. To get the heat required to perfect his greatest work of art,
you know he broke the last piece of furniture in his house and thrust
it into his furnace. So I threw my honour into the flames of hell to
save my little girl's voice. Maybe it was a mistake. I don't know. I
couldn't think then. I only know now that life is impossible any more,
and I'm ready to go. You can send me to prison at once, Jim, I'd rather
you would do it, for I know that you love me and at least no unkind
word will fall from your lips before I receive my sentence. I'll make
no fight. I'm glad I don't have to say all this to a stranger. You can
send me up the river at once. I'm glad you are the district attorney."

"But I'm not. I resigned my office this morning."

"Resigned?" The doctor asked in dazed surprise.

"Yes, to go into business for myself. I had only another month to
serve. You're not going to prison if I can help it."

"But I don't want you to help it. It's the only place to go now--you
see, boy, I can't live with myself any more! Besides I'm old and played
out; the world don't need me any longer."

"Well, I need you," Stuart broke in, "and you're not going to give up
this fight as long as I'm here."

"I'm a failure; it's no use."

"But you've forgotten some things," the younger man said tenderly.
"You've helped to make my life what it is--you haven't failed in that.
You gave your blood to your country when she needed it---you didn't
fail in that. You have forgotten the thousands you have helped, the
hope and cheer and inspiration that passed into their lives through
yours. Failure sometimes means success. The greatest failure of all the
ages perhaps was Jesus Christ. Deserted and denied by his own
disciples, scoffed at, spit on and beaten by his enemies, crucified
between two thieves, crying in anguish and despair to the God who had
forsaken him; yet this friendless crucified peasant who failed, has
conquered the world at last."

Stuart paused and looked at the older man sharply.

"Are you listening, Doctor?" he asked, seizing his arm. "Did you hear
what I just said to you?"

He turned his head stupidly.

"Hear what? No, I can't hear anything. Jim, except a devil that follows
me everywhere, day and night, and whispers in my ear--'thief! thief!'
It's no use. I'm done."

"Well I'm not done. I've just begun. You are not going to give up and
you're not going to prison. We'll go to Bivens's house to-night. We'll
tell him the