NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS

COPYRIGHT, 1916,
By DODD, MEAD & COMPANY, Inc.

TO
JACKSON GREGORY, Jr.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I [OPEN HOUSE AT PÈRE MARQUETTE'S]
II [THE COMING OF NO-LUCK DRENNEN]
III [THE MAN UNDER THE CLOAK]
IV [THE LUCK OF NO-LUCK DRENNEN]
V [THE WAY OF THE NORTH]
VI [THE PROMISE OF A RAINBOW]
VII ["A PRINCESS, SENT TO PACK WITH WOLVES!"]
VIII [DUST OF IDOLS]
IX ["TO THE GIRL I AM GOING TO KISS TONIGHT!"]
X [SEEKERS AFTER GOLD]
XI [THE WITCHERY OF YGERNE]
XII [MERE BRUTE … OR JUST PLAIN MAN?]
XIII [YGERNE'S ANSWER]
XIV [DRENNEN MAKES A DISCOVERY]
XV [THE TALE OF le Beau Diable]
XVI [THE LOST GOLDEN GIRL PAYS AN OLD DEBT]
XVII [THE PASSION OF ERNESTINE DUMONT]
XVIII [THE LAW AND A MAN'S DESIRE]
XIX [THE LONG TRAIL]
XX [THE FIRES WHICH PURIFY]
XXI [CHANCE HEARD IN THE NIGHT]
XXII [THE PATH DOWN THE CLIFF]
XXIII [CHÂTEAU BELLAIRE]
XXIV [THE SPEAKING OF GUNS]
XXV [THE BELATED DAWN]

WOLF BREED

CHAPTER I

OPEN HOUSE AT PÈRE MARQUETTE'S

Mid June, and the eager spring had burst triumphant into the North Woods. The mountain tops, still white hostages of the retreating winter, fettered in frozen manacles, were alone in their reminiscence of the implacable season. And even they made their joyous offerings to the newborn springtime, pouring a thousand flashing cascades to leap down the rocky sides and seek out the hidden nooks and valleys where seeds were bursting and the thawed earth lay fruitful under warm, lush grass. The birds were back from their southern voyaging, once more the squirrels chattered in the open, noisily forgetful of the rigours of winter in the joy of green things growing, and in the clear blue arch of the sky the sun wheeled gloriously through a long day. The air, always wine, was now a sparkling, bubbling, rare vintage champagne, dancing in the blood, making laughter in the heart and sweet tumult in the brain. It was the season of long, golden days, of clear, silver nights, of budding life everywhere.