If these people shall by any chance seem real to you and become your friends as they are mine, another of those pleasant ties that bind the author and his public together will have been woven, knotted, forged. Never mind the method so long as there is a tie. And with this hope, looking out up the winter snows that might have covered the range, as I have often seen them there, I bid you a happy good morning. CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY _St. George's Rectory, Kansas City, Missouri._ _Thanksgiving Day, 1911._ CONTENTS BOOK I THE HIGHER LAW I THE CUP THAT WOULD NOT PASS 1 II ALONE UPON THE TRAIL 16 BOOK II THE EAST AND THE WEST III THE YOUNG LADY FROM PHILADELPHIA 29 IV THE GAME PLAYED IN THE USUAL WAY 43 V THE STORY AND THE LETTERS 55 VI THE POOL AND THE WATER SPRITE 72 VII THE BEAR, THE MAN AND THE FLOOD 88 VIII DEATH, LIFE AND THE RESURRECTION 101 BOOK III FORGETTING AND FORGOT IX A WILD DASH FOR THE HILLS 123 X A TELEGRAM AND A CALLER 136 XI OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY 149 XII ON THE TWO SIDES OF THE DOOR 166 XIII THE LOG HUT IN THE MOUNTAINS 179 XIV A TOUR OF INSPECTION 193 XV THE CASTAWAYS OF THE MOUNTAINS 203 BOOK IV OH YE ICE AND SNOW, PRAISE YE THE LORD XVI THE WOMAN'S HEART 223 XVII THE MAN'S HEART 236 XVIII THE KISS ON THE HAND 248 XIX THE FACE IN THE LOCKET 261 XX THE STRENGTH OF THE WEAK 276 BOOK V THE CUP IS DRAINED XXI THE CHALLENGE OF THE RANGE 291 XXII THE CONVERGING TRAILS 310 XXIII THE ODDS AGAINST HIM 327 XXIV THE LAST RESORT OF KINGS AND MEN 339 XXV THE BECOMING END 357 XXVI THE DRAUGHT OF JOY 368 ILLUSTRATIONS "LEAVE ME TO MYSELF, I WOULD NOT TAKE THE FINEST, NOBLEST MAN ON EARTH--" _FRONTISPIECE_ "READ THE LETTERS," HE SAID. "THEY'LL TELL THE STORY. GOOD-NIGHT." _FACING PAGE_ 70 "WAIT! I AM A WOMAN, ABSOLUTELY ALONE, ENTIRELY AT YOUR MERCY" " " 156 IT WAS ALL UP WITH ARMSTRONG " " 354 THE CHALICE OF COURAGE (Courtesy of _The Outlook_) Drink of the Chalice of Courage! Pressed to the trembling lip, The dark-veiled fears From the passing years, Like a dusty garment slip. Drink of the Chalice of Courage! Poured for the Hero's feast, When the strength divine Of its subtle wine Is shared with the last and least.