"In some cases that may be true, but is hardly probable in the case
of Brantley. I do not believe that he has swerved from integrity in
anything."

"It is my belief," I answered, "that if he had not swerved, he would
not have fallen. I may be wrong, but cannot help the impression."

"Brantley is an honest man. I will maintain that in the face of
every one," was replied.

"Honest as the world regards honesty. But there are higher than
legal standards. What A and B may consider fair, C may regard as
questionable. He has his own standard; and if he falls below that in
his dealings with men, he departs from his integrity."

"I have nothing to say for Brantley under that view of the subject,"
said the friend. "If he has special standards of morality, and does
not live up to them, the matter is between himself and his own
conscience. We, on the outside, are not his judges."

It so happened that I met Brantley a short time afterwards. The
circumstances were favorable, and our interview unreserved. He had
sold his house, and a large part of the handsome furniture it
contained, and was living in a humbler dwelling. I referred to his
changed condition, and spoke of it with regret.

"There is no gratuitous evil," he remarked. "I have long been
satisfied on that head. If we lose on one hand, we gain on another.
And my experience in life leads me to this conclusion, that the loss
is generally in lower things, and the gain in higher."