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Well that's not what you agreed to, but I'll oblige you anyway. :-)

James gives four examples to illustrate the faith-works connection, two positive and two negative. In one of the positive examples and one of the negative (the demons), the law is not involved at all. Therefore, his "works" are not works of law but of faith: "by works was faith made perfect", or complete, not barren, alive, not dead.

Now to Paul:

"For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law...(for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them)"

What happens to those under law? When they break the law, they are found guilty according to the law they're under. Jews broke the Law of Moses. Gentiles broke the law they assented to, violating their consciences.

The only one who can be acquitted by the law is the man who has not broken the law. (I.e., who can find him guilty?) Is there such a man? "No, not one."

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin."

Why can no one be justified (acquitted) by works of the law? Because the law points out the crimes we've committed.

If we're going to be justified (found "not guilty"), it'll have to be on another basis than our law-keeping. Because if the Judge renders a verdict on that basis, the only verdict is "guilty as charged". ("we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin") But here's the good news:

"We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."

Whew! Praise God, a way to be found righteous other than perfect law-keeping! Hope at last for us law-breakers!

Now we don't need to fret at having lost a reward (righteousness) that would've been owed to us ("as of debt" 4:4) if we had "worked", keeping the law perfectly. Instead we can rejoice at having the reward (righteousness) on another basis - not "working", but instead having faith.

And to illustrate his point of what he means by a righteousness without working, he describes the acquittal of the guilty man:

"Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin."

Righteousness without working = forgiveness of sin. Not "earning" anything. The opportunity to earn righteousness ("as of debt") was lost with our first sin. The only option remaining is - no, not to work (too late for that!) - but to plead guilty and throw ourselves on the mercy of the Court. Blessed be the Judge, Who offers us another way to be acquitted!