In this story by A. B. Paterson, a book publishing firm reliant on door-to-door sales is facing ruin. Its traveling salesmen are quitting in droves following violent attacks by people in rural Australia. A potential solution presents itself in the form of a “Genius” who has invented a mechanical canvasser designed to not only persevere despite ill-treatment by potential customers, but also respond to any attack in kind. As one might expect, things don’t quite go as planned. Themes include high pressure sales tactics, country vs. city identity, desperation, inventiveness, “progress” (replacement of man by machine), alcohol abuse.