Year: 1879

payment OF the interest


of tine interest and principal, you
mean?'


OF the interest only-and the life
insurance. added the usurer, with
slight popularity of intonation that
might have escaped the notice of one
whose nerves were less exalted IN their
sensitive powerlhan those of Eis visitor


And what sum can l borrow on
these terms?' said West, glOOmily.


A hundred pounds; more if you re-
quire it. In fact, any amount, if your
security be good


The interest will doubtless be high? p


Not at all; or per cent. As
much is often given for money on mort
gage of land


And the life insurance."


You will insure your life for e5OO'
and YOU will paythe premiums with the
interest,"


For fire hundred?' said West, hesi'
tatingly; that's if borrow -


'One hundred replied the u'urer'
sharply. Men who lend money DO not
run risks. You may die, and four out
of Eve insurance offices may fail ; but
the chances are that the fifth would pay


But it is not likely,' began Bernard
West, amazed at This outrageous display
Of caution.


I do not say it is likely snarled the
usurer, with a contemptuous sort Of pity
for his visitors dullness Ofapprehension.
L say 1t is possible, and Ike to be on
the safe side


well. and how is the affair to be ar
ranged:'


Your secnrity, who OF course must
be person known TO have property
will give bond guaranteeing the regu'
lar payment Of interest and premium
''eA -


that is all


West reflected for some minutes IN
silence. The faint expression of hope
thot had for an instant lighted up his
countenance vanished. He understood
the money lender and his proposition
A sufficiently clear remembrance OF the
table of life assurance which he had seen
enabled him to perceive that the inter
est and premium together would amount
to nearly 20 per cent, aud that the bond
engaged his security TO pay an annuity
for his (West's) life of that amount. 1t
is true. that. full OF energy and hope,
he felt no doubt of his capacity to meet
the payments regularly; it is true that,
monstrous as were the terms, he would
have accepted eagerly still harder ones
had it simply depended on his own de-
cision. But where find or how ask
friend 10 become his bondsman lie





ran over in despair the scanty list oil ac'
ouaintanccs whom his poverty had not
already caused to forget him. He felt
that the thing was impossiblc' There
was not one he could think of who
would have even dreamed Of entering
into such a compact. He turned des-
perately to the money-leuder.


L have no friend he said, OF wnom
7 could or would ask such a service. II
| had should not be here. Are there
no terms, however high, on'which you
can lend me even the most triaing sum,
for which myself alone need be re-
sponsible?


None replied the usurcr, already
commencing his letter.


Twill give 80 per cent


'Impossible.'


'Fifty?'


The usurer shook his head impatient-
ly.


A hundred-cent. per cent"


Mop


The strange seeker of loans at length
rose TO depart. He reached the door
Suddenly he turned back, his eyes blaz'
inc with the sombre radiance of des-
pair. He strobe to the table, and plant
ed himself, with folded arms, immedi-
ately in front of the usurer.


Mark me!' said West, in a tone of
deep suppressed passion, like the hollow
murmur Of the sea before storm, 1t
IS a question of life or death with me to
Get money before sunset. Lend me on
" e2O and within twelve months [ will
repay you elOO. 1 will give you every
power which the law can give one man
over another and l will pledge my
honor, which never yet was questioned,
to the bargainp


The usurer almost smiled, so strange
" sarcastic was the contraction of his
features, as he listened to these words.


Il do not question your honor he
SAID. iclly. but honor has nothing to do
with business. As for the law, there IS
an old axiom which says, Out of moth
ing, nothing comes"


Bernard West regarded the cOld.rocky
face and the passIonless mouth from
which these words proceeded with sting
ing wrath as man feels who has hu-
inflated himself in vain. Neverthe less
he clung to the old finty usurer as to
the last rock in deluge, and sense OF
savage recklessness came over him when
he advanced yet closer TO the living cash
bex before him, while the latter shrank,
half terrified before the burning gaze OF
his visitors dilated pupils.


Laying his hand upon the money!
lenders shoulder, by a gesture of terri
BILE familiarity that insisted upon and
commanded attention to his words,
West spoke with sudden clearness and