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As a matter of fact； I reflected； and this is a strange； deep thing； no man is in reality more dependent upon the community which he despises and holds at arm's length than this same Old Nathan Toombs。 Everything he has； everything he does； gives evidence of it。 And I don't mean this in any mere material sense； though of course his wealth and his farm would mean no more than the stones in his hills to him if he did not have us here around him。 Without our work； our buying； our selling； our governing； his dollars would be dust。 But we are still more necessary to him in other ways： the unfriendly man is usually the one who demands most from his neighbours。 Thus； if he have not people's love or confidence； then he will smite them until they fear him； or admire him； or hate him。 Oh； no man； however may try； can hold himself aloof！
I came home deeply stirred from my visit with Old Toombs and lost no time in making further inquiries。 I learned； speedily； that there was indeed something in the old man's dread of a road being built through his farm。 The case was already in the courts。 His farm was a very old one and extensive； and of recent years a large settlement of small farmers had been developing the rougher lands in the upper part of the townships called the Swan Hill district。 Their only way to reach the railroad was by a rocky； winding road among the 'hills；' while their outlet was down a gently sloping through Old Toombs's farm。 They were now so numerous and politically important that they had stirred up the town authorities。 A proposition had been made to Old Toombs for a right…of…way； they argued with him that it was a good thing for the whole country； that it would enhance the values of his own upper lands； and that they would pay him far more for a right…of…way than the land was actually worth； but he had spurned themI can imagine with what vehemence。
〃Let 'em drive round；〃 he said。 〃Didn't they know what they'd have to do when they settled up there？ What a passel o' curs！ They can keep off o' my land； or I'll have the law on 'em。〃
And thus the matter came to the courts with the town attempting to condemn the land for a road through Old Toombs's farm。
〃What can we do？〃 asked the Scotch Preacher； who was deeply distressed by the bitterness of feeling displayed。 〃There is no getting to the man。 He will listen to no one。〃
At one time I thought of going over and talking with Old Toombs myself； for it seemed that I had been able to get nearer to him than any one had in a long time。 But I dreaded it。 I kept dallying；for what； indeed； could I have said to him？ If he had been suspicious of me before； how much more hostile he might be when I expressed an interest in his difficulties。 As to reaching the Swan Hill settlers； they were now aroused to an implacable state of bitterness； and they had the people of the whole community with them； for no one liked Old Toombs。
Thus while I hesitated time passed and my next meeting with Old Toombs； instead of being premeditated； came about quite unexpectedly。 I was walking in the town road late one afternoon when I heard a wagon rattling behind me； and then； quite suddenly； a shouted； 〃Whoa。〃
Looking around； I saw Old Toombs； his great solid figure mounted high on the wagon seat； the reins held fast in the fingers of one hand。 I was struck by the strange expression in his facea sort of grim exaltation。 As I stepped aside he burst out in a loud； shrill； cackling laugh：
〃He…he…hehe…he…he〃
I was too astonished to speak at once。 Ordinarily when I meet any one in the town road it is in my heart to cry out to him；
〃Good morning； friend；〃 or； 〃How are you； brother？〃 but I had no such prompting that day。
〃Git in； Grayson；〃 he said； 〃git in； git in。〃
I climbed up beside him； and he slapped me on the knee with another burst of shrill laughter。
〃They thought they had the old man；〃 he said； starting up his horses。 〃They thought there weren't no law left in Israel。 I showed 'em。〃
I cannot convey the bitter triumphancy of his voice。
〃You mean the road case？〃 I asked。
〃Road case！〃 he exploded； 〃they wan't no road case； they didn't have no road case。 I beat 'em。 I says to 'em； 'What right hev any o' you on my property？ Go round with you；' I says。 Oh； I beat 'em。 If they'd had their way； they'd 'a' cut through my hedgethe hounds！〃
When he set me down at my door； I had said hardly a word。 There seemed nothing that could be said。 I remember I stood for some time watching the old man as he rode away； his wagon jolting in the country road； his stout figure perched firmly in the seat。 I went in with a sense of heaviness at the heart。
