ame in.

"You do not know me," said he, observing that the merchant, who had
risen to his feet, did not recognise him.

Jasper shook his head.

"Look closer." There was an air of familiarity and rude insolence
about the man.

"Martin!" exclaimed Jasper, stepping back a few paces. "Is it
possible!"

"Quite possible, friend Jasper," returned the man, helping himself to
a chair, and sinking into it with the air of one who felt himself at
home.

Surprise and perplexity kept the merchant dumb for some moments. He
would quite as lief have been confronted with a robber, pistol in
hand.

"I do not wish to see you, Martin," said he, at length, speaking in a
severe tone of voice. "Why have you intruded on me again? Are you not
satisfied? Have you no mercy?"

"None, Leonard Jasper, none," replied the man scowling. "I never knew
the meaning of the word--no more than yourself."

"You are nothing better than a robber," said the merchant, bitterly.

"I only share with bolder robbers their richer plunder," retorted the
man.

"I will not bear this, Martin. Leave my presence."

"I will relieve you certainly," said the visitor, rising, "when you
have done for me what I wish. I arrived here, to-day, penniless; and
have called for a trifling loan to help me on my way North."

"Loan! what mockery! I will yield no further to your outrageous
demands. I was a fool ever to have feared the little power you
possess. Go, sir! I do not fear you."

"I want your check for two hundred dollars--no more," said Martin, in
a modified tone--"I will not be hard on you. Necessity drives me to
this resort; but I hope never to trouble you again."

"Not a dollar," replied Jasper, firmly. "And now, my friend, seek
some other mode of sustaining yourself in vice and idleness. You have
received from me your last contribution. In settling the estate
of Reuben Elder to the entire satisfaction of all parties, I have
disarmed you. You have no further power to hurt."

"You may find yourself mistaken in regard to my power," replied
Martin as he made a movement toward the door, and threw back upon the
merchant a side-glance of the keenest malignity. "Many a foot has been
stung by the reptile it spurned."

The word "stay" came not to Jasper's lips. He was fully in earnest.
Martin paused, with his hand on the door, and said--

"One hundred dollars will do."

"Not a copper, if it were to save you from the nether regions!"
cried Jasper, his anger and