The Hundredth Chance

  Produced by Al Haines.

  WITH THE UTMOST GENTLENESS HE LAID HIS HAND AGAIN UPONHERS. "ARE YOU AFRAID TO SAY IT?" HE SAID. Drawn by E. L. Crompton.(_See page_ 98)]

  The Hundredth Chance

  BY

  ETHEL M. DELL

  AUTHOR OF THE LAMP IN THE DESERT, THE SWINDLER, ETC.

  FRONTISPIECE BY EDNA CROMPTON

  NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS

  Made in the United States of America

  COPYRIGHT. 1917 BY ETHEL M. DELL

  The Way of an Eagle The Knave of Diamonds The Rocks of Valpre The Swindler The Keeper of the Door Bars of Iron Rosa Mundi The Hundredth Chance The Safety Curtain Greatheart The Lamp in the Desert The Tidal Wave The Top of the World The Obstacle Race

  This edition is issued under arrangement with the publishers G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, NEW YORK AND LONDON

  The Knickerbocker Press, New York

  I Dedicate This Book to My Old Friend W. S. H. In Affectionate Remembrance of Many Kindnesses

  "The plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him that soweth seed." Obadiah 9-13.

  CONTENTS

  _PART 1_

  THE START

  I.--BeggarsII.--The IdolIII.--The New AcquaintanceIV.--The Accepted SuitorV.--In the DarkVI.--The Unwilling GuestVII.--The MagicianVIII.--The OfferIX.--The Real ManX.--The Head of the FamilyXI.--The Declaration of WarXII.--The ReckoningXIII.--The Only PortXIV.--The Way of EscapeXV.--The Closed DoorXVI.--The ChampionXVII.--The Wedding MorningXVIII.--The Wedding NightXIX.--The Day AfterXX.--A Friend of the FamilyXXI.--The Old LifeXXII.--The Faithful WidowerXXIII.--The Narrowing CircleXXIV.--BrothersXXV.--MisadventureXXVI.--The Word UnspokenXXVII.--The TokenXXVIII.--The VisitorXXIX.--Her Other SelfXXX.--The Rising CurrentXXXI.--Light ReliefXXXII.--The Only SolutionXXXIII.--The FurnaceXXXIV.--The SacrificeXXXV.--The Offer of FreedomXXXVI.--The Bond

  _PART II_

  THE RACE

  I.--HusksII.--The Poison PlantIII.--ConfidencesIV.--The LetterV.--RebellionVI.--The ProblemVII.--The Land of MoonshineVIII.--The WarningIX.--The InvitationX.--The MistakeXI.--The ReasonXII.--RefugeXIII.--The Lamp before the AltarXIV.--The Open DoorXV.--The Downward PathXVI.--The RevelationXVII.--The Last ChanceXVIII.--The WhirlpoolXIX.--The Outer DarknessXX.--DeliveranceXXI.--The Poison FruitXXII.--The LoserXXIII.--The Storm WindXXIV.--The Great BurdenXXV.--The BlowXXVI.--The Deed of GiftXXVII.--The ImpossibleXXVIII.--The First of the VulturesXXIX.--The Dutiful WifeXXX.--The Lane of FireXXXI.--The New BossXXXII.--Old ScoresEpilogue: The Finish

  The Hundredth Chance