He then became reformed. Which meant, that from a liberal, open-handed, careless fellow, he changed to a cynical, cautious man. With a small remnant of his fortune, and an inheritance from a distant relative, Elias became a man of the world, or rather, a worldly man. In other words, he began life for a second time, and on an equally wrong basis. Before his eyes were two classes of his equals. Reckless men with large hearts, and careful men with no hearts at all, for such was the organisation of the society surrounding him. Of the first class he had full experience; of the second he had none whatever. To the latter he resolved to attach himself. It is useless wondering why this should have been. Perhaps he had never been fitted for the community of large-hearted men, and had only mixed with them through novelty, or ignorance of his own station. Be this as it may, one thing is certain, he became before long a most exemplary member of the society he had selected for imitation. No one drove a closer bargain, saw an advantage (to himself), or could lay surer plans for securing it, than Elias Rody. He learned, also, to control, and in every way wield influence over those around him. Power became his dream. He was ambitious of governing men. Strange to say, this feeling was almost fatal to his prospects. We say strange, because ambition generally carves its own road, and moulds its own fortune. Rody, however, had commenced an active career too late to arrive at much importance in the political world--that grand arena for attaining distinction. He therefore cast about him for another field of ambitious strife, and speedily found it. At this time throughout the state of Georgia were many planters, who, without capital to purchase additional property, found themselves daily growing poorer as their land became worn out with exhausting crops. These men were naturally enough the grumblers and discontented spirits of the community. Another class were those with little save a restless disposition, ever ready for any venture that may arise. Rody, shrewd and plausible, saw in these men the very instruments for a purpose he had long thought of, and had well matured. "If I cannot attain the object of my wishes here," said he, to himself, "perhaps I may be successful elsewhere, if I can only persuade others to join me. These are men ready to my hand; I will take them with me, they shall be my followers; and whilst contributing their means to my end, they will look upon me as a benefactor." Rody, it will be seen, was a thorough egotist.