THE LURE OF THE NORTH by HAROLD BINDLOSS Author of _THE GIRL FROM KELLER'S_, _CARMEN'S MESSENGER_, _BRANDON OF THE ENGINEERS_, _JOHNSTONE OF THE BORDER_, _PRESCOTT OF SASKATCHEWAN_, _WINSTON OF THE PRAIRIE_, ETC. Published in England under the Title _Agatha's Fortune_ New York Frederick A. Stokes Company Publishers 1918 BY THE SAME AUTHOR ALTON OF SOMASCO LORIMER OF THE NORTHWEST THURSTON OF ORCHARD VALLEY WINSTON OF THE PRAIRIE THE GOLD TRAIL SYDNEY CARTERET, RANCHER A PRAIRIE COURTSHIP VANE OF THE TIMBERLANDS THE LONG PORTAGE RANCHING FOR SYLVIA PRESCOTT OF SASKATCHEWAN THE DUST OF CONFLICT THE GREATER POWER MASTERS OF THE WHEATLANDS DELILAH OF THE SNOWS BY RIGHT OF PURCHASE THE CATTLE BARON'S DAUGHTER THRICE ARMED FOR JACINTA THE INTRIGUERS THE LEAGUE OF THE LEOPARD FOR THE ALLISON HONOR THE SECRET OF THE REEF HARDING OF ALLENWOOD THE COAST OF ADVENTURE JOHNSTONE OF THE BORDER BRANDON OF THE ENGINEERS CARMEN'S MESSENGER THE GIRL FROM KELLER'S THE LURE OF THE NORTH [Illustration: "SHE SAW A LOOK OF FEAR IN HIS STARING EYES."] CONTENTS CHAPTER I THIRLWELL MAKES HIS CHOICE II STRANGE'S STORY III AGATHA MAKES A PROMISE IV STRANGE'S PARTNER V A NIGHT'S WATCH VI FATHER LUCIEN'S ADVENTURE VII AGATHA'S RESOLVE VIII THE BURGLAR IX AGATHA ASKS ADVICE X THIRLWELL GETS A LETTER XI STORMONT FINDS A CLUE XII ON THE TRAIL XIII THE PROSPECTORS' RETURN XIV STORMONT DISOWNS A DEBT XV THE GRAND RAPID XVI THE PIT-PROP XVII DRUMMOND OFFERS HELP XVIII THE HAND IN THE WATER XIX A LOST OPPORTUNITY XX THE PLUNGE XXI THE WILDERNESS XXII BEFORE THE WIND XXIII STRANGE'S LEGACY XXIV AGATHA RESUMES HER JOURNEY XXV THE BROKEN RANGE XXVI THE LODE XXVII THIRLWELL'S DULLNESS XXVIII STORMONT TRIES A BRIBE XXIX GEORGE REPROACHES HIMSELF XXX A CHANGE OF LUCK XXXI THIRLWELL'S REWARD CHAPTER I THIRLWELL MAKES HIS CHOICE Dinner was nearly over at the big red hotel that stands high above the city of Quebec, and Thirlwell, sitting at one of the tables, abstractedly glanced about. The spacious room was filled with skilfully tempered light that glimmered on colored glasses and sparkled on silver; pillars and cornices were decorated with artistic taste. A murmur of careless talk rose from the groups of fashionably dressed women and prosperous men, and he heard a girl's soft laugh.