He found himself less and less able to face the thought of giving up this rare opportunity of winning Ann's favour and an influence over her--_moral_ influence at least; his mind was clear enough to see that what was gained by disobeying God's law was from a religious point of view nil.

In his mind was the beginning of a contempt for God's way of saving him.

If he was to win his own soul by consigning Ann and her father to probable perdition, he did not want to win it.
The August morning came radiant and fresh; the air, sharp with a touch of frost from neighbouring hills, bore strength and lightness for every creature.

The sunlight was gay on the little wooden town, on its breezy gardens and wastes of flowering weeds, on the descent of the foaming fall, on the clear brown river.

Even the sober wood of ash and maple glistened in the morning light, and the birds sang songs that in countries where a longer summer reigns are only heard in spring-time.
Bart Toyner went out of the house exhausted and almost hopeless.