Burned Bridges

Despite the heat of a summer noon, Wesley Thompson wears his high clerical collar and his hot clerical coat when he is paddled in a canoe into the Canadian wilderness around Lone Moose Creek. It would not be dignified to discard either, thinks this young missionary, "called" from the theological seminary and the adoration of his spinster aunts to minister to the spiritual needs of the Cree Indians. But that is only what he is like at the beginning of the six decisive years of his history; for at Lone Moose he meets beautiful Sophie Carr and other realities of life not so lovely.

Sophie, thank heavens, is no wild-wood flower miraculously developed in the last three chapters into a cultured woman, fit companion for the man of her choice. She is well and widely read and uses that trained, clever head of hers, which checks her warm, emotional nature.