The lawyer glared at Isaac whose shifting eyes sought Larkin. “Think it over a minute, Isaac,” the lawyer continued; “in the meantime examine that knife.” He drew from its case a long, keen hunting-knife, and handed it to the witness who was now trembling from head to foot. “Did you ever see that knife before?” Isaac hesitated and finally answered: “Yassah, I sold it ter Mr. Ackerman.” “Where did you get it?” Larkin suddenly cleared his throat with a deep guttural sound like the growl of an infuriated animal. The lawyer looked at him with annoyance and the officer again shouted: “Silence!” “I foun’ it, sah,” he answered evasively. “Now, Isaac, you want to be very careful how you answer my next question.” The lawyer took the knife from the Negro’s hand and felt of its point. “You will notice that a tiny piece is broken off the tip of this blade. I hold in my hand the little bit of steel which exactly fits there. It was found embedded in a bone in Judge Butler’s body. This is the knife that struck the death-blow. Did you own that knife the night of the murder? Answer me!” Isaac fumbled his handkerchief again and looked about the room helplessly. Larkin rose carelessly and started from the court room. Ackerman, watching him keenly, sprang to his side. “Don’t leave, Larkin, we want you as a witness in a moment,” he whispered. “I’ll return immediately,” the Carpetbagger replied, increasing his haste. “Wait!” Ackerman commanded. Larkin quickened his pace and the detective seized his arm. The Carpetbagger threw him off with sudden fury and plunged toward the door. With the spring of a tiger, Ackerman leaped on him. A brief fierce fight, and he was dragged panting back before the astonished Court, while every man in the room sprang to his feet and pressed around the struggling men. “What’s the meaning of this disorder?” thundered the presiding Judge. “With apologies to the Court for the interruption I beg leave to present the murderer of Judge Butler--I ask a warrant for his arrest,” Ackerman demanded. A wave of horror swept the crowd of Larkin’s friends. “The man is a crazy liar, your Honours,” protested Larkin. “And he has proven himself a renegade and a scoundrel in this court room to-day. I protest against this outrage.” “I’ll prove my charge to the Court--every link in the chain of evidence is now complete,” was the cool answer. With the court room in an uproar, Larkin was arrested and placed between Ackerman and a deputy, and the trial resumed. A brief conference between the District Attorney and Isaac preceded the first question asked by John’s counsel after the disturbance. “Now, Isaac,” the lawyer began suavely, “the District Attorney has just promised to spare your life on condition that you tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth--let’s have it.” “Yassah,” the Apostle responded in humble accents. “Mr. Larkin, he tell me ter say what I did, sah.”