Jim stared in silence.

“You think she'd be sorry to know I am alive?” he asked slowly.

“It would be a great shock.”

The steel blue eyes slowly filled with tears.

“God! I am rotten, ain't I?”

“There's no doubt about that, my son,” was the firm answer.

“Why did you fight so hard to save me—I wonder?”

“An old feud between Death and me.”

Jim suddenly seized the Doctor's hand.

“Say, you can't fool me—you're a good one, Doc. You've been a friend to me and you've got to help now—you've just got to. You're the only one on earth who can. You've a great big heart and you can't go back on a fellow that's down and out. Give me a chance! You will—won't you?”