"But when you move in," said Paula, and there was no mistaking the earnestness of her tone, "you break touch with those you love here."

"I don't know about that," answered Barry quickly.

"Oh, yes you do. You are out of all this,--all this," she swept her hand at the world around her, "this good old world, all your joy and happiness, all you love. Oh, that's the worst of it; you give up your love. I hate it!" she concluded with vehemence sudden and fierce, as she shook her fist towards the stars.

"Give up your love?" said Barry. "Not I! Not one good, honest affection do I mean to give up, nor shall I."

"Oh, nonsense! Don't be religious. Just be honest," said Paula, in a low, intense voice. "Let me speak to you. Suppose I--I love a man with all my soul and body--and body, mind you, and he goes out, or goes in, as you say. No matter, he goes out of my life. I lose him, he is not here. I cannot feel and respond to his love. I cannot feel his strong arms about me. My God!" Her voice came with increasing vehemence. "I want his arms. I want him as he is. I want his body--I cannot love a ghost. No! no!" she added in a low, hopeless voice. "When he goes out I lose him, and lose him as mine forever. Oh, what do I care for your spirit love! The old Greeks were right. They are shades--shades, mere shades beyond the river. I don't want a shade. I want a man, a strong, warm-hearted, brave man. Yes, a good man, a man with a soul. But a MAN, not a SOUL. My God!" she moaned, "how terrible it all is! And it came so near to us to-day. But I should not be saying this to you, played out as you are. I am going to bed. Good-night."

She put out her hand and gripped his in warm, strong, muscular fingers.

"Thank God, yes God, if you like, you are still--still in this outer circle,"--she broke into a laugh, but there was little mirth in her laughter--"this good old outer circle, yet awhile."

"Yes," said Barry simply but very earnestly, "thank God. It is a good world. But with all my soul I believe there is a better, and all that is best in love and life we shall take with us. Good-night," he added, "and thank you, at least for the will and the attempt to save my life."

"Sleep well," she said.

"I hope so," he replied, "but I doubt it."

His doubts, it turned out, were justified, for soon after midnight Mr.

Howland was aroused by Harry Hobbs in a terror of excitement.

"Will you come to Mr. Dunbar, sir?" he cried. "I think he is dying."

"Dying?" Mr. Howland was out of his cot immediately and at Barry's side.

He found him fighting for breath, his eyes starting from his head, a look of infinite distress on his face.

"My dear boy, what is it? Hobbs says you are dying."

"That con-con-founded--fool--shouldn't have--called you. I forbade--him," gasped Barry.

"But, my dear boy, what is the matter? Are you in pain?"

"No, no,--it's--nothing--only an old--friend come back--for a call,--a brief one--let us--hope. It's only asthma. Looks bad--feels worse--but really--not at all dangerous."

"What can be done, my boy?" asked Mr. Howland, greatly relieved, as are most laymen, when the trouble can be named. It is upon the terror inspired by the unknown that the medical profession lives.

"Tell Harry--to make--a hot drink," said Barry, but Harry had already forestalled the request, and appeared with a steaming bowl. "This will--help. Now--go to--bed, Mr. Howland. Do, please.--You distress--me by remaining--there. Harry will--look after me. Good-night."

Next morning Barry appeared at breakfast a little washed out in appearance, but quite bright and announcing himself fit for anything.

The incident, however, was a determining factor in changing the party's plans. Already they were behind their time schedule, to Mr. Cornwall Brand's disgust. The party was too large and too heavily encumbered with impedimenta for swift travel. Besides, as Paula said, "Why rush? Are we not doing the Peace River Country? We are out for a good time and we are having it." Paula was not interested in mines and oil. She did not announce just what special interest was hers. She was "having a good time" and that was reason enough for leisurely travel. In consequence their provisions had run low.

It was decided to send forward a scouting party to the Hudson's Bay Post some thirty miles further on to restock their commissariat. Accordingly Knight and Fielding were despatched on this mission, the rest of the party remaining in camp.

"A lazy day or two in camp is what we all need," said Mr. Howland. "I confess I am quite used up myself, and therefore I know you must all feel much the same."

On the fourth day the scouting party appeared.

"There's war!" cried Knight as he touched land. He flung out a bundle of papers for Mr. Howland.

"War!" The word came back in tones as varied as those who uttered it.

"War!" said Mr. Howland. "Between whom?"

"Every one, pretty much," said Knight. "Germany, France, Russia, Austria, Servia, Belgium, and Britain."

"Britain!" said Barry and Duff at the same moment.

"Britain," answered Knight solemnly.

The men stood stock still, looking at each other with awed faces.

"War!" again said Barry. "With Germany!" He turned abruptly away from the group and said, "I am going."

"Going! Going where?" said Mr. Howland.

"To the war," said Barry quietly.

"To the war! You? A clergyman?" said Mr. Howland.

"You? You going?" cried Paula. At the pain in her voice her father and Brand turned and looked at her. Disturbed by what he saw, her father began an excited appeal to Barry.

"Why, my dear sir, it would surely be most unusual for a man like you to go to war," he began, and for quite ten minutes he proceeded to set forth in fluent and excited speech a number of reasons why the idea of Barry's going to war was absurd and preposterous to him. It must be confessed that Barry was the only one of the men who appeared to give much heed to him. They seemed to be dazed by the stupendous fact that had been announced to them, and to be adjusting themselves to that fact.

When he had finished his lengthy and excited speech Brand took up the discourse.

"Of course you don't think of going immediately," he said. "We have this expedition in hand."

The men made no reply. Indeed, they hardly seemed to hear him.

"You don't mean to say," continued Brand with a touch of indignation in his voice, addressing Duff, the recognised leader of the party, "that you would break your engagement with this party, Mr. Duff?"

Duff glanced at him, then looked away in silence, studying the horizon.

The world was to him and to them all a new world within the last few minutes.

His silence appeared to enrage Brand. He turned to Barry.

"Do you mean to tell me, sir, that you approve of this? Do you consider it right and fair that these men should break their engagement with us?

We have gone to great expense, we have extremely important interests at stake in this exploration."

Barry stood looking at him in silence, as if trying to take in exactly what he meant, then in a low and awed tone he said:

"It is war! War with Germany!"

"We cannot help that," cried Brand. "What difference can this war make to you here a hundred miles from civilisation? These men are pledged to us."

"Their first pledge is to their country, sir," said Barry gravely.

"But why should you, a Canadian, take part in this war?" argued Mr.