Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Conclusion
IthadbeggaredMagnusandhaddrivenhimtoastateofsemi-insanityafterhehadwreckedhishonourinthevainattempttodoevilthatgoodmightcome.IthadenticedLymanintoitstoilstopluckfromhimhismanhoodandhishonesty,corruptinghimandpoisoninghimbeyondredemption;ithadhoundedDykefromhislegitimateemploymentandhadmadeofhimahighwaymanandcriminal.IthadcastforthMrs.HooventostarvetodeathupontheCitystreets.IthaddrivenMinnatoprostitution.IthadslainAnnixterattheverymomentwhenpainfullyandmanfullyhehadatlastachievedhisownsalvationandstoodforthresolvedtodoright,toactunselfishlyandtoliveforothers.IthadwidowedHilmaintheverydawnofherhappiness.Ithadkilledtheverybabewithinthemother’swomb,stranglinglifeereyetithadbeenborn,stampingoutthesparkordainedbyGodtoburnthroughalleternity.
Whatthenwasleft?Wastherenohope,nooutlookforthefuture,noriftintheblackcurtain,noglimmerthroughthenight?Wasgoodtobethusoverthrown?Wasevilthustobestrongandtoprevail?Wasnothingleft?
ThensuddenlyVanamee’swordscamebacktohismind.Whatwasthelargerview,whatcontributedthegreatestgoodtothegreatestnumbers?Whatwasthefullroundofthecirclewhosesegmentonlyhebeheld?Intheend,theultimate,finalendofall,whatwasleft?Yes,goodissuedfromthiscrisis,untouched,unassailable,undefiled
