DR. CAMERON'S appeal had left the old Commoner unshaken in his idea. There could be but one side to any question with such a man, and that was his side. He would stand by his own men too. He believed in his own forces. The bayonet was essential to his revolutionary programme—hence the hand which held it could do no wrong. Wrongs were accidents which might occur under any system.
Yet in no way did he display the strange contradictions of his character so plainly as in his inability to hate the individual who stood for the idea he was fighting with maniac fury. He liked Dr. Cameron instantly, though he had come to do a crime that would send him into beggared exile.
Individual suffering he could not endure. In this the doctor's appeal had startling results.
He sent for Mrs. Lenoir and Marion.
"I understand, Madam," he said, gravely, "that your house and farm are to be sold for taxes?"
"Yes, sir; we've given it up this time. Nothing can be done," was the hopeless answer.
"Would you consider an offer of twenty dollars an acre?"
