explained
on natural grounds and what could not be explained was either a mistake
or a misapprehension on the part of the writers. God was defined as a
power and all personality taken from him. Christ was only a superior man
who said many things not agreeing with the facts of modern psychology.
Much of his forecast of the future had been discredited. There was no
such thing as a resurrection and a future existence was very
problematical.

When the address was over, Walter sat like one dazed and did not rise to
go out. Bauer whispered to him:

"Are you sick?"

"No," said Walter with an effort. He rose and went up to his room and
Bauer, who did not know what was the matter, went in with him, as the
two friends invariably spent their Sunday evenings together.

But on this occasion Walter almost stunned Bauer with a request made in
a low voice.

"I want to be alone, Bauer, if you don't mind."

Bauer rose at once.

"I am on hand to serve you, Walter. Don't forget?"

"No," Walter said abruptly.

Bauer went out, and Walter went into his bedroom and got down on his
knees.

That same evening at Milton, Mrs. Douglas had just gone up to her room,
and as her custom had been for years, she had kneeled to pray for her
children and especially for her absent boy.

Over both mother and son the darkness brooded. Only the stars shone
through it.

CHAPTER IX

WALTER DOUGLAS was not what would be called ordinarily a religious young
man. That is, he was not pious, in the sense that he was a lover of
prayer meetings and church gatherings. He was a member of the
Congregational church at Milton and had joined it from the Sunday School
when he was twelve years old, growing up in the church like any average
boy whose father and mother were members. He had a tremendous respect
for his father's and mother's religious life and example and would
probably have been willing to die for their faith if not for his own.
For the rest, he had grown up in the home atmosphere, which from his
childhood had been deeply reverent towards the Bible and the superhuman
element.

The effect on his mind, now, of the address he had just heard, was very
much the same as if someone far above him in education and age had
attacked his father and mother, bringing forward a great array of
argument and proof to show that they were unworthy of his love and
confidence. Walter's mind could not have been more disturbed by such an
attempt than it actually