〃Harriet；〃 I said； 〃there are some things in this world beyond human remedy。〃
Two evenings later I was surprised to see the Scotch Preacher drive up to my gate and hastily tie his horse。
〃David；〃 said he； 〃there's bad business afoot。 A lot of the young fellows in Swan Hill are planning a raid on Old Toombs's hedge。 They are coming down to…night。〃
I got my hat and jumped in with him。 We drove up the hilly road and out around Old Toombs's farm and thus came； near to the settlement。 I had no conception of the bitterness that the lawsuit had engendered。
〃Where once you start men hating one another；〃 said the Scotch Preacher； 〃there's utterly no end of it。〃
I have seen our Scotch Preacher in many difficult places； but never have I seen him rise to greater heights than he did that night。 It is not in his preaching that Doctor McAlway excels； but what a power he is among men！ He was like some stern old giant； standing there and holding up the portals of civilization。 I saw men melt under his words like wax； I saw wild young fellows subdued into quietude； I saw unwise old men set to thinking。
〃Man； man；〃 he'd say； lapsing in his earnestness into the broad Scotch accent of his youth； 〃you canna' mean plunder； and destruction； and riot！ You canna！ Not in this neighbourhood！〃
〃What about Old Toombs？〃 shouted one of the boys。
I never shall forget how Doctor McAlway drew himself up nor the majesty that looked from his eye。
〃Old Toombs！〃 he said in a voice that thrilled one to the bone； 〃Old Toombs！ Have you no faith； that you stand in the place of Almighty God and measure punishments？〃
Before we left it was past midnight and we drove home； almost silent； in the darkness。
〃Doctor McAlway；〃 I said； 〃if Old Toombs could know the history of this night it might change his point of view。〃
〃I doot it；〃 said the Scotch Preacher。 〃I doot it。〃
The night passed serenely； the morning saw Old Toombs's hedge standing as gorgeous as ever。 The community had again stepped aside and let Old Toombs have his way： they had let him alone； with all his great barns； his wide acres and his wonderful hedge。 He probably never even knew what had threatened him that night； nor how the forces of religion； of social order； of neighbourliness in the community which he despised had； after all； held him safe。 There is a supreme faith among common peopleit is； indeed； the very taproot of democracythat although the unfriendly one may persist long in his power and arrogance； there is a moving Force which commands events。
I suppose if I were writing a mere story I should tell how Old Toombs was miraculously softened at the age of sixty…eight years； and came into new relationships with his neighbours； or else I should relate how the mills of God； grinding slowly； had crushed the recalcitrant human atom into dust。
Either of these results conceivably might have happenedall things are possibleand being ingeniously related would somehow have answered a need in the human soul that the logic of events be constantly and conclusively demonstrated in the lives of individual men and women。
But as a matter of fact； neither of these things did happen in this quiet community of ours。 There exists； assuredly； a logic of events； oh； a terrible； irresistible logic of events； but it is careless of the span of any one man's life。 We would like to have each man enjoy the sweets of his own virtues and suffer the lash of his own misdeedsbut it rarely so happens in life。 No； it is the community which lives or dies； is regenerated or marred by the deeds of men。
So Old Toombs continued to live。 So he continued to buy more land； raise more cattle； collect more interest； and the wonderful hedge continued to flaunt its marvels still more notably upon the country road。 To what end？ Who knows？ Who knows？
I saw him afterward from time to time； tried to maintain some sort of friendly relations with him； but it seemed as the years passed that he grew ever lonelier and more bitter； and not only more friendless； but seemingly more incapable of friendliness。 In times past I have seen what men call tragediesI saw once a perfect young man die in his strengthbut it seems to me I never knew anything more tragic than the life and death of Old Toombs。 If it cannot be said of a man when he dies that either his nation； his state； his neighborhood； his family； or at least his wife or child； is better for his having lived； what CAN be said for him？
Old Toombs is dead。 Like Jehoram； King of Judah； of whom it is terribly said in the Book of Chronicles； 〃he departed without being