ndured I can never forget; and this
shock will thrill through me to the latest day of my life. The human
heart and soul, man and God, seem to have become totally different in
my eyes since that terrific flash of lightning. Thinking as you do
too, you cannot be angry with me, if I now say half in jest, that, had
you not allowed me to take my measures, I might have fancied after I
was gone that you had been thus ingeniously and cunningly robbing
yourself, who knows with what subtle views, perchance for the very
sake of throwing suspicion on some one or other."

"You are not altogether in the wrong," said Balthasar. Edward was
again standing at the door. "Wait another moment, young man!" cried
his master. Edward once more turned back. But when he drew nearer to
the old man, he was astonisht to find how totally his countenance and
the expression of his eyes were changed. A quick firy glance was
sparkling restlessly upon him.

"You are fully convinced, I well know," the old man began, "of the
truths of the Christian religion; you read your bible diligently and
devoutly. You also believe in the historical parts of it, and regard
the whole as an actual revelation: the rational, and allegorical, and
learned philological interpretations do not satisfy your mind. Is it
not so? you are a true Christian with all your heart and soul."

"Certainly," answered Edward.

"The story," continued the old man, "how the Saviour was tempted in
the wilderness by the Evil One, is not in your opinion a parable, or
an allegory, or mythical legend, without any substance? but you
believe that this event actually befell Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
along with the various circumstances and questions and answers
recorded?"

"What are you aiming at?" askt Edward hesitatingly after a pause.
"Yes, I believe this story like a sincere and orthodox Christian."

"Well!" the old man went on, while his pale closed lips wrinkled into
a strange smile: "I have a double aim, though I should hardly need to
say more, if you had ever thought deeply about this incident. In the
first place, if our Saviour himself had to bear such things, if it was
possible for him to be suspected though but by the Evil One, surely
you might forgive me with all your heart, if with half or a quarter of
mine I have now and then half misdoubted you. Meseems, this
mysterious, marvellous story with its fathomless, untold meanings does
not downrightly condemn my views of human nature.