ranny are gone。〃 The house rocked with the wild cheers of the excited crowd。 〃Let us examine into this。 Let us appoint a committee to find out how much money has been paid and where it is。〃
With enthusiasm Kalman's suggestion was carried into effect。 A committee was appointed and instructed to secure the information with all speed。
Next day Klazowski was not to be found in the colony。 He had shaken the Wakota snow from off his feet； and had departed； carrying with him the people's hard…earned money； their fervent curses； and a deep； deep grudge against the young man upon whom he laid the responsibility for the collapse of his influence among the faithful and long…suffering people of Wakota。
A few days later； to an interested and devout congregation in the city of Winnipeg； he gave an eloquent account of his labours as a missionary in the remote colony of Wakota； depicted in lurid colours the persecutions he had endured at the hands of the heretic Brown； reserving his most fervid periods for the denunciation of the unscrupulous machinations of an apostate and arch traitor； Kalman Kalmar； whose name would forever be remembered by his people with infamy。
Among those who remained to congratulate and sympathize with the orator； none was more cordial than Mr。 Rosenblatt； with whom the preacher went home to dine； and to whom； under the mellowing influence of a third bottle； he imparted full and valuable information in regard to Wakota； its possibilities as a business centre； its railroad prospects； its land values； its timber limits； and especially in regard to the character and work of Kalman Kalmar； and the wonderful mine which the young man had discovered。
The information thus obtained Rosenblatt was careful to impart to his friend and partner； Samuel Sprink。 As a result of further interviews with the priest and of much shrewd bargaining with railroad contractors and officials； in early spring； before the break up of the roads； Mr。 Samuel Sprink had established himself along the line of construction as a vendor of 〃gents' furnishings；〃 working men's supplies； tobaccos and cigars； and other useful and domestic articles。 It was not announced； however； in the alluring posters distributed among the people in language suited to their comprehension； that among his stores might be found a brand of whiskey of whose virtues none could speak with more confidence than Mr。 Sprink himself； for the sufficient reason that he was for the most part the sole manufacturer thereof。
Chief among Mr。 Sprink's activities was that of 〃claim jumping；〃 to wit； the securing for himself of homesteads for which patents had not been obtained； the homesteaders for one reason or another having not been able to complete the duties required by Government。 In the prosecution of this business Mr。 Sprink made a discovery； which he conveyed in a letter to Mr。 Rosenblatt； who was still in charge of the Winnipeg end of the Company's business。
〃You must come at once；〃 wrote Mr。 Sprink。 〃I save a great business on hand。 I have discovered that no application has been made for the coal mine claimed by young Kalmar； and this means that the mine is still open。 Had I the full description of the property； I should have jumped the claim at once； you bet。 So get a move on and come。 Get the description of the land on the quiet； and then do some work among the Galician people to prepare for the change of ownership； because there will be trouble； sure。 So； come along。 There is other big business too； so you must come。〃
Rosenblatt needed no further urging。 In a week he was on the ground。
Meanwhile； Kalman was developing his mine； and dreaming great dreams as to what he should do when he had become a great mine owner。 It was his custom； ever since Irma's coming； to spend the Sunday evening with her at the hospital。 His way to the mine lay through scrub and sleugh； a heavy trail； and so he welcomed the breaking up of the ice on the Eagle River。 For； taking Brown's canoe； he could paddle down to the Saskatchewan； and thence to the mouth of the Night Hawk Creek； from which point it was only a short walk to camp。
It was a most fortunate thing for old Pere Garneau that Kalman had adopted this method of transportation on the very night the old priest had chosen for his trip down the Eagle。 Pere Garneau； a pioneer priest of the North Saskatchewan country； had ministered for twenty years； by river and by trail； to the spiritual and temporal needs of the half…breeds and the Indians under the care of his church。 A heroic soul was the old Father； not to be daunted by dangers； simple as a child； and kindly。 But the years had done their work with him on eye and hand。 The running ice in the spring flood of the Eagle River got itself under the nose of the good Father's canoe； and the current did the rest。 His feeble cry would have brought no aid； had not Kalman； at the very moment； been shoving out his canoe into the current of the Eagle。 A few strong sweeps of the paddle； and Kalman had the old priest in tow； and in a few minutes； with Brown's aid； into the hospital and snugly in bed； with his canoe； and what of his stuff could be rescued； safe under cover。 Two days of Irma's nursing and of Brown's treatment； and the ill effects of his chilly dip had disappeared sufficiently to allow the Father to proceed on his way。
