If Any Man Sin

rst of all it was necessary to lay in a sufficient supply of food to last them until spring. Of fish he had plent

nching antlers. Martin, in company with an Indian, had come upon him as he was quietly browsing in a wild meadow, several miles back from the lake. To Martin it see

to view. The wounded animal saw him, and in its dying rage charged suddenly upon his assailant. His antlers were but a few yards away and in another instan

own to the lake was a task of considerable magnitud

soon came to know the ways of the shy denizens of the forest, and took much pride in matching his skill against their cunning. At first meagre success rewarded his labours. The lynx, fox, martin, wolverine, and other animals for a time gave a

became firm friends. But the child would always watch most anxiously for the return of her daddy, as she

y-chair. He also constructed a couch to the left of the fire-place. Upon this he placed a liberal supply of fir boughs, over which he spread a large well-dressed mo

fish, and much of this was not good for a white child. Dried berries, and bulbous roots, supplied by the Indians, afforded a pleasing change. These had been procured during the summer, and through native s

iving so much in the open her face was well browned, and her cheeks like twin roses. Martin was very particular about her appearance, and as he could not always attend to Nance himself he had instructed Quabee in the art of caring

to perform this, but when it was finished he was quite proud of his accomplishment. This was accordingly installed

ever once entered her mind. She was a superior woman in many ways, tall, straight, and comely in appearance. She was never so happy as when with Nance. She would play with her, and the child soon began to learn a number of Indian words, while Quabee added daily to her knowledge of the English language.

pon the Indian woman. She became somewhat neater in appearance, and she daily endeavoured to act more like the wh

doll. On the floor at his left was a pile of furs, consisting principally of fox, lynx, wolverine, and beaver. He had counted them over several times, and had t

for his bodily welfare that he should do so, but it was the divine command. It had nothing to do with the Church, so he reasoned, and although he had been separated from the latter, he still believed that the Great God was his Father, and that His Son had died for

Indian hunters were to start in the morning for the trading post across the mountains, and they would take his skins, and bring back the articles he requir

aroused him, causing him to g

estioned, as the child sprang t

Santa Claus. Mamma is fixing up a tree f

es wide, and stared hard at the imaginary

uckle of delight. "We're just fixing it up for Santa Claus.

Santa will find you h

dolly, and candy. When will it be Christmas again?" and Nance climbed upon Martin's knee.

It won't be long. What would you like

oughtfully into the fire. "I want a new dolly, that will shut her eyes and go to slee

rtin asked as

, why don't they come! Do you thi

now. But we'll fix up a tree, a little one, won't we?" he suggested in order to divert her attention.

delight. "And we'll let the Indian childre

ader at Fort O' Rest. "They may have something suitable for a child," he mused, as he gazed thoughtfully upon what he had written. "Na

ery day he expected the arrival of the Indians from the fort, bringing with them the long-looked-for supplies and pres

ail led, hoping to hear the jingle of bells, the shouts of the Indians, and the joyful yelps of the dogs. But no sound could he hear. The great forest, silent and grim, revealed nothing to the anxious watcher. When night, cold and dreary, sh

h delight, "when I wake in the morning th

ment when she opened her eyes and found the tree as bare as it was the night before. What could he say to her, and how would he be able to so

y," she said. "And you'll help me take my prese

nto his eyes. He threw himself upon the chair before the fire. If anyone had told him one year ago that a mere child could so capture his heart and weave such a wonderful spell a

ng to his feet and listened eagerly. Yes, it must be the Indians! Hurrying to the door, he threw it open, and peered forth. There before him were the forms of men and dogs. The former were busily unfastening something from their sleds. His greetings to the natives were answered by several grunts. Th

ther things. Then his face grew grave, for he could not find the presents he had ordered for Nance. With a sinking heart he placed the goods against the wall, a

all sam' lose 'um." Saying which he held fort

were the presents for Nance. He did not touch them at first, but crossing the room stood for a while gazing upon the sleeping chil

d no idea before that they kept so many things at the trading-post. There were several pictu

out of his eyes. It was from the trader at Fort O' Rest. He did not keep toys, so he wrote, but a mission post had been established there the previous summer, and he had shown t

to the mission by some society of the Church to which he had once belonged. The words of his old bishop flashed into his mind: "Do you imagine that you can cut yourself off from the influence of the Church of your childhood? I tell you that you are mistaken, for such a thing is utterly i

m to the fire. He would not take them from the Church, no, not for the sake of the child he

his own battle, and there was no one to help him. He went to the door, and looked out. He knew that it was past midnight by the position of the stars. All was still and cold. The sharp air cooled his hot face, and somewhat calmed his excited mind. He closed the door and sat down. It was Christmas morning, the day which had always brought such a peace into his soul until his fall. He thought of it now and of the days of youth when he had gone with his parents to the little parish church. H

mself the fire was burning low, and the dawn of a new Christmas day was stealing over the land. He threw several sticks upon the fire, and then, picking