But it was alive and strong.

It had no rivals to take sun or moisture.

Its enemies were the snow and wind and cold of the heights.
Helen felt, as the realization came to her, the knowledge Dale wished to impart, that it was as sad as wonderful, and as mysterious as it was inspiring.

At that moment there were both the sting and sweetness of life--the pain and the joy--in Helen's heart.

These strange facts were going to teach her--to transform her.