“I lack the motive for renewed effort,” said Markland.  “Wealth beyond my present possession I do not desire.  I have more than enough safely invested to give me every comfort and luxury through life.”

“But your children?” remarked the guest.

“Will have ample provision.”

“There is another motive.”

“What?”

“Money is power.”

“True.”

“And by its proper use a man may elevate himself into almost any position.  It is the lever that moves the world.”

Markland only shrugged his shoulders slightly.

“Have you no ambition?” inquired the other, in a familiar way.

“Ambition!” The question awakened surprise.

“To stand out prominently in the world’s eye, no matter for what, so the distinction be honourable,” said Mr. Lyon.  “Of the thousands and tens of thousands who toil up the steep and often rugged paths to wealth, and attain the desired eminence, how few are ever heard of beyond the small community in which they live!  Some of these, to perpetuate a name, establish at death some showy charity, and thus build for themselves a monument not overshadowed by statelier mausoleums amid the rivalries of a fashionable cemetery.  Pah!  All this ranges far below my aspiring.  I wish to make a name while living.  Wealth in itself is only a toy.  No true man can find pleasure in its mere glitter for a day.  It is only the miser who loves gold for its own sake, and sees nothing beautiful or desirable except the yellow earth he hoards in his coffers.  Have you found happiness in the mere possession of wealth?”

“Not in its mere possession,” was answered.

“Nor even in its lavish expenditure?”

“I have great pleasure in using it for the attainment of my wishes,” said Mr. Markland.

“The narrower the bound of our wishes, the quicker comes their consummation, and then all is restlessness again, until we enter upon a new pursuit.”

“Truly spoken.”

“Is it not wise, then, to give a wide sweep to our aspirations? to lift the ideal of our life to a high position; so that, in its attainment, every latent power may be developed?  Depend upon it, Mr. Markland, we may become what we will; and I, for one, mean to become something more than a mere money-getter and money-saver.  But first the money-getting, as a means to an end.  To that every energy must now be devoted.”

Mr. Lyon’s purpose was to interest Mr. Markland, and he was entirely successful.  He drew for him various attractive pictures, and in the contemplation of each, as it stood vividly before him, the retired merchant saw much to win his ardent admiration.  Very gradually, and very adroitly, seeming all the while as if he had not the slightest purpose to interest Mr. Markland in that particular direction, did Mr. Lyon create in his mind a strong confidence in the enlarged schemes for obtaining immense wealth in which he was now engaged.  And the tempter was equally successful in his efforts to awaken a desire in Mr. Markland to have his name stand out prominently, as one who had shown remarkable public spirit and great boldness in the prosecution of a difficult enterprise.