, or even
more, than you would probably get by law--for, if driven into the
courts, I will contend to the last moment--through an amicable
arrangement. Which course are you disposed to take?"

"I have no desire to harm you, Mr. Jasper--none in the world. If the
terms of settlement which you may offer are such as, under all the
circumstances, I feel justified in accepting, I will meet your wishes.
But you must bear in mind that, in this matter, I am not acting for
myself."

"I know--but your judgment of the case must determine."

"True--and in that judgment I will endeavour to hold an equal
balance."

The two men now retired from the lawyer's office; and, ere parting,
arranged a meeting for that evening at the store of Jasper, where they
could be entirely alone. For two or three successive evenings these
conferences were continued, until Claire was entirely satisfied that
the merchant's final offer to transfer to the possession of Fanny
Elder four houses, valued at five thousand dollars each, in full
settlement of her father's estate, was the very best he could do; and
far more than he would probably obtain if an appeal were made to the
law.

As quickly as this transfer could be made, it was done. Not until the
long-desired documents, vouching for the equitable settlement of the
estate, were in Jasper's hands, did he breathe freely. Oh! through
what an ordeal he had passed. How his own pride, self-consequence, and
self-sufficiency had been crushed out of him! And not only in spirit
was he humbled and broken. In his anxiety to settle up the estate of
Mr. Elder, and thus get the sword that seemed suspended over his head
by a single hair, removed, he had overstepped his ability. The houses
referred to were burdened with a mortgage of nearly ten thousand
dollars; this had, of course, to be released; and, in procuring the
money therefor, he strained to the utmost his credit, thus cutting
off important facilities needed in his large, and now seriously
embarrassed business.

It is the last pound that breaks the camel's back. This abstraction of
money and property took away from Jasper just what he needed to carry
him safely through a period of heavy payments, at a time when there
was some derangement in financial circles. In less than a month
from the time he settled the estate of Reuben Elder, the news of his
failure startled the business community. He went down with a heavy
plunge, and never again rose to the surface