In this poisonous air, where everything withers and dies, we nevertheless find character. _Natasha_, a young girl, still retains her wholesome instincts. She had never known love or sympathy, had gone hungry all her days, and had tasted nothing but abuse from her brutal sister, on whom she was dependent. _Vaska Pepel_, the young thief, a lodger in the house, strikes a responsive chord in her the moment he makes her feel that he cares for her and that she might be of spiritual and moral help to him. _Vaska_, like _Natasha_, is a product of his social environment. _Vaska._ From childhood, I have been--only a thief.... Always I was called Vaska the pickpocket, Vaska the son of a thief! See, it was of no consequence to me, as long as they would have it so ... so they would have it.... I was a thief, perhaps, only out of spite ... because nobody came along to call me anything--thief.... You call me something else, Natasha.... It is no easy life that I lead--friendless; pursued like a wolf.... I sink like a man in a swamp ... whatever I touch is slimy and rotten ... nothing is firm ... but you are like a young fir-tree; you are prickly, but you give support. There is another humane figure illuminating the dark picture in "A Night's Lodging",--_Luka_. He is the type of an old pilgrim, a man whom the experiences of life have taught wisdom. He has tramped through Russia and Siberia, and consorted with all sorts of people; but disappointment and grief have not robbed him of his faith in beauty, in idealism. He believes that every man, however low, degraded, or demoralized can yet be reached, if we but know how to touch his soul. _Luka_ inspires courage and hope in everyone he meets, urging each to begin life anew. To the former actor, now steeped in drink, he says: _Luka._ The drunkard, I have heard, can now be cured, without charge. They realize now, you see, that the drunkard is also a man. You must begin to make ready. Begin a new life! _Luka_ tries also to imbue _Natasha_ and _Vaska_ with new faith. They marvel at his goodness. In simplicity of heart _Luka_ gives his philosophy of life. _Luka._ I am good, you say. But you see, there must be some one to be good.... We must have pity on mankind.... Have pity while there is still time, believe me, it is very good. I was once, for example, employed as a watchman, at a country place which belonged to an engineer, not far from the city of Tomsk, in Siberia. The house stood in the middle of the forest, an out-of-the-way location ... and it was winter and I was all alone in the country house. It was beautiful there ... magnificent! And once ... I heard them scrambling up!... _Natasha._ Thieves!