little plot, and if these fellows don't get six months, I am very
much mistaken."

When Bob got back to his hotel that night, and was able to think calmly
of what had taken place, he was considerably perturbed.

Of course the incident in itself was sordid enough. The woman was
supposed to be the wife of one of these men, and Bob by his
intervention had hindered what might have been a brutal tragedy.

But that wasn't all. The thing was a commentary on his conversation
with Dr. Renthall.

Two days later Bob appeared at the police court against these men, and
heard with satisfaction the Magistrates sentence them both to severe
punishment.

There is no need for me to tell the whole story here, a story of
cruelty and theft. The fellows received less than their due in the
sentence that was pronounced, and Bob felt that he had freed society,
for some time at all events, of two dangerous characters.

The local papers made quite a feature of the case and spoke with great
warmth of Bob's courage, and the benefit he had rendered the community.

"I say, Nancarrow," said Dr. Renthall, when next they met, "they are
making quite a hero of you. I must congratulate you."

"On what?" asked Bob.

"On the part you played in that affair."

"I am all at sea," was the young man's rejoinder. "It seems to me that
according to Christian principles I should have done nothing. If I had
literally interpreted the dictum: 'If a man strike thee on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also,' I should have allowed the fellow to
work his will without opposition. But you see, I could not stand by
and see that fellow ill-treat the woman. That was why, before I knew
what I was about, I was fighting for life. Do you think I did right?"

"I see what you are driving at," replied the Professor, "and I admit
you were in a difficult position."

"You said the other night," said Bob, "that force was no remedy.
Perhaps it is not a remedy, but it seems to me necessary. After all,
if you come to think about it, the well-being of the community rests
upon force. But for force that brute would perhaps have killed the
woman. But for force the two fellows would have killed me, but it so
happened that the police came up and saved me, and a policeman
represents force, both moral and physical. No, force may not be a
remedy, but without it, while society is as it is, everything would be
chaos and mad confusion."

"You are thinking about the war,