ntrol when under the influence of alcoholic
stimulation. He is a dypso-maniac. A glass of wine or brandy to him is
like the match to a train of powder. I don't wonder, knowing what I do
about General Abercrombie, that his wife grew deadly pale to-night when
she saw him raise a glass to his lips."

"Has he been abstaining for any length of time?"

"Yes; for many months he has kept himself free. I am intimate with an
officer who told me all about him. When not under the influence of
drink, the general is one of the kindest-hearted men in the world. To
his wife he is tender and indulgent almost to a fault, if that were
possible. But liquor seems to put the devil into him. Drink drowns his
better nature and changes him into a half-insane fiend. I am told that
he came near killing his wife more than once in a drunken phrensy."

"You pain me beyond measure. Poor lady! I don't wonder that the life
went out of her so suddenly, nor at the terror I saw in her face. Can
nothing be done? Has he no friends here who will draw him out of the
supper-room and get him away before he loses control of himself?"

"It is too late. If he has begun to drink, it is all over. You might as
well try to draw off a wolf who has tasted blood."

"Does he become violent? Are we going to have a drunken scene?"

"Oh no; we need apprehend nothing of that kind. I never heard of his
committing any public folly. The devil that enters into him is not a
rioting, boisterous fiend, but quiet, malignant, suspicious and cruel."

"Suspicious? Of what?"

"Of everybody and everything. His brother officers are in league
against him; his wife is regarded with jealousy; your frankest speech
covers in his view some hidden and sinister meaning. You must be
careful of your attentions to Mrs. Abercrombie to-night, for he will
construe them adversely, and pour out his wrath on her defenceless head
when they are alone."

"This is frightful," was answered. "I never heard of such a case."

"Never heard of a drunken man assaulting his wife when alone with her,
beating, maiming or murdering her?"

"Oh yes, among the lowest and vilest. But we are speaking now of people
in good society--people of culture and refinement."

"Culture and social refinements have no influence over a man when the
fever of intoxication is upon him. He is for the time an insane man,
and subject to the influx and control of malignant influences. Hell
rules him instead of heaven."

"It is awfu