The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-24
N GARLE) R[AD[

 mating impulses that color all his work. One was the love of the drama. Throughout his career he considered himself more gifted as a writer of plays ably is this that led him to introduce into his novels abrupt effects that be- long directly to the stage and offend the canons of literature--and please his readers
 His other and still more powerful i'm pulse was to fight wrong or what he thought was wrong; and his feeling tackled anything uniustly. Its Never Too Late to Mend" was written when the mass of the world still considered but an object to be punished People were willing to close their eyes to cruelty. in prisons. even though they awakened the minds of the non think ing public;; and from that time the advanced students of penology had the So psef6r Q, snos amos Thsa every mistake or wrong springs pri- mariry from either the mistaken ap- probation or the voluntary neglect of the people themselves.
 When John Meadows bought the house in Farnborough in which Isaac Levi had lived for twenty years, and ordered the venerable Jew to leave it. he exulted in his victory over a rival
  him in his own business of money lend ing-especially as the Jew lent money at a low rate while the Christian lent money at usury.
 In vain the old man offered not only greatly increased rental, but even that John Meadows never should lose penny thereafter through his competi- ton
 Hear me, sir" said Levi, flor you are younger than I. When this hair was brown, I wandered through the world, east and west. north and south, and found no rest I came to this town and here the God of my fathers gave me my wife and here he took her to himself again My Leah died in the house you have bought Two children were born to me and died there; and there in the silent hours I seem to hear their voices and their feet. In another house shall never hear them. shall be quite alone. Have pity on me, sir. an aged man. Tear me not from the shadows of my dead"
 John Meadows the zealous church man, the upright citizen, listened as unmoved as a rock. At last, when Isaac quoted Scripture and bade him befare of the curse that had fallen on the enemies of Israel. he replied with coarse, brutal reference to the Jews dead.
 Black lightning poured from Isaac Levy's eyes. "Irreverent curw cried he. ''The founder of your creed would ab- kor you, for he was pitifull Be ac- cureedi Whatever is the secret wish . of your black heart, Heaven look on my gray hairs that you have insulted and wither that wish. May you be near to 1t, close to it, pant for it, and lose 1t! May it play with you till Gehenna burns your soul upon the earthw
 
 his stick -furtously at the Jews head. 7
 Fortunately for Isaac, the stout cud- gel encountered an obstacle in hand as powerful as Meadows's own, for George Fielding, the owner of the farm in which the two had met. sprang be- tween them in time to interpose a whipstock and parry the blow A
 There probably was nobody on earth whose Interpretation could have been more hateful to the rich Christian than this great, handsome young fellow.
 John Meadows who had spent thirty years in one soul expressing passion. that of accommodating money, lately had fallen into the grasp of another and greater passion. He had fallen in love with all the zeal of an extraordinary strong nature with Susan Merton, who was engaged to Fielding. Indeed. Meadows visit to the farm had been for the purpose of satisfying himself that it was time to strike a final blow to rid himself of his rival.
 Through a secret agent he had lent money on the place until 1t was cer- tain that the exhausted soil could not produce enough to pay the debt. That morning he had put a distress on the land for the amount of the loan.
 George Fielding, unconscious of this. gazed at Meadows with open scorn and held his hand out to the old man, whom emotion and shock had affected. He helped him into the house and stepped out again to meet his brother William. who had been to town to try for an additional loan.
 Instead of suceor, William brought the news of ruin. At the moment Su- san arrived. The Jew, sitting in the room, heard the news. Peering through the lattice. his keen, wise eyes studied the faces of the three men. When he withdrew he knew.
 Those two men love that woman" said he to himself. Triumph flashed from his dark face. He had read the passion that shook the heart of John Meadows and he saw the instrument of revenge at his hand.
 So when George Fielding declared that he would go to Australia to try Tor fortune in sheep raising, Isaac stepped forth and cried.
 "No! I will lend you money to keep the farm!"
 If you want to show me a kind ness" said George. Tend the money to my brother William here. As for me, Mir. Merton has declared that I shall not marry his daughter till have ! thousand pounds. can never get that out of this used-up farm. Much as love it I shall go."
 And go he did next day, after Mir. .. Merton had promised solemnly that he should have his chance. A final humil- lation hurried his departure. Tn his simple trusttulness he had taken in A stranger from London. Tom Robin Eon. without inquiring his antecedents. On his last day policemen from Bow Street arrived and identified Robinson as notorious thief who was wanted on a charge of picking pockets.
 To Susan Australia painted itself vvith all the terrors of the unknown H nvsterious land so far away that 1t geened almost as if George were a dead man when she saw the last of hinn-a land whose name was made doubiy terrible in that generation be- cause 1t was the port of England's friRhtful army of convicts. shiploads of whom were carried miserably from poisonous prison hulks to depart CUTS Ing and sobbing for those wilds. which men could reach only by disappearing In the oceans for third Of year.
 She sank. body and soul. No more did her light step sound cheerily through her fathers house. Her beau ky lost the rich color of earthly health and became more spiritual and fragile each day. John Meadows looked at a- orong1fne ravelatfon came