won't. He's got his own troubles to attend to, and they
will be much heavier than they are now, if he isn't careful."

"What do you propose to do? Help him out?"

"That all depends upon you, Stanton."

"Upon me! Why, what can I do?"

"Say the word, and I will refuse to assist him. He can go under, and
the parish will be rid of him. Isn't that what you want?"

For a while Douglas was silent. It would be a choice revenge to see
the blustering and impudent bully crushed by a single word. He thought
of Ben and the haughty and sarcastic sisters. How delightful it would
be to see them wince under the blow of financial failure. This
temptation was only of short duration, however, for it was succeeded by
a nobler feeling. He must not allow the spirit of revenge to affect
him in the least. All that he wanted was justice, and freedom for
Church work in Rixton. The Stubbles were in the way, and if pressure
could now be brought to bear, either to bring them to their senses or
to force them out of the parish, then it was right to do so.

"Is it hard to decide?" the lawyer asked, noting his hesitation and
preoccupied air.

"Yes, it is. I wish to do what is fair. The tempter's advice is to
get even now for the injury that has been done. But a nobler voice
bids me to rise above such a feeling and do nothing in the spirit of
revenge, but merely for the welfare of Rixton."

"But should not the Stubbles be taught a severe lesson? Is it right
that they should escape all punishment?"

"I suppose not, but punishment should not be carried out in the spirit
of revenge. When the State punishes a man, say with imprisonment, for
some crime, it is not done in the spirit of revenge, but in order to
safeguard society in general, as well as to teach a severe lesson. The
same applies to parental authority over children. Now, I want to do
something similar to that in this affair. I wish to do it without any
vindictiveness on my part."

"You are quite right, Stanton," the lawyer replied. "I see your point,
and I admire you for it. But we must do something."

"Certainly. But let us do nothing hastily. Let me think this over
to-night, and we can discuss it again in the morning. You have told me
so much that I am anxious to consider every point very carefully. Will
that do?"

Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Garton.
She was delighted to see Douglas, and at once began to question him
about