Ralph Connor

“ You will be a true man, and you will keep the fear of God before your eyes, and you will remember that a Macdonald never fails the man that trusts him." And long after the great man was gone his last words kept tugging at Ranald's heart: "Ranald, lad, remember us up yonder in the Indian Lands," he said, holding his hand with a grip that squeezed the bones together; "we will be always thinking of you, and more than all, at the Bible class and the meetings she will be asking for you and wondering how you are doing, and by night and by day the door will be on the latch for your coming ”

“ The bar-room was filled with men in shanty dress, some sitting with chairs tipped back against the wall, smoking the black French "twist" tobacco; others drinking at the bar; and others still at the tables that stood in one corner of the room playing cards with loud exclamations and oaths of delight or disgust, according to their fortune. ”

“ Rouleau gazed thunderstruck.
"Mort Dieu!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "The deal was from you."
"Mine," said De Lacy, quietly, looking up at the excited Frenchman.
"Ah," cried Rouleau, beside himself. "It is—what you call? One cheat! cheat!"
The lieutenant sat up straight in his chair. ”

“ Dollar by dollar the bet was raised till at last Rouleau joyously gathered his last chips, raised the bet once more by the limit, exclaiming, as he did so, "Alas! dere ees no more!" He had played his season's wages that night, but now he would recover all.
De Lacy, whose coolness was undisturbed, though his face showed signs of his many brandy-and-sodas, covered the bet.
"Holà!" exclaimed Rouleau in triumph. "Eet ees to me!" He threw down his cards and reached for the pile.
"Excuse me," said the lieutenant, quietly looking at Rouleau's cards. "Ah, a straight flush, queen high." ”

“ Sims, the loss of a few dollars being a matter of small moment to either.
"It would make it more interesting if we made it a dollar to play," at length said Mr. Sims. The suggestion was accepted, and the game went on. At once the luck began to turn, and in a half hour's play Rouleau's winnings disappeared and passed over to the lieutenant's hand. In spite of his bad luck, however, Rouleau continued to bet eagerly and recklessly, until Ranald, who hated to see the young lumberman losing his season's wages, suggested that the game come to an end. ”

“ Ranald, think what you are doing!"
"You didn't notice his remark, apparently, St. Clair," said the lieutenant, calmly.
"Never mind," cried Harry, "he was excited, and anyway the thing must end here."
"There is only one way. Does he retract?" said De Lacy, quietly.
"Ranald," Harry cried, beseechingly, "you know he is no coward; you did not mean that."
By this time Ranald had himself in hand.
"No," he said, regretfully, forcing himself to speak the truth. "I know he is no coward ”

“ Keep your left eye on the suckers. There ain't no danger from the feller that rips and rares and gits up on his hind legs, but the feller that sidles raound and sorter chums it up to you and wants to pay fer your drinks, by Jings, kick him. And say," Yankee's voice here grew low and impressive, "git some close. These here are all right for the woods, but with them people close counts an awful lot. It's the man inside that wins, but the close is outside. Git 'em and git 'em good; none of your second-hand Jew outfits. It'll cost, of course, but— (here Yankee closed up to Ranald) but here's a wad ”