CHAPTER XXXVII. THE TIE BREAKS.

generalamountofgoodonthewholeandallsuchruleswillworkhardinparticularcases.SlaveryisagreatmissionaryenterpriseforcivilizingandchristianizingthedegradedAfrican." "WaittillyouseeTomGordon'smanagementonthisplantation,"saidHarry,"andyou'llseewhatsortofachristianizinginstitutionitis!Mr.Jekyl,youknowbetter!Youthrowsuchtalkasthatinthefaceofyournorthernvisitors,andyouknowallthewhilethatSodomandGomorrahdon'tequalsomeoftheseplantations,wherenobodyisn'tanybody'shusbandorwifeinparticular!Youknowallthesethings,andyoudaretalktomeaboutamissionaryinstitution!Whatsortofmissionaryinstitutionsarethegreattrading-marts,wheretheysellmenandwomen?Whatarethemeansofgracetheyusethere?Andthedogsandthenegro-hunters!—thoseareforthegreatestgood,too!Ifyoursoulwereinoursouls'stead,you'dseethingsdifferently." Mr.Jekylwasastonished,andsaidso.Buthefoundadifficultyinpresentinghisfavoriteviewofthecase,underthecircumstancesandwebelievethoseministersoftheGospel,andelders,whoentertainsimilardoctrines,wouldgainsomenewviewsbytheefforttopresentthemtoalivemaninHarry'scircumstances.Mr.Jekylneverhadamorerealizingsenseofthedifferencebetweentheabstractandconcrete. Harrywasnowthoroughlyroused.Hehadinheritedtheviolentandfierypassionsofhisfather.Hisusualappearanceofstudiedcalmness,andhishabitsofdeferentialaddress,weresuperinducedtheyresembledthethincrustwhichcoatsoverafloodofboilinglava,andwhichaburstoftheseethingmassbeneathcanshiverinamoment.Hewasnowwhollydesperateandreckless.Hesawhimselfalreadydelivered,boundhandandfoot,intothehandsofamasterfromwhomhecouldexpectneithermercynorjustice.Hewaslikeonewhohadhungsuspendedoveranabyss,bygraspingawildrosethefrailandbeautifulthingwasbroken,andhefelthimselfgoing,withonlydespairbeneathhim.Heroseandstoodtheothersideofthetable,hishandstremblingwithexcitement. "Mr.Jekyl,"hesaid,"itisalloverwithme!Twentyyearsoffaithfulservicehavegonefornothing.Myselfandwife,andunbornchild,aretheslavesofavilewretch!Hush,now!Iwillhavemysayforonce!I'veborne,andborne,andborne,anditshallcomeout!Youmenwhocallyourselvesreligious,andstandupforsuchtyranny,—youserpents,yougenerationofvipers,—howcanyouescapethedamnationofhell?YoukeeptheclothesofthemwhostoneStephen!Youencouragetheft,androbbery,andadultery,andyouknowit!Youareworsethanthevillainsthemselves,whodon'tpretendtojustifywhattheydo.Now,go,tellTomGordon—go!Ishallfightitouttothelast!I'venothingtohope,andnothingtolose.Lethimlookout!TheymadesportofSamson,—the