Again the reaction from the gloom of despair to the joys of hope was almost more than the poor mother could endure. Scientists tell us that joy never kills. It may be true. At all events its effects are not always as salutary as one could desire, and in Mrs. Sinclair’s case it was some time before she could command sufficient strength of will, or obtain the control of her nervous system, to render her capable of dictating a letter to Jennie for her brother, to inform him of the gratifying news. Her anxiety now was, lest, acting upon the advice given in her previous letter, he should have put into practice the course she had thought it so desirable to urge upon him. It was possible a telegram might reach him in time to arrest his departure; she could scarcely hope to forestall her letter, which had probably already been received and its advice acted upon. Jennie was, however, instructed to lose no time in sending a "wire" to Ranger’s, which ran—"Stay—All right," in the hope that it might produce the effect desired. The letter which followed was such as only a mother might be expected under the circumstances to write, and was filled with anxious inquiries as to his future intentions. *CHAPTER XXVI.* *MARY TRUMAN.* "... He beheld a vision, and adored the thing he saw." WORDSWORTH. Mary Truman, the young woman so suddenly deprived of her only relations by the unfortunate accident on the railway near to M’Lean Station, and whose prospects had been so terribly blighted, had not been an idle spectator at the Ranch of the events which have been transpiring. With no fixed or clearly defined duties to perform, since her future was still undecided, she was yet able to find occupation in the house and its belongings of a character sufficient to prevent her from having many idle moments. Naturally of a cheerful disposition, she was wont to be considered the embodiment of good humour "in the old house at home." A pair of laughing blue eyes, a little "tip-tilted" nose, a _petite_ figure, and a mass of rich, wavy auburn hair, added to a saucy expression of countenance, made up an _ensemble_ that her all too sensitive, and it may be sensible, cousin had found it impossible to resist. Her parents were originally in a small way of business at Exeter, but having the misfortune to lose her mother some three weeks after her birth, the father, within a week following the funeral, disappeared, and nothing had been seen or heard of him since. His brother, who farmed a few acres of land just outside the city, when appealed to, at once came forward, and agreed to adopt the little waif rather than it should be taken charge of by the Union. When the business was sold, and the debts paid, there remained nearly one hundred pounds, which the uncle very considerately, and with no thought of self, caused to be invested for the child.