but who can never quicken his pulse.  On Mildred, however—­although she coveted the gift so little—­was bestowed the power to touch the most hidden and powerful principles of his being, to awaken and stimulate every faculty he possessed.  Her words echoed and re-echoed in the recesses of his soul; even her cold, distant glances were like rays of a tropical sun to which his heart could offer no resistance; and yet they were by no means enervating.  Some natures would have grown despondent over prospects seemingly so hopeless, but Roger was of a different type.  His deep and unaccepted feeling did not flow back upon his spirit, quenching it in dejection and despair, but it became a resistless tide back of his purpose to win her recognition and respect at least, and his determination to prove himself her peer.  A girl so beautiful and womanly might easily gain such power over several men without any conscious effort, remaining meanwhile wholly indifferent or even averse herself, and Roger had indeed but little cause for hope.  He might realize every ambitious dream and win her respect and admiration, and her heart continue as unresponsive as it had been from the first.  Many a man has loved and waited in vain; and some out of this long adversity in that which touched their dearest interests have built the grandest successes of life and the loftiest and purest manhood.

A few months before, Roger seemingly had been a good-natured, pleasure-loving country youth, who took life as it came, with little thought for the morrow.  Events had proved that he had latent and undeveloped force.  In the material world we find substances that apparently are inert and powerless, but let some other substance be brought sufficiently near, and an energy is developed that seems like magic, and transformations take place that were regarded as supernatural in times when nature’s laws were little understood.  If this be true concerning that which is gross and material, how much more true of the quick, informing spirit that can send out its thoughts to the furthest star!  Strong souls—­once wholly unconscious of their power—­at the touch of adequate motives pass into action and combinations which change the character of the world from age to age.

But in the spiritual as in the physical world, this development takes place in accordance with natural law and within the limitations of each character.  There is nothing strange, however strange it may appear to those who do not understand.  Roger Atwood was not a genius that would speedily dazzle the world with bewildering coruscations.  It would rather be his tendency to grow silent and reserved with years, but his old boyish alertness would not decline, or his habit of shrewd, accurate observation.  He thus would take few false steps, and would prove his force by deeds.  Therefore he was almost predestined to succeed, for his unusually strong will would not drive him into useless effort or against obstacles that could be foreseen and avoided.