Clarence Vallero spent the winter aboard his yacht, sailing the southern seas. After his sensational marriage, it was the easiest way to avoid the embarrasing questions of a curious public. His vast wealth made him a constant target for newspaper comment, which ordinarily was not distasteful to him. Now, however, the notoriety had lost its savor, and from this he was glad to escape.

He was chagrined at the thought of losing Truth, whom he desired to possess with all the strength of his physical nature. She was a beautiful plaything to desire - he was a man - he wanted her and that was all there was to it. He would not long mourn the loss of one woman's love, however. His estimate of the sex put them all in the category of his wants which contained only that which ministered to his pleasures. He was consoled in the thought that the aristocratic world did not generally know that his wife had deserted him on their wedding night. Therefore his vanity was preserved and the loss of Truth to him was after all but a small factor in his life.

With the return of the spring-time he was back in his home town, securing a divorce on the grounds of desertion. His freedom and methods of living soon permitted his name to appear on the unwritten list of eligibles in the matrimonial market. His elaborate domicile needed a mistress and to him a wife was a necessary evil as he termed it. With the purchase price in his possession he saw nothing to prevent his choosing from the most charming debutantes of the season's "exhibit."

It was the first day in May when he reached the city, and it would require at least a month to complete legal negotiations for his freedom. He resolved to spend a few weeks trout fishing in the mountain streams of the locality which were famed for their speckled beauties.

He immediately set out on his excursion alone, making his headquarters at a small village within a few hours' ride of the city, and established himself at the country hotel.

The second day after his arrival, he was returning to the village from a day's trip with an unusually lucky catch. Taking a short cut through the woods, he was suddenly attracted by a flash of pink, darting hither and thither among the trees. On closer approach he saw a girlish figure gathering wild flowers which she placed with careless arrangement in a basket hanging on her arm. Vallero stood a few moments quietly watching her graceful movements, assuring himself that she was both youthful and pretty, a magnet which drew him boldly toward her. Startled, she looked up at the intruder, who lifted his hat in courteous salutation and in a suave, affable manner said:

"I beg your pardon, lady. I'm a stranger in this part of the country. Wishing to take a short cut through the woods I missed the right path to the village; can you direct me to the main road?"

"Certainly, certainly," replied a sweet voice with ready graciousness. "Follow the path that leads past yonder farmhouse; on the second crossing you will strike the road to the village."

"And will it be safe for me to venture on this private domain?"

"Perfectly safe, I am sure."

"No one to arrest me for trespassing over these fields?" laughed Vallero, with an admiring look upon this girlish loveliness, who seemed to capture him at once with her winning smile. She assured him further that no harm would befall him as she could answer for the owner.

"Would it be a breach of confidence to tell me who is the possessor of these beautiful grounds?"

"They belong to my brother, Adoni Bourd-aJone."

Vallero gave a sudden ejaculation. "Pardon me," he stammered. "Did you say - Adoni Bourdalone?"

"Yes," assented Martha, meeting his surprised look inquiringly. "Do you know him?"

Vallero's thoughts leaped with lightning rapidity, trying to grasp this unforeseen situation. His guarded reply was given with a view to eliciting further information. "Not intimately," he replied. "I met him several times - in social gatherings. He resigned from the church - did he not?"

"Yes, and went to India last summer."

"Now I recollect reading about it - how long does he intend to remain there?"

"We expect him home some time next month."

"Do I remember rightly, reading of your mother's death about the time he departed for India?"

"Yes, mother passed away the week before he left."

"Then you must have felt lonely, indeed, being doubly bereft?"

Seeing her lip quiver, he continued quickly: "Your brother has a reputation of being a wonderful man - famous for his power of healing in a miraculous way."

"It is a very simple way," replied Martha with a grave smile, "if one understands the law of love."

"The law of love?" repeated Vallero in a tone that betrayed his ignorance. "I'm sure I never heard of a law - by the name of love."

"Then it certainly would be useless for me to attempt an explanation on the subject."

"A very interesting one, I'm sure - and when I have the honor of meeting your brother again, I shall congratulate him in possessing so gracious and charming a sister, left alone - ."

"I am not entirely alone," defended Martha quickly, "my auntie lives with me now since mother left us."

"He went in obedience to mother's request; to study with the wise men of the Orient. The time is not far away when he will return again, and then I will not be lonely any more."

"Meanwhile, why not let me help you to pass the time? Here is my card, you may have heard your brother mention my name; if not I believe I shall be able to furnish satisfactory credentials. Somehow I cannot resist confiding in you that I'm awfully bored up here alone, trying to kill time. I have a little boat on the lake, and expect my car tomorrow, and I can assure you, Miss Bourdalone, that I would be pleased and honored if you consent to share the pleasures with me."

"Thank you," replied Martha in a tone expressing involuntary eagerness to accept such a charming invitation. "You are very kind but I should have to ask my aunt's permission."