ple centuries enough, to give us
some excuse for depriving them of their long monopoly to deal out
sickness and death at wholesale? When you talk of 'personal liberty,' it
is well to remember the fact that no man has any right to a personal
liberty which results in evil to his neighbour or to society."

The judge turned very red, and was on the point of replying. But
Maxwell broke in.

"This is aside from the question, Senator. The main fact you ignore. The
main fact is that what you are planning to do will split the party."

Paul lost his temper.

"Let it split, then! I don't worship the party! What is the party by the
side of the people?"

Maxwell looked shocked. I think he really felt as he looked. Paul could
not have said anything more treasonable.

"Senator, you will regret those words. Mark me. You will regret it. One
of the things I was going to say was------" Maxwell lowered his voice
and looked around. "I was going to say that you have it in your power so
to shape your own future that the governorship would come to you in two
years, or the national senatorship. The party would be willing to
reward a man like you------"

Paul exploded again. "Governorship! Senatorship!" he almost shouted
while Maxwell looked apprehensively at the open door.

"Do you think I care about them as reward for political slavery?" Then
he suddenly realised how useless it was to let a man like Maxwell
understand.

"Gentlemen," he said good naturedly, "excuse me. The occasion does not
call for excitement. I understand your purpose in coming to see me. It
will save your time and mine to say that I shall not change my plans to
press these bills even if the result is to disrupt the party. And you
are as free to say that as I expect to be in my editorial this evening."

Maxwell nervously interrupted.

"You are committing political suicide, Mr. Douglas."

"That's better than hari kari, eh?" said Douglas with a smile.

Maxwell stared. He had heard of hari kari perhaps, but did not know
whether it was the name of a new type of airship or a health food. He
went away with his two friends, firmly convinced, however, that the
editor of the _News_ was on the road to political destruction.

After Paul had written his editorial for the _News_ he was not certain
himself that he had not really done what Maxwell predicted. He had
certainly never spoken so plainly and even bluntly on the issues of the
campaign, and he knew perfectly well t