Page:North Dakota Reports (vol. 1).pdf/160

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136
NORTH DAKOTA REPORTS.

whereas in the case at bar the owner himself made the statement which was calculated to and did mislead the innocent purchaser Barnes.

But we have discussed the case on a theory more favorable to the plaintiff than the facts would warrant. We have assumed that he is endeavoring by this action to reinstate his unrecorded mortgage, and have it declared a paramount lien. But the plaintiff is not in position to litigate that question, under the facts of the case. He has foreclosed what he claims was merely a substitute for the unrecorded mortgage, and is claiming title under that foreclosure, and asks to have that title quieted as against a title resting upon the prior recorded mortgage. Whatever right he would possess to have his old lost mortgage re-established, and the satisfaction thereof annulled, his rights, so long as he claims under the substituted mortgage, are inferior to those of the defendant, who derives title from the mortgage, which is a superior lien to such substituted mortgage. We do not hold that, if the element of estoppel were out of the case, it would not be competent for him to yet foreclose his lost mortgage, and in that action ask to have the equities and priorities of all parties determined. But we do decide that he cannot, without claiming under that mortgage, and without bringing an action to have it reinstated or foreclosed, insist upon any rights under it when his title rests solely upon a substituted mortgage, particularly in view of the fact that he has foreclosed his substituted mortgage by advertisement. A foreclosure of a mortgage satisfied of record in that manner being unauthorized and void, plaintiff could not have foreclosed his unrecorded mortgage by advertisement. Benson v. Markoe, (Minn.) 42 N. W. Rep. 787. The lien of the lost mortgage was destroyed by the satisfaction. A new lien was taken. Nevertheless equity would as between the parties, and as to all parties who had notice, cancel the satisfaction and revive the old lien. This relief would result in the destruction of the substituted mortgage, and put the parties back where they were before it was given. But this equity cannot do for the purpose of strengthening a title based upon a substituted mortgage. The party to secure the benefit of this equitable