FOR hours after his wife had sunk into the forgetfulness of sleep, Ellis lay awake, pondering over the ways and means by which he was to meet his engagements for the next day, which, exclusive of Carlton's demand, were in the neighbourhood of a thousand dollars.

During the previous two weeks, he had paid a good deal of money, but he was really but little better off therefor, the money so paid having been mainly procured through temporary loans from business friends.

Most of it he had promised to return on the morrow.

Earnestly as the mind of Ellis dwelt on the subject, he was not able to devise the means of getting safely through the next day.
"And what if I do get over the difficult place ?" was the desponding conclusion of his mind--"ultimate failure is inevitable, unless a great reduction can be made in expenses.

At present, our living exceeds the profits on my business.