Comp.
Census, 1850.)

The subject will be continued in my next letter. R. J. WALKER.

WAS HE SUCCESSFUL?

_PART THE LAST._

'Do but grasp into the thick of human life! Every one _lives_
it--to not many is it _known_; and seize it where you will, it is
interesting.'--GOETHE.

'SUCCESSFUL.--Terminating in accomplishing what is wished
or intended.'--WEBSTER'S _Dictionary_.

CHAPTER VI.

About two weeks after Hiram's interview with Dr. Ephraim Peters, he had
occasion to spend a long evening in company with certain influential
members (of which he, of course, was the most influential) of St.
Jude's.

It was past eleven o'clock when the meeting broke up. It was a clear,
cold, December night, and Hiram buttoned his coat quite to his chin as
he descended the steps to commence his walk home. Some had carriages in
waiting; but he, fully alive to his brother's advice, preferred to go on
foot. One gentleman kept him company for a couple of blocks; after that,
he proceeded alone.

As he passed the corner of a street which ran at right angles to the one
he was pursuing, a man came suddenly upon him, and, standing square in
his path, demanded in a savage tone, 'Do you want your wood split?'

Hiram turned quickly aside, to avoid the questioner; but he had time to
observe that he was an athletic man, with a limping gait, and a fierce,
demoniacal countenance. He carried in his hand something like a
butcher's cleaver; and before Hiram could escape, he repeated the
question: 'Do you want your wood split?'

Hiram uttered a hasty 'No,' in response, and walked swiftly forward.

The stranger was not to be so easily disposed of. He put himself before
the millionnaire a second time, and repeated his question.

Hiram Meeker was not a coward--that is, so far as his brain served him;
and we all know he had enough of that.

Finding he was not to get rid of the unknown so readily, he stopped and
regarded him with careful scrutiny.

The other repeated his question still again: 'Do you want your wood
split?'

Hiram was not slow to perceive that the man was insane, and he
endeavored to humor him.

'Yes,' he said, 'I want my wood split very much indeed. It is too late
to-night; but come to my house to-morrow, and you shall have the job.'

'Oh, no, no, no!' cried the other, 'I work only by night--only by
night--and I cannot go to your house--you must come to mine!'

He laid hold of Hiram's arm wit