ght I'd kill ye if ye didn't do better
to-day?"

"Please, don't beat me again--I've done the best I could----"

Strangling and trembling with rage Stuart edged his way close, keeping
his form out of range of the Negro's eyes. The brute was looking
neither to the right or left now, his whole being absorbed in the cruel
joy of the torture he was about to inflict on the helpless, cringing
thing that clung to his arm sobbing and begging for mercy.

"Den ef you'se done de bes' you could--I'se gwine ter teach ye ter do
better!" His yellow teeth in their blue gums flashed in a devilish
smile. He gripped the slender little wrists in one of his claws and
doubled his fist to strike, as a blow from Stuart caught him in the
neck and laid him on the pavement. The young lawyer sprang on the
prostrate figure with fury. It was the joyous work of a minute to beat
and choke him into insensibility. He rose and gave the black form a
parting kick that rolled him into the gutter, turned to the crouching
white figure and said sharply:

"Come with me."

Without a word she followed timidly behind.

He stopped and spoke tenderly:

"Don't walk behind me."

"I'm not fit to walk beside you," she answered meekly.

"I'll be the judge of that. You're a woman. My mother was a woman. And
I'm a little bit ashamed of myself to-night for living in such a world
as this without having killed somebody."

She hung her head and tried to walk by his side, instinctively
shrinking back.

He stopped to ask an officer the way to the Crittenden Mission.
Somewhere he had read that a merchant by the name of Crittenden whose
heart was broken over the death of a little girl had given all he
possessed to found and endow missions for saving other men's daughters.

The girl heard his question and looked up into his face with a new
terror in her feverish eyes.

"Won't they lock me up?"

Stuart took the cold thin hand in his.

"Not unless they lock me up too, child. Don't worry. I'm a lawyer. I'll
see that no harm comes to you."

"All right. I'll do just as you say," she responded gratefully.

When the matron at the Mission had soothed away the poor creature's
last fear, Stuart turned to go.

The girl stepped quickly forward as he extended his hand.

"Good-bye, child, I hope you'll soon be better. If I can help you, let
me know. I'm glad to have had the chance to be of service to you
to-night. You have done more for me than I have for you. I am very