emselves to the necessities of the
outward world and the teachings of Revelation?"

I defended the usefulness of some acquaintance with the original and
powerful thinker, whose apologies are certainly profuse enough to
satisfy the most orthodox.

"Yes; I suppose you read Spinoza, Hegel, Fichte, the Atheism of
D'Holbach, Utilitarianism Systematized by Auguste Comte! Did you ever go
fishing in a dory when the wind was off shore?"

There was an alarm in the eye and manner of Mr. Clifton, a tremulous
restlessness in his speech, which warned me to avoid discussion, and
endeavor to soothe his agitation. It was only to the last interrogatory,
therefore, that I made some light reply.

"The sea sparkles gayly," pursued the clergyman, in the manner of an
extemporaneous preacher who strives to catch in a net of decorations
some illustration which presents itself,--"the boat tosses on from wave
to wave, for dories will sail before the wind. Soon we are miles from
shore, and throw the anchor. What auspicious expansion of soul and body!
How we slide up and down the backs of great billows, and cast our lines
with ever-varying success! But the night comes, and with it the
necessity of rowing back against wind and tide. Ah, then how long the
lonely ocean-leagues! How distant the time when we may hope to stand
confused and giddy upon solid earth! Some never see the land again, but
are swept out into the storm and darkness, and are lost,--_lost_!"

"I presume I understand the significance of your similitude," I replied,
a little annoyed at this inopportune indulgence of the pastoral
privilege. "You would imply the dangerous tendency of a certain sort of
philosophical speculation; and so far we doubtless agree. Yet I ought to
say, that, in cases where personal investigation is possible, I would
take neither popular clamor nor learned dogmatism as conclusive evidence
against any writer's honesty and usefulness. With the vulgar, genius has
always seemed a sort of madness; and should a man rise preeminent above
the teachers of his generation, his wisdom would appear to them as
foolishness."

A change came over the face of Clifton as I said these words. It was as
if a mask had fallen. Perchance he had wished to appear to me in that
character of instructor which he desired some competent person to assume
to him. Now, the relaxed muscles and averted eye only asked the sympathy
of an equal. He spoke with forced, and almost grating, utteranc