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out around Old Toombs's farm and thus came； near to the settlement。 I had
no conception of the bitterness that the lawsuit had engendered。
〃Where once you start men hating one another；〃 said the Scotch
Preacher； 〃there's utterly no end of it。〃
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I have seen our Scotch Preacher in many difficult places； but never
have I seen him rise to greater heights than he did that night。 It is not in his
preaching that Doctor McAlway excels； but what a power he is among
men！ He was like some stern old giant； standing there and holding up the
portals of civilization。 I saw men melt under his words like wax； I saw
wild young fellows subdued into quietude； I saw unwise old men set to
thinking。
〃Man； man；〃 he'd say； lapsing in his earnestness into the broad Scotch
accent of his youth； 〃you canna' mean plunder； and destruction； and riot！
You canna！ Not in this neighbourhood！〃
〃What about Old Toombs？〃 shouted one of the boys。
I never shall forget how Doctor McAlway drew himself up nor the
majesty that looked from his eye。
〃Old Toombs！〃 he said in a voice that thrilled one to the bone； 〃Old
Toombs！ Have you no faith； that you stand in the place of Almighty God
and measure punishments？〃
Before we left it was past midnight and we drove home； almost silent；
in the darkness。
〃Doctor McAlway；〃 I said； 〃if Old Toombs could know the history of
this night it might change his point of view。〃
〃I doot it；〃 said the Scotch Preacher。 〃I doot it。〃
The night passed serenely； the morning saw Old Toombs's hedge
standing as gorgeous as ever。 The community had again stepped aside and
let Old Toombs have his way： they had let him alone； with all his great
barns； his wide acres and his wonderful hedge。 He probably never even
knew what had threatened him that night； nor how the forces of religion；
of social order； of neighbourliness in the community which he despised
had； after all； held him safe。 There is a supreme faith among common
peopleit is； indeed； the very taproot of democracythat although the
unfriendly one may persist long in his power and arrogance； there is a
moving Force which commands events。
I suppose if I were writing a mere story I should tell how Old Toombs
was miraculously softened at the age of sixty…eight years； and came into
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new relationships with his neighbours； or else I should relate how the mills
of God； grinding slowly； had crushed the recalcitrant human atom into
dust。
Either of these results conceivably might have happenedall things are
possibleand being ingeniously related would somehow have answered a
need in the human soul that the logic of events be constantly and
conclusively demonstrated in the lives of individual men and women。
But as a matter of fact； neither of these things did happen in this quiet
community of ours。 There exists； assuredly； a logic of events； oh； a terrible；
irresistible logic of events； but it is careless of the span of any one man's
life。 We would like to have each man enjoy the sweets of his own virtues
and suffer the lash of his own misdeedsbut it rarely so happens in life。
No； it is the community which lives or dies； is regenerated or marred by
the deeds of men。
So Old Toombs continued to live。 So he continued to buy more land；
raise more cattle； collect more interest； and the wonderful hedge continued
to flaunt its marvels still more notably upon the country road。 To what end？
Who knows？ Who knows？
I saw him afterward from time to time； tried to maintain some sort of
friendly relations with him； but it seemed as the years passed that he grew
ever lonelier and more bitter； and not only more friendless； but seemingly
more incapable of friendliness。 In times past I have seen what men call
tragediesI saw once a perfect young man die in his strengthbut it seems
to me I never knew anything more tragic than the life and death of Old
Toombs。 If it cannot be said of a man when he dies that either his nation；
his state； his neighborhood； his family； or at least his wife or child； is
better for his having lived； what CAN be said for him？
Old Toombs is dead。 Like Jehoram； King of Judah； of whom it is
terribly said in the Book of Chronicles； 〃he departed without being
desired。〃
Of this story of Nathan Toombs we talked much and long there in the
Ransome home。 I was with them； as I said； about two dayskept inside
most of the time by a driving spring rain which filled the valley with a
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pale gray mist and turned all the country roads into running streams。 One
morning； the weather having cleared； I swung my bag to my shoulder； and
with much warmth of parting I set my face again to the free road and the
open country。
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CHAPTER IX。 THE MAN
POSSESSED
I suppose I was predestined （and likewise foreordained） to reach the
city sooner or later。 My fate in that respect was settled for me when I
placed my trust in the vagrant road。 I thought for a time that I was more
than a match for the Road； but I soon learned that the Road was more than
a match for me。 Sly？ There's no name for it。 Alluring； lovable； mysterious…
…as the heart of a woman。 Many a time I followed the Road where it led
through innocent meadows or climbed leisurely hill slopes only to find
that it had crept around slyly and led me before I knew it into the back
door of some busy town。
Mostly in this country the towns squat low in the valleys； they lie in
wait by the rivers； and often I scarcely know of their presence until I am so
close upon them that I can smell the breath of their heated nostrils and
hear their low growlings and grumblings。
My fear of these lesser towns has never been profound。 I have even
been bold enough； when I came across one of them； to hasten straight
through