At that instant Bruce seemed to come to life. His thoughts had been clear ever since the tree had been struck; his vision was straighter and more far-reaching than ever in his life before, but now his muscles wakened too. He sprang toward the girl and snatched the rifle from her hand. She fought for it, and he held her with a strong arm. "Wait--wait, Linda," he said gently. "You've wasted three cartridges now. There are only two left. And we may need them some other time." He held her from him with his arm; and it was as if his strength flowed into her. Her blazing eyes sought his, and for a long second their wills battled. And then a deep wonder seemed to come over her. "What is it?" she breathed. "What have you found out?" She spoke in a strange and distant voice. Slowly the fire died in her eyes, the drawn features relaxed, her hands fell at her side. He drew her away from he lighted doorway, out of the range of any of the Turners that should turn to answer the rifle fire. The wind roared over the house and swept by in clamoring fury, the electric storm dimmed and lessened as it journeyed on. These two knew that if death spared them in all the long passage of their years, they could never forget that moment. The girl watched him breathlessly, oblivious to all things else. He seemed wholly unaware of her now. There was something aloof, impassive, infinitely calm about him, and a great, far-reaching understanding was in his eyes. Her own eyes suddenly filled with tears. "Linda, there's something come to me--and I don't know that I can make you understand. I can only call it strength--a new strength and a greater strength than I ever had before. It's something that the pine--that great tree that we just saw split open--has been trying to tell me for a long time. Oh, can't you see, Linda? There it stood, hundreds of years--so great, so tall, so wise--in a moment broken like a reed. It takes away my arrogance, Linda. It makes me see myself as I really am. And that means--_power_." His eyes blazed, and he caught her hands in his. "It was a symbol, Linda, not only of the wilderness, but of powers higher and greater than the wilderness. Powers that can look down, and not be swept away by passion, and not try to tear to pieces those who in their folly harm them. There's no room for such things as vengeance in this new strength. There's no room for murder, and malice, and hatred, and bloodshed."