Produced by Al Haines [Illustration: Cover art] [Frontispiece: THEY WENT ON STEP BY STEP, WITH EYES FOR EVERY ROCK AND BUSH (missing from book)] WHITE FIRE BY JOHN OXENHAM WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY G. GRENVILLE MANTON _Adversity doth make men strong, Yet stronger still I count the man Who can sustain prosperity unspoiled And turn it to high uses._ _The white fire of a great enthusiasm is the mightiest force in the world._ TORONTO THE COPP CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED 1905 WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR GOD'S PRISONER RISING FORTUNES A PRINCESS OF VASCOVY OUR LADY OF DELIVERANCE JOHN OF GERISAU UNDER THE IRON FLAIL BONDMAN FREE THE VERY SHORT MEMORY OF MR. JOSEPH SCORER BARBE OF GRAND BAYOU A WEAVER OF WEBS HEARTS IN EXILE THE GATE OF THE DESERT TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF James Chalmers GREAT HEART OF NEW GUINEA-- "GREAT HEART THE TEACHER, GREAT HEART THE JOYOUS, GREAT HEART THE FEARLESS, GREAT HEART OF SWEET WHITE FIRE, GREAT HEART THE MARTYR.... _Nor dead, nor sleeping! He lives on, his name Shall kindle many a heart to equal flame. A soul so fiery sweet can never die, But lives, and loves, and works through all eternity._" CONTENTS CHAPTER I MISS INQUISITIVE CHAPTER II THE MAN CHAPTER III THE MAN'S MAN CHAPTER IV A SHAMELESS THING! CHAPTER V LEAP YEAR CHAPTER VI A SUDDEN WIDE HORIZON CHAPTER VII SOME ODD FURNISHINGS AND A HONEYMOON CHAPTER VIII GOING STRONG CHAPTER IX ARMS AND THE MAN CHAPTER X A BLACK OBJECT-LESSON CHAPTER XI TOO LATE CHAPTER XII THE FLAMING SWORD CHAPTER XIII THE MAN'S MAN'S MAN CHAPTER XIV CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD CHAPTER XV WHERE THOU GOEST CHAPTER XVI SAWDUST AND SHAVINGS CHAPTER XVII FIRST FRUITS CHAPTER XVIII SETBACKS CHAPTER XIX FORWARD CHAPTER XX MANY FORMS OF GRACE CHAPTER XXI MIGHT OF RIGHT CHAPTER XXII PAX CHAPTER XXIII THE SCOURGE OF GOD CHAPTER XXIV GAIN OF LOSS CHAPTER XXV THE LIFTING VEIL CHAPTER XXVI THE GENTLE MARTYR CHAPTER XXVII PEACE WITH A SPEAR CHAPTER XXVIII NO THOROUGHFARE CHAPTER XXIX THE ACT OF GOD CHAPTER XXX WIPED OUT CHAPTER XXXI REVERSIONS CHAPTER XXXII FROM THE BEGINNING CHAPTER XXXIII SALT OF THE EARTH ILLUSTRATIONS THEY WENT ON STEP BY STEP, WITH EYES FOR EVERY ROCK AND BUSH (missing from book) . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ WAVED HIS HAND TO HER, AND RECEIVED AN ANSWERING WAVE ONE SIGN OF FLINCHING AND IT IS FINISHED "MY LIFE IS FORFEIT TO THE PAST" "AND HE HAS REALLY HAD THE AUDACITY TO ASK YOU TO MARRY HIM" SHE HAD LONG AND PEREMPTORY INTERVIEWS WITH HER LAWYER BLAIR CALLED FOR THE MATE AND TOLD HIM CURTLY WHAT HE HAD ALREADY TOLD THE CAPTAIN "WE SHALL SEE THEM AGAIN," SAID CAPTAIN CATHIE (missing from book) IT MIGHT BE FOR THE LAST TIME STEPS ON THE ROAD TO SALVATION "HELLO! WHAT'S THIS?" "QUITE HAPPY, JEAN?" ASKED BLAIR PEACE WITH A SPEAR