Chapter I: Front Matter

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.--Beggars II.--The Idol III.--The New Acquaintance IV.--The Accepted Suitor V.--In the Dark VI.--The Unwilling Guest VII.--The Magician VIII.--The Offer IX.--The Real Man X.--The Head of the Family XI.--The Declaration of War XII.--The Reckoning XIII.--The Only Port XIV.--The Way of Escape XV.--The Closed Door XVI.--The Champion XVII.--The Wedding Morning XVIII.--The Wedding Night XIX.--The Day After XX.--A Friend of the Family XXI.--The Old Life XXII.--The Faithful Widower XXIII.--The Narrowing Circle XXIV.--Brothers XXV.--Misadventure XXVI.--The Word Unspoken XXVII.--The Token XXVIII.--The Visitor XXIX.--Her Other Self XXX.--The Rising Current XXXI.--Light Relief XXXII.--The Only Solution XXXIII.--The Furnace XXXIV.--The Sacrifice XXXV.--The Offer of Freedom XXXVI.--The Bond

_PART II_

THE RACE

I.--Husks II.--The Poison Plant III.--Confidences IV.--The Letter V.--Rebellion VI.--The Problem VII.--The Land of Moonshine VIII.--The Warning IX.--The Invitation X.--The Mistake XI.--The Reason XII.--Refuge XIII.--The Lamp before the Altar XIV.--The Open Door XV.--The Downward Path XVI.--The Revelation XVII.--The Last Chance XVIII.--The Whirlpool XIX.--The Outer Darkness XX.--Deliverance XXI.--The Poison Fruit XXII.--The Loser XXIII.--The Storm Wind XXIV.--The Great Burden XXV.--The Blow XXVI.--The Deed of Gift XXVII.--The Impossible XXVIII.--The First of the Vultures XXIX.--The Dutiful Wife XXX.--The Lane of Fire XXXI.--The New Boss XXXII.--Old Scores Epilogue: The Finish

The Hundredth Chance