If Any Man Sin

ll and other toys, and never seemed to grow weary of them. Martin visited his traps each day, and during the long evenings remained at home. There was no work he

the sound of the violin, upon which Martin would play when the mood was upon him.

ody. There was a power within him which refused to be still. It was ever active, like the ceaseless throb of the engine concealed within the ship. He ha

ken in his library, and what joy had always been his when he could be alone for a while with his favourite authors. But now he had nothing, not even a scrap of a newspaper. He looked around the barren room,

pleased that they had come, as he was beginning to be quite fond of these two well-behaved natives. The only difficulty he had was in talking with them.

saying a word. Martin offered Taku a plug of tobacco, which the latter took, filled his pipe, and then handed it over to his w

g at Martin. "Fine squaw, eh?"

in n

sam' white man, e

Martin inquired

spik all sam

peak white man's tongue?

h, all

eply. "I'll think it over.

Injun sl

wh

Taku began to hum the air

that?" Martin aske

' dis," and the Indian tapped upon the floor with

ing, too?" Mar

, a

savvey

uaw. Me no savvey talk," and he sho

savvey the wo

, a

k about it. You come to m

h. Me

s who had gone to the post for supplies had come in contact with the missionaries there, and had attended service. They would go back again, and ea

e and hold service among them. Again the bishop's warning came to him. He was surely learning now how true were those words. He paced rapidly up and down the room. What s

d from its influence. He had been always on the defensive. Why not change his position and assume the aggressive? The Church was nothing to him now except the great disturber of his peace of mind. Although he was only one, yet why should he not show that he could retaliate? Why run away like a cur? Woul

ation and expose the Church. He knew many things about it which were not generally known, for he had been within the inner circle. He had seen much sham, hypocrisy, and even downright sin in the fold. He could tell of the strife, and division which often existed; of the incessant struggl

s with which they were familiar as illustrations. The natives were most anxious to learn, and repeated the words over and over again with remarkable patience. Time was nothing to them, and in fact they would have remained all day if Martin had been willing to instruct them. But a lesson of two hours was all that he could

wly to his feet, and st

sling all sam' white squaw," and h

ing the hymns of the Church which had cast him out, or should he poison their minds by telling them that such things were all nonsense? The Indians were observing him closely, and it seemed as

re following his every movement. He glanced towards the expectant natives. They were Nance's companions, and would be for years to come. Suppose he denied them their request now, a

they had received through that very Church which he was now on the verge of opposing. Then his mind flashed to Beryl. Beryl! What a vision rose before him. How could he deny the Church of which she

to his indecision. He thought of the Bishop's words, and a scornful laugh broke from his lips, as he rose from the stool on which he had been sitting, and laid the violin upon the table. What a fool he had been, he told himself, for having wavered eve

d surly and dejected. But Martin did not care what they said or thought. He had made up his mind to oppose the Church, and he was not

over, the few dishes washed and put a

please," she pleaded, laying her he

r, dear? He

e other one, you know, wh

at Nance should make such a request when he had bee

about her, little one?"

nk about her so much, and

ty, Nance, and so

her name

er

t a funny name

u see this flo

Martin's face. "I'm so glad. It's much nicer than being

ce, just

a really r

nce; the most bea

iful than m

f the white face of a dead woman, lying in the Indian lodge on the bank

he at length replied. "I never talked to her

love lit

erything that is g

love you

while a flush came into his face. "I

ms around his neck. "You are so beautiful and

ty and innocent prattle of this child were unnerving him. He told her that it was getting late, and that she mu

id, "I want to be just like Ber

ply. "But go to sleep now, and