al property
made it clear that a fair piece of Max's soul, the part which
contained his love for woman and for his friends, was dead, like a
paralysis-stricken hand or foot. But what remained was, nevertheless,
enough for life. That was love for and faith in mankind. Then Max,
having renounced personal happiness, started to work for the happiness
of others.

That was a new phase--he believed.

All the evil that is tormenting the world seemed to him to be
concentrated in a "red flower," in one red flower. It was but necessary
to tear it down, and the incessant, heart-rending cries and moans which
rise to the indifferent sky from all points of the earth, like its
natural breathing, would be silenced. The evil of the world, he
believed, lay in the evil will and in the madness of the people. They
themselves were to blame for being unhappy, and they could be happy if
they wished. This seemed so clear and simple that Max was dumfounded
in his amazement at human stupidity. Humanity reminded him of a crowd
huddled together in a spacious temple and panic-stricken at the cry of
"Fire!"

Instead of passing calmly through the wide doors and saving themselves,
the maddened people, with the cruelty of frenzied beasts, cry and
roar, crush one another and perish--not from the fire (for it is only
imaginary), but from their own madness. It is enough sometimes when one
sensible, firm word is uttered to this crowd--the crowd calms down and
imminent death is thus averted. Let, then, a hundred calm, rational
voices be raised to mankind, showing them where to escape and where
the danger lies--and heaven will be established on earth, if not
immediately, then at least within a very brief time.

Max began to utter his word of wisdom. How he uttered it you will learn
later. The name of Max was mentioned in the newspapers, shouted in the
market places, blessed and cursed; whole books were written on what Max
N+1 had done, what he was doing, and what he intended to do. He appeared
here and there and everywhere. He was seen standing at the head of the
crowd, commanding it; he was seen in chains and under the knife of the
guillotine. In this respect Max did not have any special peculiarities,
either. A preacher of humility and peace, a stern bearer of fire and
sword, he was the same Max--Max the believer. But while he was doing all
this, time kept passing on. His nerves were shattered; his wavy locks
became thin and his head began to look like