The very self of the law took Roscoe from you and gave Edith the certainty of beating you; and the very self of the law makes Bibbs deny you to-night.
The LAW beats you.

Haven't you been whipped enough?
But you want to whip the law--you've set yourself against it, to bend it to your own ends, to wield it and twist it--" The voice broke from Sheridan's heaving chest in a shout.

"Yes! And by God, I will!" "So Ajax defied the lightning," said Gurney.
"I've heard that dam'-fool story, too," Sheridan retorted, fiercely.
"That's for chuldern and niggers.

It ain't twentieth century, let me tell you! 'Defied the lightning,' did he, the jackass! If he'd been half a man he'd 'a' got away with it.

WE don't go showin' off defyin' the lightning--we hitch it up and make it work for us like a black-steer! A man nowadays would just as soon think o' defyin' a wood-shed!" "Well, what about Bibbs ?" said Gurney.