hearted wife; many a lost son to a widowed mother, many a
darling brother to a distressed and mortified sister. It would bring
light and gladness to thousands of sorrowful hearts and homes; it
would feed the hungry, clothe the naked. Less blood would cry aloud to
heaven for vengeance, and less crime of every description would be
committed. This lovely territory will soon become a state; here you
will rise to eminence in your profession. I know it will be so. You
possess your father's talents, and you also possess his high social
qualities, which, at one time, brought him to the verge of ruin. Judge
Sherman did not at first love drink, but he often drank to please his
friends. His associates tarried at the wine, and he would be one with
them. The secret, Edward, of the fall of nine-tenths of our young men
is social drinking; now, moral suasion has saved many, and no doubt
will save many more. But would you give the serpent his death wound,
then bring the arm of the law down upon him and it is done."

"The prohibitory liquor law of Maine has been said to have worked
wonders," said Edward rather faintly, "but it is thought to be
unconstitutional, by many of our best lawyers."

"Undoubtedly it has been so declared," said the Dr., "but I would be
sorry to believe the opinion correct; would not you, Edward?"

The Dr. fixed his piercing eyes upon Edward, for he began to suspect
that his young friend's views did not coincide with those which he had
expressed.

Edward moved uneasily in his chair, bit his lips, and finally
stammered out, "Well, I don't know Dr., really, it seems like
depriving a man of his liberty to legislate upon what he shall, or
shall not sell."

"Even if he sells that which he knows will craze his neighbor's brain,
and cause him to commit the most atrocious crimes? When an individual
directly, or indirectly aids and abets crime, ought he to escape
punishment?"

Edward saw that he stood upon a plank of the rotten old platform, upon
which so many have broken through, though they still hold to the
decaying posts, and he ingeniously evaded the question.

"I'm afraid, Dr., you are over-exerting yourself," said he, "I will
leave you to rest while I walk out and breathe the fresh air."

CHAPTER XI.

HARMLESS CONSPIRACY--THE GHOST--THE WIFE MURDERER--TIPPLING
AND TATTLING--MISREPRESENTATIONS.

"Mr. Glutter, Dr. DeWolf wants you to fill this flask with brandy,"
said Sorrel Top entering th