If the debtor makes the payment voluntarily and out of his own funds, he has the right to direct the application of such payment.1 He may direct the payment to be applied to an illegal demand in preference to a legal one,2 or to a debt which is secured,3 as by mortgage, or by personal security of others,5 in preference to an unsecured debt, or contrary to equitable principles.6 The debtor may, if he wishes, apply a payment to the principal of a debt instead of applying it to the interest thereon.7 If the debtor directs a payment to be appropriated to a debt not yet due, the creditor may refuse to accept such payment; but if he accepts it, it must be appropriated as directed.8 If the holder of an option on realty has agreed to pay the purchase price in instalments, and the vendor thereafter gives a mortgage upon such realty, which mortgage the holder of the option eventually assumes and agrees to pay as part of the purchase price when he elects to purchase the realty, the purchaser may apply the assumption of such mortgage debt to such of these instalments as he may elect.9

4Lutz v. Williams, 79 W. Va. C09, L R A. 1918A, 76, 91 S E. 460

5Artificial Ice Co v. Pratt, - S. I). -, 170 N W. 45.

1 England. The Mecca [1897), App. Cas 280.

United States. Alexandria v. Patten, 8 U. S. (4 Cranch) 317, 2 L. cd. 033 (obiter); Tuyloe v. Sandford, 20 U. S. (7 Wheat) 13, 5 L. ed. 384; United States v. Kirkpatrick, 22 U. S (9 Wheat ) 720, 6 L ed. 199 (obiter); National Bank v. Mechanic*' National Bunk, 94 U. S 437, 24 L. ed. 176

Alabama. Pearce v Walker, 103 Aln. 250, 15 So. 568; Turrentine v. Grigsby, 118 Ala 380, 23 So. 006.

Arkansas. Terry v Klein, 133 Ark. 366, 201 S. W. 801; Augusta Cooperage Co v Parham, - Ark. - , 213 S. W. 737.

California. Murdock v. Clarke, 88 Cal 384, 26 Pac. 601

Colorado. Perot v. Cooper, 17 Colo. 80, 31 Am St. Rep. 258, 28 Pac. 391.

Connecticut. Civanuugh v. Marble, 80 Conn. 389, 15 L. R. A (NS ) 127, 68 Atl. 853.

Delaware. Lodge v. Ainscow, 1 Penn. (Del) 327, 41 Atl. 187.

Florida. Petroutsa v. H C. Schrader Co., - Fla. - , 80 So. 486.

Idaho. Shull v. Lawrence, - Ida. - , 186 Pac. 246.

Illinois. Royal Colliery Co. v. The Alwart Bros. Coal Co., 276 111. 193, 114 N. E. 499.

Iowa. First National Bank v. Hol-linsworth, 78 la 575, 6 L. R. A. 92, 43 N. W. 536.

Kentucky. Haynes v. Wilson (Ky.), 55 S. W. 209; Howard v. London Mfg. Co. (Ky.), 72 S. W. 771; McDaniel v. Barnes, 68 Ky. (5 Bush.) 183.

Massachusetts. Hall v. Mara ton, 17 Mass. 575; Richardson v. Woodbury, 66 Mass. (12 Cush.) 279; Spinney v. Freeman, 230 Mass. 356, 119 N. E. 798.

Michigan. Crasser & Brand Brewing Co v. Rogers, 112 Mich. 112, 67 Am. St. Rep. 389, 70 N. W. 445.

Missouri Beck v. Haas, III Mo. 264, 33 Am. St. Rep. 516, 20 S. W. 19.

Nebraska. Murray v. Schneider, 64 Neb. 484, 90 N. W. 206; City of Lincoln v. Lincoln Street Ry., 67 Neb. 469, 93 N. W. 766.

New Jersey. Leeds v. Gifford, 41 N. J. Eq. 464, 5 Atl. 795.

North Dakota. Herold v. Hill, - N. D. - , 1C9 N. W. 592.

Ohio. Stewart v. Hopkins, 30 O. S. 502.

Oklahoma. Carson v. Cook County Liquor Co., 37 Okla. 12, 130 Pac. 303; DYarmett v. Cobe, 51 Okla. 113, 151 Pac. 589.

Oregon. Trullinger v. Kofoed, 7 Or. 228, 33 Am. Rep. 708.

Pennsylvania. Kann v. Kann, 259 Pa. St. 583, 103 Atl. 369.

South Dakota. Stebbins v. Lardner, 2 S. D. 127, 48 N. W. 847; Artificial Ice Co. v. Pratt, - S. D. - , 176 N. W. 45.

Texas. Phillips v. Herndon, 78 Tex. 378, 22 Am. St. Rep. 59, 14 S. W. 857.

Virginia. Pope v. Transparent Ice Co., 91 Va. 79, 20 S. E. 940.

Washington. Simpson v. Combes, - Wash. - , 182 Pac. 566 (obiter).

West Virginia. Farr v. Weaver, - W. Va. - , 99 S. E. 395.

Wisconsin. Hassard v. Tomkins, 108 Wis. 186, 84 N. W. 174.

2 Iowa. Smith v. Coopers, 9 la. 376.

Maine. Phillips v. Moses, 65 Me. 70.

Massachusetts. Richardson v. Woodbury, 66 Mass. (12 Cush.) 279.

New Hampshire. Lauten v. Rowan, 59 N. H. 215.

New Jersey. Feldman v. Gamble, 26 N. J. Eq. 494.

3 Augusta Cooperage Co. v. Parham, - Ark. - , 213 S. W. 737.

4 Georgia. Massengalc v. Pounds, 108 Ga. 762, 33 S. E. 72.

Illinois. Plain v. Roth, 107 111. 588.

North Dakota. First National Bank v. Prior, 10 N. D. 146, 86 N. W. 362.

Ohio. Stewart v. Hopkins, 30 O. S. 502.

Pennsylvania. Patterson v. Van Loon, 186 Pa. St. 367, 40 Atl. 495.

5 Eppinger v. Kendrick, 114 Cal. 620, 46 Pac. 613 [affirming in banc, 44 Pac. 234]; Huntington County Loan & Savings Association v. Cast, 160 Ind. 701, 67 N. E. 921.

6 Lincoln v. Lincoln Street Ry., 67 Neb. 467, 93 N. W. 766.

7 Kann v. Kann, 259 Pa. St. 583, 103 Atl. 369.

8 Royal Colliery Co. v. Alwart Bros. Coal Co., 276 111. 193, 114 N. E. 499; Wetherell v. Joy, 40 Me. 325.

9 Shull v. Lawrence, - Ida. - , 186 Pac. 246.