his
in the face of his suffering and humiliation.

"And then, boy," the broken man moaned, "he left me with a sneer and
told me to stroll over his palace and enjoy the evening. That I would
find his wife wearing a pearl necklace which cost a half million and
jewelled slippers worth enough to finish my baby's education, but that
he would see us both to the bottom of hell before I could have one
penny."

Again the doctor's voice sank into a strangling sob. When he lifted his
head his eyes were glittering with a strange light.

"And then," he went on with quivering voice, "I began to see things
red. The lust of blood was beating in every stroke of my heart. In
vivid flashes of blasphemous fury I saw life from a new point of view.
I began to ask where God lived that such things could be in his world.
I saw the bruised bodies of my fellow beings flung before such men as
Bivens and ground to dust. I saw the lies that pass for truth, the low
fights for gain at the cost of blood and tears, the deeds that laugh at
shame and honour, and gloating over it all the brutal glory of success.
I determined to kill the little wretch as I would stamp on a snake. And
then I saw my baby standing near. My hand grew limp. I felt that I must
save her first and then die if need be. I felt for the first time the
cunning of the elemental man, the force that gave him food and shelter
for himself and babies before the laws of property had come to rule the
world. I reached out my hand and took by cunning what belonged to me by
right."

Again he paused and looked into Stuart's face with a hopeless stare.

"I--stole--a--case--of--jewels!"

Stuart sprang to his feet with an exclamation of horror.

"You--did--what!"

"Yes," the doctor went on hoarsely. "I stole a case of his jewels, and
sent my girl abroad. I'm going to plead guilty now and go to prison. I
shall never again lift my head in the haunts of men."

Stuart sobbed in anguish.

"You see, boy, I failed when put to the test. It doesn't make any
difference about my reputation. Character only counts, and I'm a
thief."

"Shut up!" Stuart cried fiercely, seizing his arm. "Don't say that
again and don't talk so loudly. Whatever you did, you were insane when
you did it."

"No, I had just failed," the older man insisted in dull tones, "failed
in all save one thing. I've done that, at least. And I didn't forget my
honour. I used it for my purpose. I did as old Palissy the great mad
potter