As she hurried away, Helen realized with a shock the change that the past few months had wrought in her.  In truth, it was as Glenister had said, his Northland worked strangely with its denizens.  What of that shrinking girl who had stepped out of the sheltered life, strong only in her untried honesty, to become a hunted, harried thing, juggling with honor and reputation, in her heart a half-formed fear that she might kill a man this night to gain her end?  The elements were moulding her with irresistible hands.  Roy’s contact with the primitive had not roughened him more quickly than had hers.

She met her appointment with Struve, and they rode away together, he talkative and elated, she silent and icy.

Late in the afternoon the cloud banks to the eastward assumed alarming proportions.  They brought with them an early nightfall, and when they broke let forth a tempest which rivalled that of the previous night.  During the first of it armed men came sifting into McNamara’s office from the rear and were hidden throughout the building.  Whenever he descried a peculiarly desperate ruffian the boss called him aside for private instruction and gave minute description of a wide-shouldered, erect, youth in white hat and half-boots.  Gradually he set his trap with the men Voorhees had raked from the slums, and when it was done smiled to himself.  As he thought it over he ceased to regret the miscarriage of last night’s plan, for it had served to goad his enemies to the point he desired, to the point where they would rush to their own undoing.  He thought with satisfaction of the role he would play in the United States press when the sensational news of this night’s adventure came out.  A court official who dared to do his duty despite a lawless mob.  A receiver who turned a midnight attack into a rout and shambles.  That is what they would say.  What if he did exceed his authority thereafter?  What if there were a scandal?  Who would question?  As to soldiers—­no, decidedly no.  He wished no help of soldiers at this time.

The sight of a ship in the offing towards dark caused him some uneasiness, for, notwithstanding the assurance that the course of justice in the San Francisco courts had been clogged, he knew Bill Wheaton to be a resourceful lawyer and a determined man.  Therefore, it relieved him to note the rising gale, which precluded the possibility of interference from that source.  Let them come to-morrow if they would.  By that time some of the mines would be ownerless and his position strengthened a hundredfold.

He telephoned the mines to throw out guards, although he reasoned that none but madmen would think of striking there in the face of the warning which he knew must have been transmitted through Helen.  Putting on his rain-coat he sought Stillman.

“Bring your niece over to my place to-night.  There’s trouble in the air and I’m prepared for it.”

“She hasn’t returned from her ride yet.  I’m afraid she’s caught in the storm.”  The Judge gazed anxiously into the darkness.