had in the violation of another's rights, I will always regard
justice first. Right and honour have the first claims upon me--my
client the next."

"It's the last cause you will ever have of mine, then," replied the
angry client.

"And most certainly the last I want, if you have no higher claims than
those you presented in the present instance."

About the same time that this incident occurred, an individual,
indicted for a large robbery, sent for Lawyer Abercrombie. That
individual came to the prisoner's cell, and held a preliminary
interview with him.

"And the first thing to be done, if I take charge of your case," said
the lawyer, "is for you to make a clean confession to me of every
thing. You know that the law protects you in this. It is necessary that
I may know exactly the ground upon which we stand, that I may keep the
prosecution at fault."

The prisoner, in answer to this, made promptly a full confession of his
guilt, and stated where a large portion of the property he had taken
was concealed.

"And now," said he, after his confession, "do you think that you can
clear me?"

"Oh yes, easily enough, if I have sufficient inducement to devote
myself to the case."

"Will five thousand dollars secure your best efforts?"

"Yes."

"Very well. The day after I am cleared, I will place that sum in your
hands."

"You shall be cleared," was the positive answer. And he was cleared.
Justice was subverted--property to a large value lost--and an
accomplished villain turned loose upon the community, by the venal tact
and eloquence of a skilful lawyer.

In these two instances we have an exhibition of the characters of the
two individuals, ripening for maturity. Both possessing fine talents,
both were eminent, both successful,--but the one was a curse, and the
other a blessing to society. And all this, because their ends of life
were different.

Time passed on, and Abercrombie, as the mere tool of a political party,
elected by trick and management, under circumstances humiliating to a
man of feeling and principle, became a representative in the State
legislature. But he was a representative, and this soothing opiate to
his ambition quieted every unpleasant emotion. Conscious, in the state
of political feeling, that there was little or no possible chance of
maintaining even his present elevation, much less of rising higher,
unless he became pliant in the hands of those who had elected him, he
suffered all ide