CHAPTER I.

_THE 0LD TRAIL._

When John Corbett strolled leisurely into the Salvation Army meeting inold Victoria Hall in Winnipeg that evening, so many years ago now, theremay have been some who thought he came to disturb the meeting.

There did not seem to be any atmospheric reason why Mr. Corbett oranyone else should be abroad, for it was a drizzling cold Novembernight, and the streets were muddy, as only Winnipeg streets in the very ageddays could be--none of your light-minded, fickle-hearted, changeablemud that is mud to-day and dust to-morrow, but the genuine, original,brush-defying, soap-and-water-proof, north star, burr mud, yellower thanlampyellow, stickier than glue!