In case of absolute failure, the human race may be dis

of Man's destiny would be obliged to act accordingly and it being now decided that man was unfit for immortality, that action would tend in the direction of freeing the planet from its present pensed with. human occupant, and appropriating it to the use of a possibly more successful race to follow. The economy of Nature has already been remarked; and she doubtless objects to the misuse of her worlds as strongly as to the disuse of her atoms. Probably, therefore, another trial or experiment would replace that which had already failed.

If that be so, the prospect is sufficiently serious, though it is needless to lay stress on its more alarming side. The race which had proved itself a failure would sooner or later, and by some means, have to be got rid of. When and how it is impossible to foretell, because the Immortals have not disclosed it: but in a dispensation of justice, there is no reason to look for the adoption by them of measures involving needless suffering. The means at their disposal are very various. On one occasion they seem to have carried out a striking judgment on a large part of mankind by means of a widely extended deluge. And it is easy to conceive how the slightest collision between this earth and a large aerolite or other wandering body might produce a cataclysm fatal to life of every kind. But this amounts to pure conjecture, and savours of being wise above that which is written.

Not, however, that there is nothing "written" which may refer to these "last things." It would seem as if there is for the Master's first followers were told by Him, or so they say, that at some

future day He was to be looked for again : and His words evidently so impressed their minds that they expected the speedy occurrence of that event. In this the course of time has shown that they were mistaken, but the possibility of the event itself is left just where it was. It would at this stage be quite premature even to attempt to decide whether the idea of such a visitant has any connection with the question just discussed. Very possibly it has

none.

In any case, however, it is obvious that the present is not a time for postponement or "masterly inactivity." As to what may be decreed for the race as a whole, no one can do more than speculate. But whatever the outlook may be, and whether it is the darker or the brighter side of the picture which the future has in store, in either case the incentives to immediate action are equally urgent.

A dark point in earth's history seems to have been reached just now: doubt and fear involve the horizon of nations and of societies. But it is the darkest hour which comes before the dawn.

AFTERWORD

S stated at the outset, the author's object in writing this book was an ambitious one. His aim was to accomplish that which has been declared by many-Mr. Mallock among the number-to be impossible: that is to reconcile, or at-one, man's knowledge of that side of Nature which he can see, with his beliefs about that wider scope of Nature which includes what he cannot see.

Whether this object has been successfully achieved, it is not for the author to decide.

The reader, however, in the first instance, was fairly cautioned that he must either be prepared to approach the subject with an unusual candour and openness to conviction, or else it would be unwise for him to proceed in these pages any further. This caution was offered to either of two classes of possible readers, to the scientist, no less than to the theologian.

And now, whatever candour, so demanded, may have been brought to bear upon the question, the author fancies that it will by this time have been tested, on both sides, quite severely enough.

That the demand was an exacting one is here admitted. This was unavoidable. For the two

classes of thinkers appealed to are very widely divided, by differences both in the data, grounds, or premisses of thought, and also in the quality or tone of the thought itself. This being so, it is not conceivable that, apart from the exercise of great mutual candour and receptivity, there should remain the smallest prospect of the two parties being induced to coalesce.

The writer is, nevertheless, able clearly to foresee, that while on the one hand he will be denounced as a mere agnostic, or "infidel," he will meet, on the other hand, with the pitying tolerance accorded to one unduly credulous of "old wives fables."

With these personal considerations he is not greatly concerned. He is concerned merely that his readers should finally be led to grasp a single necessary fact. It is that there is such a thing as Truth, not relative, but absolute. In the light of this absolute Truth, single and not twofold, all must become plain and all discrepancies must vanish. That Man can ever precisely arrive at such absolute Truth seems impossible, as much so as for an asymptote to touch its curve: that he cannot do it now is certain. But that he may approach it and draw ever nearer towards it, is in keeping with Nature's methods, provided only Man is assured that this central truth exists; and that it is one, as God is one.

Some attempt to approximate to this Truth has here been made. Should a better explanation be offered of all-round facts, then the author will gladly retire.

Until it is offered, he claims exemption at least from one charge: the charge, that is, of evading or ignoring known difficulties. If difficulties there