Roger Seaton was a man of many philosophies.

He had one for every day in the week, yet none wherewith to thoroughly satisfy himself.

While still a mere lad he had taken to the study of science as a duck takes to water,--no new discovery or even suggestion of a new discovery missed his instant and close attention.

His avidity for learning was insatiable,--his intense and insistent curiosity on all matters of chemistry gave a knife-like edge to the quality of his brain, making it sharp, brilliant and incisive.

To him the ordinary social and political interests of the world were simply absurd.