But sometimes I have an awful time with myself, just because I can't wholly believe folks will respect a chap who's done as many mean things as I have in the past." "You must put that out of your mind, Nick," urged the other.

"Why, don't you think I'd have ten times as much respect for the fellow who's been down, and climbs up again through his own will-power, than for the one who's always been shielded from temptation, and never really proved what he had in him?
Nine-tenths of the fellows who walk along so straight are kept on that road because they happen to have wise parents to watch over them; and they were never given an overpowering appetite to do wrong things." Nick drew a long breath.

His eyes glistened again, and perhaps with something besides the animation that Hugh's kind and encouraging words kindled within his soul.
"You see," he went on to say, presently, when he could control his voice, "I always did like to run smack up against a hard proposition.
It's in my nature to want a good fight, and I reckon I've got it this time.

But I'm a whole lot stubborn, too, Hugh, as likely you've learned; and I don't give up easy.

Since I started to reform I'm a-going to get there if it takes a leg.