Notwillingtorelyentirelyonhisownjudgment，heratherreluctantlydecidedtocallonabankerinanadjacenttown，withwhomheenjoyedaslightacquaintance。Inthinkingthematteroverhewasgreatlyperplexedtodeterminehowtointroducethesubject。
Ofcourseitwouldnotanswertoallowthecashiertofathomhissecretpurpose，andyethewasoppressedwithavagueconsciousnessthatonlyatranslucentfilmhidhisthoughtfromtheworld。Onceortwice，indrivingoverontheunfamiliarerrand，weakandirresolutehehalfresolvedtoturnback，butgreedfinallyprevailed，andhekeptontothevillage。
Withastrongbutunsatisfactoryefforttoappearatease，hesaunteredintothebank。Aftertheusualinterchangeofgreetings，henervouslyremarked，“BrotherHyde，asIwascomingthiswayto-
daytocallonBrotherTompkins，Ihavetakenthelibertytodropintoaskyouaquestiononamatterinyourline。“
“Verywell，“repliedthebanker，“Ishallbehappytoserveyou。“
“Ihadatransactionafewdaysago，“resumedtheclergyman，“withapeddler，——anentirestrangertome，——who，inmakingchange，gavemeanumberofbillswhichIhavereasontosuspectarecounterfeits。Idesireyouropinion。“
“Pleaseletmeseethem，“saidMr。Hyde。
Hetooktheone-dollarnotefromthehandoftheunfaithfulpastor，andafterscanningitamoment，inquired，“Whatisthematterwithit？“
“Isitgood？“queriedtheanxiousowner。
“IwishIhadmysafefullofthesamesort，“answeredthebanker。
“Thereisnothingbadaboutthebill。Whatmakesyouthinkso？
Perhapsyouhaveshownmethewrongone。Letmeseetheothers。“
“Imusthavelefttherestathome，“repliedthepreacher，fumblingamongthecompartmentsofthepocket-book。
Havingaccomplishedtheobjectofhismissionwithoutperpetrating，ashethought，anydisastrousblunder，Mr。Sappbroughttheinterviewtoaclosewithafewcommonplaceremarks，andhurriedawaytoenjoyinsolitaryself-communionthethick-crowdingvisionsoffutureaffluence。
Withthelastdoubtsatisfactorilyovercome，theplansoftheprospectivemillionairerapidlytookshape。Hecouldraisefivehundreddollars，whichattheproposedrateofinterchangewouldpurchasetwenty-fivethousandofthe“absolutelyperfectimitations。“Thesumseemedvast——incalculable。Hisimagination，hithertobounddownbythenarrowcircumstancesofremoterurallife，staggeredwhiletryingtograsptheconceptionofsomuchwealth。Likethemysteriesoftimeandspace，itappearedtoograndforcomprehension。Thenhisreveriesstrayedintoanotherchannel。WhatnoblefellowswereRagem&Co。Why，amongfortymillionsofpeople，didtheypickouthim，anunknownclergyman，livinginanobscureplacehundredsofmilesfromthemetropolis，tobethefavoredrecipientofuntoldwealth？Surely，thisisaspecialProvidence。NotasparrowfallethtothegroundwithoutHisknowledge。Hewatchesoverhisown。Suddenlytheerringclergymanfeelsaterriblepullathisheart-strings。Whatrighthashe，abouttobetrayasacredtrust，andengageinoperationsbrandedasinfamousbythelawsoftheland，toclaimthewatchfulcareofProvidence？Willnottheall-seeingeyefollowhim？Willnottheomnipotenthandstrikehimheavilyinwrath？Thepoormanwipesthecoldperspirationfromhisforehead，andwondersifitwillpay。
Buthehaspalteredtoolong，andnowthedevilclaimshimforhisown。
Returninghome，SappwrotetoRagem&Co。，statingtheamountofhisavailableresources，andsayingthatuponagivendayandhourhewouldmeetthemattheappointedrendezvous。OnthefollowingSundaythecongregationwerestartledatthecloseoftheafternoonservicesbyanextraordinaryannouncementfromthepulpit。
