“I enclose herewith a letter to Evadne,” his brother had written, “giving full and minute explanations as to her best course in the matter.  These she will follow implicitly, under your supervision, and I feel confident the result will be a well-developed character along the lines on which women, through no fault of their own, are so lamentably deficient, namely, the proper conduct of business and management of money.”

Judge Hildreth looked again at the envelope with its clear, bold address.  “That is not the handwriting of a fool,” he muttered.  “I wish I could make up my mind what to do.”

Through the solemn hush of midnight his good and evil angels contended for his soul.  In a strange silence he listened to their voices, the one insidious, tempting, the other urging him to take the upright course.  Had his eyes not been holden he would have seen them, the one dark-browed, malignant, clothed in shadows, the other robed in light; while other angels hovered near and looked on pityingly.  The white-robed angel spoke first.

“It is not a question to be decided by your judgment.  There is no other course left open to you.”

Mockingly the other answered.  “It is a most unprecedented proceeding.  You should have been appointed her guardian, with sole control.”

“It is your brother’s last will and testament.”

“Some wills are made to be broken.  This one is against sound reason.”

“It is the only honorable thing to do.”

“It is unnecessary.  The child need not know, and, if she did, would thank you for saving her from care.”

“It is your brother’s money.  He had a right to do as he will with his own.”

“If he had known to what straits this year’s speculations have brought you, he would be glad to give you a lift.  If you do not have money now what are you going to do?  This has come just in time, for you know your credit is already strained to its utmost.”  “Your niece will be anxious to have your advice as to profitable investments.  You can borrow the money from her.”

“That would be awkward, in case the bottom fell out of the mine.  A little capital in hand would give you a chance to water the Panhattan stock and develop a new lead in the Silverwing.”

“If you use money that does not belong to you, you will be a thief!”

“If you do not use it, you will be a pauper.  You have paper out now to five times the amount of your income.  This is an interposition of Providence to save you from ruin.”

“What right had you to put yourself in the way of ruin?”

“You did it to advance the interests of your family.  The Bible says, ’If any provide not for his own, especially his own kindred, he ... is worse than an infidel.’[Footnote:  Marginal rendering A. V.]”

“If you do this thing you will be dishonored in the sight of God.”

“If you do not save yourself from this temporary embarrassment, you will be disgraced in the eyes of the world.  You owe it to your position in society, and the church, to keep above the waves.”  The listening spirits heard a low, malicious laugh of triumph and the white-robed angel turned sadly away.