e hope of
recovery in my heart. That hope has long since vanished. I am now
beyond all help."

"No," said Shock in a quiet, firm voice, "you have told me nothing to
prove that you are beyond help. In fact," he continued almost
brusquely, "no man of sense and honesty has a right to say that. Yes,"
he continued, in answer to the doctor's astonished look, "salvation, as
it is called, is a matter of common sense and honesty."

"I thought you clergymen preached salvation to be a matter of faith."

"Faith, yes. That is the same thing. Common sense, I call it. A man is
a fool to think he is beyond help while he has life. A little common
sense and honesty is all you want. Now, let us find Carroll. But,
doctor, let my last word to you be this--do not ever say or think what
you have said to me to-day, It simply is not true. And I repeat, the
man who can do that sort of thing," pointing to the child lying on the
bed, "can do a great deal more. Good things are waiting you."

"Oh, Lord God Almighty!" said the doctor, throwing up his hands in the
intensity of his emotion. "You almost make me think there is some hope."

"Don't be a fool, doctor," said Shock in a matter of fact voice. "You
are going to recover your manhood and your reputation. I know it. But
as I said before, remember I expect common sense and honesty."

"Common sense and honesty," said the doctor as if to himself. "No
religion."

"There you are," said Shock. "I did not say that. I did say common
sense and honesty. But now, do go and find poor Carroll. He will be in
agony."

"Oh, a little of it won't hurt him. He is rather an undeveloped
specimen," said the doctor, resuming his professional tone.

In a few minutes he returned with Carroll, whose face was contorted
with his efforts to seem calm.

"Tell me," he said to Shock. "Will the lad live?"

"The operation is entirely successful, thanks to the skill of Dr.
Burton there."

"Will he live?" said Carroll to the doctor in a husky tone.

"Well, he has a chance--a chance now which before he had not; and if he
does, you owe it to Mr. Macgregor there."

"And if he doesn't, I shall owe that to him," hissed Carroll through
his clenched teeth.

For this Shock had no reply.

"I shall go for Mrs. Carroll and the children now," he said quietly,
and passed out of the room.

"Carroll," said the doctor with stern deliberation, "I have always
known you to be a bully, but never before that you were a brute. This