Summary:
Elias narrates his story and the unfortunate lives of his ancestors, upon Ibarra's request. Sixty years had passed. Elias's great-grandfather worked as a bookkeeper for a Spanish businessman. When a fire broke out in the workhouse, he was accused of arson and was sentenced to be flogged in the streets. This left him crippled. In order to provide for the family his wife, still with child, was forced to enter into prostitution. One of their sons turned to thievery and lived the life of a bandit. Their other son eventually married a rich woman, and together they had two children -- twins -- Elias and his sister, who were both educated in Manila. However, the family's dark past surfaced eventually, and Elias and his sister lost all that they had. The girl killed herself, and Elias was left alone to wander the streets as a hunted man.