Beforepronouncingthebenedictionthepastorsaid：“ItakethisopportunitytocommunicatetoyoucollectivelyapieceofpersonalintelligencewhichIhavehithertokeptsecret。UnderthewillofarelativewhorecentlydiedintheStateofMichigan，Iinheritalargesum——tome，withmyhumblewants，averylargesum。Byappointment，IamtomeettheexecutoroftheestatethisweekinNewYorkCitytoreceivethefirstinstallmentofthelegacy。Idonotproposetoleaveyou，mydearparishioners，buttoremainamongyouandtoilwithyouasIhavedoneforsomanyyears。AgoodlyportionatleastofmyinheritanceIintendtoinvestinthiscommunity，thatneighborsandfriendsmaysharejointlyinmyprosperity。ItrustImaybeguidedtomakeawiseuseofthetalentsthusunexpectedly，andImaysayprovidentially，committedtomykeeping。WeknowfromtheteachingsofScripturethatwealthbringsgreatresponsibilities，andthatweshallbeheldtoastrictaccountforthemannerinwhichweemployit。Mayyourprayersgowithme。“
Thecongregationcrowdedaroundthepastorwithcongratulations。
Particularlydemonstrativeweretheebullitionsoftwoorthreebrotherswhosawachanceofexchangingsundryunsalablepossessionsforslicesintheinheritance。
Mr。SappreachedNewYorkCityintheevening，andthemomentousinterviewwastotakeplaceatanearlyhourthenextday。Sleepcameinbriefandfitfulsnatches。Butthestarsrollonintheirmajesticspheres，regardlessofmortalhopesandfears。Atlengthdaybroke，whenthepreacherrosefrombedanxiousandunrefreshed。
Alittlebeforetheappointedtimeheproceededtoacertainbuilding，andhavingmountedtwoflightsofstairs，sawthemagicnumberonthedoorinfrontofhim。Astheclockstruckheentered。Agreeablytoapreconcertedplan，hewipedtherightcornerofhismouthwithawhitehandkerchief，andnoddedthreetimes。Theonlypersonintheroom，awell-dressedandapparentlyaffablegentleman，respondedbywipingtheleftcornerofhismouthwitharedsilkhandkerchief，andnoddingthreetimes。Thesignaliscorrectlyanswered：itishe!Sofarallworksbeautifully，witheverypromisekept。Thebillwasaperfectimitation，theengraverisonhandtoasecond。
“Twotruthsaretold，AshappyprologuestotheswellingactOftheimperialtheme。“
ThefellowpassingunderthenameofRagem&Co。welcomedthenewarrivalcordially。“Ah，“saidhe“yourpromptnessandcircumspectionshowthatIamnotdisappointedinmyman。Iseethatyoucomeuptothefullmeasureofmyexpectations。DoyouknowIamaremarkablejudgeofcharacter？Infact，Iseldomornevermakeamistake。Wearebothinluck。“
“Iwastrainedtopunctualityfromearlyyouth，“repliedthepreacher；andproceedingdirectlytobusiness，withoutfurthercircumlocution，continued，“Isucceededinraisingfivehundreddollars，whichentitlesmeundertheagreementtotwenty-fivethousand。“
Fromaninnerpocket，afterremovinganumberofpins，heproducedsixonehundreddollarnotes，saying，bywayofexplanation，“ForgreatersecurityIconvertedmyfundsintobillsoflargedenomination。OneIreserveforcontingencies；theotherfiveareforyou。“
“Yourmoneyishereinthesafe，“saidRagem，takingthefivenotes，andturningtowardthesafeasiftounlockit。Butthescoundrelevidentlyreasonedthatitwouldbesillytoremaincontentwiththefivewhenhecouldjustaseasilycapturethesixth。
Walkingback，heremarked，“Iwanttoshowyouthatmylargebillsarejustasperfectasthesmallones“；and，asifforpurposesofcomparison，hetooktheremainingnotefromthehandoftheclergyman。
Atthismomentbeganafearfulknockingonasidedoor，thatthreatenedthespeedydemolitionofthefrailbarrier。“Run，run，“
whisperedRagem，asifintheextremityofterror，“thepoliceareonus。“
