Gilead Balm, a young Government clerk of philanthropic predilections, always read the "Daily Post" for the sake of its agony column. He used to speculate upon the manner in which he would respond to the innumerable appeals for help advertised, should Destiny ever put it in his power to do so. And Destiny actually answered by bestowing upon him a colossal and quite unlooked-for fortune. Thereafter he was enabled to indulge his desire. His strange experiences during the process being here recorded. The book is essentially one of adventure.