“My observation brings me to another conclusion,” quietly returned Mr. Brainard.  The earnest enthusiasm of the one, and the immovable coolness of the other, were finely contrasted.

“And what is that?” inquired Mr. Markland.

“Why, that more men are ruined by a blind perseverance in going the wrong way, than from any other cause.  Were we infallible in judgment, it might be well enough to govern ourselves in all important matters on the principle you indicate.  But, as we are not, like wise navigators, we should daily make new observations, and daily examine our charts.  The smallest deviation from a right line will make an immense error in the course of a long voyage.”

“Wise business men are in little danger of making errors,” said Markland, confidently.

“A great many sad mistakes are made daily,” returned Mr. Brainard.

“Not by wise men.”

“If a man’s projects succeed,” was rejoined, “we applaud his sound business judgment; if they fail, we see the cause of failure so plainly, that we are astonished at his want of forethought in not seeing it at the beginning.  But, sir, there’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will.  Success or failure, I am well convinced, do not always depend on the man himself.”

“Is there no virtue, then, in human prudence?” asked Mr. Markland.

“I am not prepared to say how far we may depend on human prudence,” replied the other; “but I know this, that if we fail to use it, we will fail in most of our undertakings.  Human prudence must be exercised in all cases; but, too often, we let our confident hopes take the place of prudence, as I think you are doing now.”

“But surely, Mr. Brainard,” said Markland, in an earnest, appealing way, “you do not intend receding from this business?”

“My mind is fully made up,” was answered.

“And so is mine,” firmly replied Markland.

“To do what?”

“To take the whole interest myself.”

“What?”

“To invest forty thousand dollars, instead of the proposed twenty, at once.”

“You show strong faith, certainly.”

“My faith, you may be sure, is well grounded.  Mr. Fenwick has already put in that sum, and he is not the man to go blindly into any business.  Apart from my own clear intuitions, founded on the most careful investigations, I would almost be willing to take risks in any schemes that Mr. Fenwick approved, in the substantial way of investment.”

“A very different man am I,” said Mr. Brainard.  “Twenty years of sharp experience are sufficient to make me chary of substituting others’ business judgment for my own.”

“Ah, well!” returned Markland, his manner showing him to be disappointed and annoyed.  “I cannot but regret your hasty decision in this matter.  So far as it concerns myself, even if I saw cause to recede, which I do not, I am too far committed, with both Fenwick and Lyon, to hesitate.”