nge in you may not be permanent, but merely the
result of a natural sympathy with the weak and unwise and unfortunate
who are always to be found in a complex civilization. I can even
conceive how such a discovery must have shocked you, temporarily aroused
your indignation, as a clergyman, against the world as it is--and, I
may add, as it has always been. My personal friendship for you, and my
interest in your future welfare impel me to make a final appeal to you
not to ruin a career which is full of promise."

The rector did not take advantage of the pause. A purely psychological
curiosity hypnotized him to see how far the banker would go in his
apparent generosity.

"I once heard you say, I believe, in a sermon, that the Christian
religion is a leaven. It is the leaven that softens and ameliorates the
hard conditions of life, that makes our relations with our fellow-men
bearable. But life is a contest, it is war. It always has been, and
always will be. Business is war, commerce is war, both among nations and
individuals. You cannot get around it. If a man does not exterminate his
rivals they will exterminate him. In other days churches were built and
endowed with the spoils of war, and did not disdain the money. To-day
they cheerfully accept the support and gifts of business men. I do
not accuse them of hypocrisy. It is a recognition on their part that
business men, in spite of hard facts, are not unmindful of the spiritual
side of life, and are not deaf to the injunction to help others.
And when, let me ask you, could you find in the world's history more
splendid charities than are around us to-day? Institutions endowed
for medical research, for the conquest of deadly diseases? libraries,
hospitals, schools--men giving their fortunes for these things, the
fruits of a life's work so laboriously acquired? Who can say that the
modern capitalist is not liberal, is not a public benefactor?

"I dislike being personal, but you have forced it upon me. I dislike
to refer to what I have already done in the matter of charities, but
I hinted to you awhile ago of a project I have conceived and almost
perfected of gifts on a much larger scale than I have ever attempted."
The financier stared at him meaningly. "And I had you in mind as one of
the three men whom I should consult, whom I should associate with
myself in the matter. We cannot change human nature, but we can better
conditions by wise giving. I do not refer now to the s