"Den ef you'se done de bes' you could--I'se gwine ter teach ye ter do better!" His yellow teeth in their blue gums flashed in a devilish smile. He gripped the slender little wrists in one of his claws and doubled his fist to strike, as a blow from Stuart caught him in the neck and laid him on the pavement. The young lawyer sprang on the prostrate figure with fury. It was the joyous work of a minute to beat and choke him into insensibility. He rose and gave the black form a parting kick that rolled him into the gutter, turned to the crouching white figure and said sharply: "Come with me." Without a word she followed timidly behind. He stopped and spoke tenderly: "Don't walk behind me." "I'm not fit to walk beside you," she answered meekly. "I'll be the judge of that. You're a woman. My mother was a woman. And I'm a little bit ashamed of myself to-night for living in such a world as this without having killed somebody." She hung her head and tried to walk by his side, instinctively shrinking back. He stopped to ask an officer the way to the Crittenden Mission. Somewhere he had read that a merchant by the name of Crittenden whose heart was broken over the death of a little girl had given all he possessed to found and endow missions for saving other men's daughters. The girl heard his question and looked up into his face with a new terror in her feverish eyes. "Won't they lock me up?" Stuart took the cold thin hand in his. "Not unless they lock me up too, child. Don't worry. I'm a lawyer. I'll see that no harm comes to you." "All right. I'll do just as you say," she responded gratefully. When the matron at the Mission had soothed away the poor creature's last fear, Stuart turned to go. The girl stepped quickly forward as he extended his hand. "Good-bye, child, I hope you'll soon be better. If I can help you, let me know. I'm glad to have had the chance to be of service to you to-night. You have done more for me than I have for you. I am very grateful." The unnaturally bright eyes gazed into his as if they didn't quite understand, and then through the tears she slowly said: "You have saved me from hell. I'm afraid I haven't long to live. I'll only ask God that it shall be long enough for me to show you how grateful I am." Stuart walked home with a sense of spiritual elation he had never felt before. For the first time he had given himself utterly without the hope of reward. A new joy filled his heart with a warm glow. Life began to take a deep, new meaning. The boundaries of the world had been extended to include millions whose existence he had ignored. How vast and thrilling their life! As yet, no new purpose had shaped itself within, but his soul was stirring with vague, mighty impulses.