Yetagain，inthisneworientation，itwasthethumbofcircumstancethatpressedandproddedhim，softeningthatwhichhadbecomehardandremouldingitintofairerform。WeedonScottwasintruththisthumb。HehadgonetotherootsofWhiteFang\'snature，andwithkindnesstouchedtolifepotenciesthathadlanguishedandwell-nighperished。Onesuchpotencywaslove。Ittooktheplaceoflike，whichlatterhadbeenthehighestfeelingthatthrilledhiminhisintercoursewiththegods。
Butthislovedidnotcomeinaday。Itbeganwithlikeandoutofitslowlydeveloped。WhiteFangdidnotrunaway，thoughhewasallowedtoremainloose，becausehelikedthisnewgod。ThiswascertainlybetterthanthelifehehadlivedinthecageofBeautySmith，anditwasnecessarythatheshouldhavesomegod。
Thelordshipofmanwasaneedofhisnature。
ThesealofhisdependenceonmanhadbeensetuponhiminthatearlydaywhenheturnedhisbackontheWildandcrawledtoGrayBeaver\'sfeettoreceivetheexpectedbeating。Thissealhadbeenstampeduponhimagain，andineradicably，onhissecondreturnfromtheWild，whenthelongfaminewasoverandtherewasfishoncemoreinthevillageofGrayBeaver。
Andso，becauseheneededagodandbecausehepreferredWeedonScotttoBeautySmith，WhiteFangremained。Inacknowledgmentoffealty，heproceededtotakeuponhimselftheguardianshipofhismaster\'sproperty。Heprowledaboutthecabinwhilethesled-dogsslept，andthefirstnight-visitortothecabinfoughthimoffwithaclubuntilWeedonScottcametotherescue。ButWhiteFangsoonlearnedtodifferentiatebetweenthievesandhonestmen，toappraisethetruevalueofstepandcarriage。Themanwhotravelled，loud-stepping，thedirectlinetothecabindoor，heletalone——thoughhewatchedhimvigilantlyuntilthedooropenedandhereceivedtheindorsementofthemaster。Butthemanwhowentsoftly，bycircuitousways，peeringwithcaution，seekingaftersecrecy——thatwasthemanwhoreceivednosuspensionofjudgmentfromWhiteFang，andwhowentawayabruptly，hurriedly，andwithoutdignity。