put an end to men's hatred and envy of one another, and if they
can't 'let the steam off' in fighting, they'll find some other way
which may be worse. If you come to consider it, all nature is at war
with itself,--it's a perpetual struggle to live, and it's evident
that the struggle was intended and ordained as universal law. Life
would be pretty dull without effort--and effort means war."

"War against what?--against whom?" asked Seaton.

"Against whatever or whoever opposes the effort," replied Gwent,
promptly--"There must be opposition, otherwise effort would be
unnecessary. My good fellow, you've got an idea that you can alter
the fixed plan of things, but you can't. The cleverest of us are
only like goldfish in a glass bowl--they see the light through, but
they cannot get to it. The old ship of the world will sail on its
appointed way to its destined port,--and the happiest creatures are
those who are content to sail with it in the faith that God is at
the helm!" He broke off, smiling at his own sudden eloquence, then
added--"By-the-by, where is your laboratory?"

"Haven't got one!" replied Seaton, briefly.

"What! Haven't got one! Why, how do you make your stuff?"

Seaton laughed.

"You think I'm going to tell you? Mr. Senator Gwent, you take me for
a greater fool than I am! My 'stuff' needs neither fire nor
crucible,--the formula was fairly complete before I left Washington,
but I wanted quiet and solitude to finish what I had begun. It is