wishes to be altogether free from danger in a thunderstorm, he has only to dress himself in an old suit of armour, discarded long ago as useless against that villainous gunpowder, but a perfect protection from the bolts of Diespiter. The one, perhaps you may say, was the invention of a monk, the other of a pagan. But this would be the very climax of unfair argument.'

A dazzling blaze of lightning seemed to linger for a moment in the hall, followed immediately by a sharp crack of thunder, apparently close overhead, and then silence. Some of the company felt almost stunned, and all agreed that they had had an exceedingly narrow escape. Fairbank and his son at once ran out to inspect the premises, and to provide promptly against any possible danger from fire. But nothing seemed to be injured, at least so much as to require immediate attention, so they returned to the hall. It had been the last effort of the storm. In a very few minutes the summer sun was shining brightly overhead, and

84 DR. STOFFKRAFT OPENS THE DEBATE.

the birds were singing merrily on the dripping

branches.

The Doctor, in congratulating the party on their lucky escape, took occasion to ask the host whether he imagined that he (the Doctor) had already been answered. The smiling host informed the good-natured Doctor that on the contrary he had given them some very hard nuts to crack, which however they must try to attack after lunch.

Here Sir Kenneth could not resist whispering audibly to the Doctor, 'I was never so convinced of the existence of elemental spirits as I have been to-day. But they did not treat you well, Doctor. Now don't tell me that it was not done on purpose-don't pretend that it was only a coincidence.'

The Doctor had no time to reply, for at this very moment he was requested to lead Miss Fairbank in to lunch.

CHAPTER IV.

THE REPLY.

'So they had them to the top of a high hill called Clear, and gave them the glass to look.' The Pilgrim's Progress.

AFTER lunch the ladies informed the company that owing to their home engagements they could not attend the Paradoxical any more that day, whereupon the host suggested a walk, as the afternoon was likely to prove fine.

If they were not afraid of eight miles he would show them something very curious, and they might continue their discussion by the way. (Agreed to.) He would begin by thanking the Doctor for his discourse, and more especially for Paley's watch, and the mode in which he had introduced it.

Dr. Hermann Stoffkraft.-I am glad you agree with me that the hypothesis of the

sudden coming into being of a watch would put all finite intellects to permanent confusion.

Stephen Fairbank.—I quite agree with you, Doctor, and feel disposed to push the argument even further. Suppose, for instance, some one were to suggest as an alternative hypothesis the infinite past duration of the watch, what now should you say to such a view?

Dr. Hermann Stoffkraft.-It would be no improvement. You would not by this means get rid of intellectual confusion. In the case before us you are compelled by your intellect to try to imagine how the parts of the watch were brought together; but the hypothesis of eternity pulls you up with a vengeance. must have a previous state, and this must be a conceivable one-somehow or other in the universe, and not out of it.

I

Stephen Fairbank.-Well, Doctor, you have completely disposed of the eternity hypothesis. But imagine that some very pertinacious objector (like Frederick there) were

next to suggest that the watch might have been formed by the operation of blind natural forces, such as those which round the pebbles on a beach, what should you say in reply to this?

Dr. Hermann Stoffkraft.-I should say, How absurd!' Blind natural forces do not act in this uniform manner; they can turn out rounded stones no doubt, but these are irregular and of different sizes. They don't turn out watches, or engravings, or complex products accurately moulded. These are only produced by intelligent agents operating in the universe and designing uniformity.

Stephen Fairbank.—Many thanks, my dear Doctor, I see we are all perfectly agreed about the watch. Now, let me take another instance, and ask if you would object to regard the Sun as eternal ?

Dr. Hermann Stoffkraft.-Undoubtedly I should. My objection to the sun's eternity is twofold, one derived from scientific principle and one from the scientific facts called the laws