  Recent lattice studies of near-conformal strong dynamics suggest the
existence of a light scalar. This provides motivation to consider a simple
Hamiltonian-based bound-state model where the pseudoscalar, scalar, vector and
axial-vector states are treated on an equal footing. The model interpolates
between the non-relativistic limit and the highly relativistic chiral limit,
where the pseudoscalar mass drops to zero. The fermion mass becomes purely
dynamical at this point. When the gauge coupling is constant over a moderate
range of scales the scalar becomes significantly lighter than the spin 1 states
as the chiral limit is approached. We relate this result to the behavior of the
form factors of the respective states and their decay constants. In the
conformal limit of the model all masses vanish and the theory is characterized
by scaling dimensions.
