sarcastically, "for if ever a man needed help, you are that
man."

"But not from you," replied Diotti.

"That statement is discredited also by your outburst of a few moments
ago when you called upon me."

"I do not need you," reiterated the musician. "I will have none of
you!" and he waved his arm toward the door, as if he desired the
interview to end.

"I came at your behest, actuated entirely by kindness of heart," said
Satan.

Diotti laughed derisively, and Satan, showing just the slightest
feeling at Diotti's behavior, said reprovingly: "If you will listen a
moment, and not be so rude to an utter stranger, we may reach some
conclusion to your benefit."

"Get thee behind--"

"I know exactly what you were about to say. Have no fears on that
score. I have no demands to make and no impossible compacts to insist
upon."

"I have heard of you before," knowingly spoke the violinist, nodding
his head sadly.

"No doubt you have," smilingly. "My reputation, which has suffered at
the hands of irresponsible people, is not of the best, and places me
at times in awkward positions. But I am beginning to live it down."
The stranger looked contrition itself. "To prove my sincerity I desire
to help you win her love," emphasizing her.

"How can you help me?"

"Very easily. You have been wasting time, energy and health in a wild
desire to play better. The trouble lies not with you."

"Not with me?" interrupted the violinist, now thoroughly interested.

"The trouble lies not with you," repeated the visitor, "but with the
miserable violin you have been using and have just destroyed," and he
pointed to the shattered instrument.

Tears welled from the poor violinist's eyes as he gazed on the
fragments of his beloved violin, the pieces lying scattered about as
the result of his unfortunate anger.

"It was a Stradivarius," said Diotti, sadly.

"Had it been a Stradivarius, an Amati or a Guarnerius, or a host of
others rolled into one, you would not have found in it the melody to
win the heart of the woman you love. Get a better and more suitable
instrument."

"Where is one?" earnestly interrogated Diotti, vaguely realizing that
Satan knew.

"In my possession," Satan replied.

"She would hate me if she knew I had recourse to the powers of
darkness to gain her love," bitterly interposed Diotti.

Satan, wincing at this uncomplimentary allusion to himself, replied
rather warmly: "My dear sir, were it not for the fact t