WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 179

 

time offered; but, as it required an amount of con-
fnement and labour which he could not give, with-
out endangering his health, he wisely declined the
oifer.

Far less smoothly had the current of Leonard
Jasper’s life flowed on. Twice during this period
had he received visits from his old acquaintance,
Martin, and each time he was made poorer by five
thousand dollars. It was all in vain that he strug-
gled and resisted. ‘The man had no compassion in
him. He cared not who suffered loss, so he was the
gainer.

There were other miners at work sapping the
foundations of Jasper’s fortune, besides this less
concealed operator. Parker, the young man who
sueceeded to the place of Claire, and who was
afterward raised to the condition of partner, with
a limited interest, was far from being satisfied with
his dividend in the business. The great bulk of
Jasper’s means were used in outside speculations ;
and as the result of these became successively
known to Parker, his thoughts began to run in @
new channel. “If I only had money to go into
this,” and, “If I only had money to go into that,”
were words frequently on his tongue. He regarded
himself as exceedingly shrewd; and confidently be-
lieved that, if he had capital to work with, he could
soon amass an independent fortune.

“ Money makes money,” was his favourite motto.

Unscrupulous as his partner, it is not surprising
that Parker, ere long, felt himself perfectly author-
ized to use the credit of the house in private
schemes of profit. ‘To Jo this safely, it was neces-