"Well, mebbe, I saved your life. For that I'm going to ask you to draw no
more driftwood from the Madawaska--not a stick, now or ever."

"It is the only way we can keep from freezing in winter." Mr. Rupert
scarcely knew what he said. Brydon looked at Judith, who turned away,
then answered: "I'll keep you from freezing, if you'll let me, you--and
Judith."

"Oh, please let us go into the house," Judith said hastily.

She saw the young doctor driving towards them out of the covered bridge!

When Brydon went to join his men far down the river he left a wife behind
him at the Bridge House, where she and her grandfather were to stay until
the next summer. Then there would be a journey from Bamber's Boom to a
new home.

In the late autumn he came, before he went away to the shanties in the
backwoods, and again in the winter just before the babe was born. Then he
went far up the river to Rice Lake and beyond, to bring down the drives
of logs for his Company. June came, and then there was a sudden sorrow at
the Bridge House. How great it was, Pierre's words as he stood at the
door one evening will testify. He said to the young doctor: "Save the
child, and you shall have back the I O U on your house." Which was also
evidence that the young doctor had fallen into the habit of gambling.

The young doctor looked hard at him. He had a selfish nature. "You can
only do what you can do," he said.

Pierre's eyes were sinister. "If you do not save it, one would guess