newspapers of Canada and the United States, the Toronto _Globe_ and _Collier's Weekly_, for some facts from the former and some figures from the latter in rounding up the historical part of the story as relating to the conflict in the Far East. PREFACE To men who teach and write the oft-recurring question comes, How can we so influence others in heart and intellect as to help them reach a loftier plane of thought and action? As every life has its Gethsemane of sorrow and tragedy, so every life has its morning star of hope and its mainspring of faith. Our salvation, then, and the lifting up and saving of others is the exercise of that vital principle which has its incarnation in hope. The use of this still further causes the mountains of difficulty that loom portentous in our pathway and tower to the heavens to crumble into mole-hills. The soul is made optimistic and the life beautified by its possession, while the ear is brought, spiritually speaking, within range of the victorious shout, "More than conquerors!" and the new song, the song of Moses and the Lamb. CONTENTS I. The Appointment II. Mr. Melvin's Marriage and Teachings III. Secretary-Treasurer Thompson's Death--A Surprise from the Far-off East IV. 203 Metre Hill and Mukden V. The Battle of Mukden--and Call of Mr. Devoau as Associate Minister VI. Further Teachings and how they are Estimated ALTER EGO CHAPTER I. _THE APPOINTMENT._ In the uplands of Canada was an attractive church with a spire that pointed longing souls to the skies, and the pastor of which had finished his course with joy and was now joining in the hallelujah choruses of the upper sanctuary. The authorities of the denomination to which the church belonged appointed a man to its pulpit who was progressive and independent, as well as being very broad-minded. The necessity for this lay in the fact that the population of the place represented nearly all the languages and creeds to be found in the Dominion, and consequently if a man of narrow views were appointed he would soon make shipwreck of everything.