CHAPTER V.ORLANDO HAS AN ADVENTURE.
Burlingame had the best practice of any lawyer in Askatoon, although his character had its shady side.

The prairie standards were not low; but tolerance is natural where the community is ready-made; where people from all points of the compass come together with all sorts of things behind them; where standards have at first no organized sanction.
Financially Burlingame was honest enough, his defects being associated with those ancient sources of misconduct, wine and women--and in his case the morphia habit as well.

It said much for his physique that, in spite of his indulgences, he not only remained a presentable figure but a lucky and successful lawyer.
Being something of a philosopher, the Young Doctor looked upon Burlingame chiefly as one of those inevitable vintages from a vineyard which, according to the favour or disfavour of Heaven, yields from the same soil both good and bad.

He had none of that Puritanism which would ruthlessly root out the vines yielding the bad wine.

To his mind that could only be done by the axe, the rope or the bullet.