Thepreacherneedednosecondinvitation，fearofexposuregivingwingstohisfeet。Almostataboundheclearedthetwoflightsofstairsandemergedintothestreet，walkingseveralblocks，andturninganumberofcornersbeforehedaredtolookback。
Thebonafideoccupantoftheroomwherethesepartiesmethadnosharewhateverinthenefarioustransactionscarriedonthere。
Throughthetreacheryofthejanitor，Ragemwaspermittedatcertainhourstomakeuseoftheapartmentforthepurposeofkeepingappointmentswithhisvictims。Aconfederatestationedontheoutsidedeliveredtheknocksassoonascustomerswerepluckedanditbecamedesirabletogetridoftheircompany。Occasionalhintsofimproperpracticesreachedtheearofthereallessee，butthesehadneveryettakensuchshapeastogiveadecisiveclewtothetrouble，dupesforthemostpartpocketingtheirlossesinsilence。
AfteranintervaloftwoorthreehoursMr。Sapppluckedupcouragetoreturn。Havingmountedthestairs，heenteredtheroomwarily。
Hislatepartnerwasnotthere。Astalwartgentleman，whoseemedtobetheproprietor，1ookedupinquiringly，andwasnotalittlepuzzledwhenthevisitorsupplementedtheperformanceofwipingtherightcornerofhismouthbythreedeliberatenods。“WhatcanIdoforyouto-day？“inquiredthegentleman，rising。
“Youare，Ipresume，apartnerofMr。Ragem，“answeredSapp。“I
seeheisout。Ourbusinessthismorningwasunfortunatelyinterruptedbythepolice，andIhavereturnedtocompleteit。“
“Whatbusiness？“askedtheproprietor，inundisguisedastonishment。
Nowthepreachermadetheverynaturalmistakeofsupposingthatthesurprisemanifestedbyhisinterlocutorwasamerematterofpolicyandcaution。Henceheproceededtoexplain。“Ragemmusthavetoldyou。Iamthegentlemanwhogavehimthefivehundreddollars，andhesaidthatmytwenty-fivethousandwerelockedupinthesafe。“
Theproprietordidnotwaittohearmore，butseizingtheaffrightedcreaturebythecollar，thunderedforth，“Ihaveheardofyoubefore。Youarethevillain，areyou，whohasbeenturningmyofficeintoadenofthieves？Ihavecaughtyouatlast!“
Awakingtoapartialcomprehensionofthesituation，thepoorwretchstammeredforth，“Theremustbesomemistake。Mynameisa——
isa——isaSmith——Smith——JohnSmith。“
“JohnSmith，isit？“growledtheproprietor。“Well，allIhavetosayis，JohnSmith，ifnotthebiggestisthemostnumerousrascalinthecity。John，comealongtothepolicestation。“
AndJohnwent，billowsoftroublerollingoverhimasthewatersoftheRedSeaclosedoverPharaoh。Vaintheefforttorecallconsolatorytextspertinenttotheoccasion!Hewassorelychastenedindeed，butthestripeswereinflictednotinlovebutinwrath。Hemourned，yetwhencecouldhelookforcomfort？
Toavoidaworsefate，theprisonerrevealedhisidentity，exhibitedthecorrespondencefrom“Ragem&Co。，“andmadeafullstatementofthefacts。Thepainfulnewsreachedthechurchshortlyafterthereturnofthepastor，whenhispulpitcareercametoanignominiousend。HesoonremovedtothefarWest，hopingtoburyhisdisgraceintheshadesoftheprimevalforest。
ThefallofRev。ZachariahSappsoundsanoteofwarningnotwithoutitslessons。Theonlysafetyindealingwithtemptationistorepelitsinsidiousapproachesfromtheoutset。Whoeverlistensinpatiencetothesirenwhisperishalflostalready。Humanexperienceabundantlyconfirmsthedivinewisdomofthecommand，“Gettheebehindme，Satan，“astheonesolesafewayofmeetingeviladvances。Atthecloseofwell-spent，usefullives，myriadscanthankakindProvidence，notthattheyhavebeenstrongerthanotherswhohaveturnedoutdifferently，butthattheyhavebeentriedless。Walkingamongunseenperils，nonecanwithoutdangerofruindiscardevenforamomentthearmorofhonestyandtruth。