irtwell.

"This morning," resumed Mr. Elliott, "I received a note from the
doctor, asking me to call and see him. He was much depressed, and said
he had long wanted to have a talk with me about something that weighed
heavily on his mind. Let me give you his own words as nearly as I am
able to remember them. After some remarks about personal influence and
our social responsibilities, he said:

"'There is one thing, Mr. Elliott, in which you and I and a great many
others I could name have not only been derelict of duty, but serious
wrongdoers. There is an evil in society that more than all others is
eating out its life, and you and I have encouraged that evil even by
our own example, calling it innocent, and so leading the weak astray
and the unwary into temptation.'

"I understood what he meant, and the shock of his including accusation,
his 'Thou art the man,' sent a throb of pain to my heart. That I had
already seen my false position and changed front did not lessen the
shock, for I was only the more sensitive to pain.

"'Happily for you, Mr. Elliott,' he went on, 'no such bitter fruit has
been plucked by your hands as by mine, and I pray God that it may never
be. For a long time I have carried a heavy load here'--he drew his hand
against his breast--'heavier than I have strength to bear. Its weight
is breaking me down. It is no light thing, sir, to feel at times that
you are a murderer.'

"He shivered, and there passed across his face a look of horror. But it
was gone in a moment, though an expression of suffering remained.

"'My dear doctor.' I interposed, 'you have permitted yourself to fall
into a morbid state. This is not well. You are overworked and need
change and relaxation.'

"'Yes,' he replied, a little mournfully 'I am overworked and morbid and
all that, I know, and I must have change and relaxation or I shall die.
Ah, if I could get rid of this heavy weight!' He laid his hand upon his
breast again, and drew a deep inspiration. 'But that is impossible. I
must tell you all about it, but place upon you at the same time an
injunction of silence, except in the case of one man, Mr. Spencer
Birtwell. He is honorable and he should know, and I can trust him.

"'You remember, of course, the entertainment he gave last winter and
some, of the unhappy effects that came of it, but you do not know all.
I was there and enjoyed the evening, and you were there, Mr. Elliott,
and I am afraid led some into temptation t