〃Eet will be to me a pleasant remembrance of your hospitalite；〃 he said to Brown on the morning of the third day。
〃And to us of your stay； Father Garneau；〃 replied Brown。 〃But you need not go to…day。 You are not strong enough； and； besides； I have some work for you。 There is a poor Galician woman with us here who cannot see the morning。 She could not bear the priest Klazowski。 She had trouble with him； and I think you could comfort her。〃
〃Ah； dat Klazowski！〃 exclaimed Pere Garneau。 〃Eet ees not a good man。 Many peep' tell me of dat man。 He will be no more priest； for certainly。 I would see dis woman； poor soul！〃
〃To…night Kalman will be here；〃 said Brown； 〃and he will interpret for you。〃
〃Ah； he ees a fine young man； Kalman。 He mak' troub' for dat priest； ees eet not？〃
〃Well； I am afraid he did；〃 said Brown； laughing。 〃But I fancy it was the priest made trouble for himself。〃
〃Yes； dat ees so； and dat ees de worse troub' of all；〃 said the wise old man。
The poor woman made her confession； received her Sacrament； and thus comforted and at peace； made exit from this troubled life。
〃My son；〃 said the priest to Kalman when the service was over； 〃I would be glad to confess you。〃
〃Thank you； Father；〃 said Kalman。 〃I make my confession to God。〃
〃Ah； my son； you have been injured in your faith by dat bad priest Klazowski。〃
〃No； I think not；〃 said Kalman。 〃I have for some years been reading my Bible； and I have lived beside a good man who has taught me to know God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ。 I seek to follow him as Peter and the others did。 But I am no longer of the Galician way of religion； neither Greek nor Roman。〃
〃My son；〃 exclaimed the old priest in horror； 〃you are not an apostate？ You have not denied your faith？〃
〃No； I have not。 I try to please Christ。〃
Long and painfully； and with tears； did the old priest labour with Kalman； to whom his soul went out in gratitude and affection； but without making any change in the young man's mind。 The teaching； but more the life； of his friend had not been lost； and Kalman had come to see clearly his way。
Next morning the good Father was ready for his journey。
〃I leave to you；〃 he said to Brown； 〃my double blessing； of the stranger whom you received； and of the sick to whom you served。 Ah！ what a peety you are in the darkness of error；〃 he continued with a gentle smile； 〃but I will pray for you； for you both； my children； many times。〃
〃Thank you； thank you；〃 said Brown warmly。 〃The prayers of a good man bring blessing； and I love to remember the words of our Master； 'He that is not against us is on our part。'〃
Ah！ dat ees true； dat ees true。 Dat ees like Heem。 Adieu。〃
For some days Rosenblatt had been at work quietly in the colony； obtaining information and making friends。 Among the first who offered their services was old Portnoff and a friend of his； an old man with ragged beard； and deep…set； piercing eyes looking out from under shaggy brows； to whom Portnoff gave the name of Malkarski。 As Portnoff seemed to be a man of influence among his people； Rosenblatt made him foreman over one of the gangs of workmen in his employ。 It was through Portnoff he obtained an accurate description of the mine property。 But that same night Portnoff and Malkarski were found at Brown's house。
〃There is a man；〃 said Portnoff； 〃who wishes to know about the mine。 Perhaps he desires to purchase。〃
〃His name？〃 enquired Brown。
〃Rosenblatt。〃
〃Rosenblatt？ That name has a familiar sound。 It would be wise；〃 he continued； 〃to carry your information to Kalman at once。〃
〃It shall be done to…night；〃 said Malkarski in a deep voice。 〃It is important。 Portnoff will go。〃 Portnoff agreed。
The following morning brought Kalman to Wakota。 The arrival of Rosenblatt in the country had changed for him the face of heaven and earth。 Before his eyes there rose and remained the vision of a spot in a Russian forest where the snow was tramped and bloody。 With sobs and execrations he poured forth his tale to Brown。
〃And my father has sworn to kill him； and if he fails I shall take it up。〃
〃Kalman； my boy；〃 said Brown； 〃I cannot wonder that you feel like this。 Killing is too good for the brute。 But this you cannot do。 Vengeance is not ours； but God's。〃
〃If my father fails；〃 said Kalman quietly； 〃I shall kill him。〃
〃You must not think like that； much less speak so；〃 said Brown。 〃This is Canada； not Russia。 You are a Christian man and no heathen。〃
〃I can't help it；〃 said Kalman； 〃I can only see that bloody snow。〃 He put his hands over his eyes and shuddered violently。 〃I must kill him！〃
〃And would you ruin your own life？ Would you shut yourself off forever from your best and holiest thoughts？ And what of your sister； and Jack； and me？ And what ofofall your friends？ For this one fierce and sinful passionfor it is sinful； Kal