elaborated and fortified what had been mere outline before. No dogma can be conceived which many circumstances will not seem to confirm and justify. But we cannot attempt to keep abreast of Balder's deductions. There are as many theological systems as individual souls, and save by its originator no system can be wholly apprehended. Mastery of men and things, supreme knowledge to the end of supreme power, such seems to have been his ambition; an ambition too abstract and lofty to admit much rivalry. Nature and human nature were at once his laboratory and his instruments. His senses were to him the outlets of divinity.—The good and evil of such a scheme hardly need pointing out. It was the apotheosis of self-respect; but self-respect raised to such a height becomes self-worship: human vision dazzles at the awful sublimity of the prospect; in the moment of greatest weakness the soul arrogates power invincible and so falls! For, the mightier man is, the more seems he to need the support of a mightier Man than he can ever be. No doubt, Balder had often found himself assailed by doubts and weariness; the path had seemed too arduous and too long, and he had secretly pined for some swift means of issue from perplexity and delay. In such a moment was it that the voice of darkness gained his ear, and, like a Will-o'-the-Wisp, lured him to calamity. Verily, it is not easy to be God. The builders only of the Tower of Babel know the awfulness of its overthrow ! Balder's spirit lay prostrate among the ruins, too stunned and bewildered to see the reasons or justice of his overthrow. Such a condition is dangerous; for, the deeper part of the mind being either occupied with its disaster or stupefied by it, the surface is readily moved to folly or extravagance, to deeds and thoughts which a saner moment would ridicule. Well is it, then, if our blind steps are guided to a better foothold than we know how to choose for ourselves. Angels are said to be peculiarly watchful over men in sleep: perhaps also during the darkness consequent upon moral per version. XV. CHARON'S FERRY. AFTER lying motionless for, perhaps, half-anhour, Balder suddenly sat upright, and settled his hat upon his head. A new idea which had come to him, later than it might have done, demanded to be put in action without delay. The old mariner had by this time bailed out his boat, shipped a mast in the forward thwart, and was dropping down stream. As he neared the promontory, Balder hailed him : "Hullo! Skipper, take me across the river." The skipper, without replying, steered shorewards, while the other clambered down the rock to meet him. After a brief parley, during which the old fellow scrutinised his intending passenger closely from head to foot, a bargain was struck, and they put forth, tacking dia gonally across stream. For, Balder having charged his imagination with castles, warlike chieftains, and beautiful princesses, had finally arrived at the conclusion that the stone house was an enchanted stronghold, the figure he had seen an imprisoned lady, himself a knight-errant bound to rescue her and give the wicked enchanter his deserts. This fancy possessed his brain more vividly than do realities many men. The plumed helmet was on his head, he glittered with shining arms and sword, his heart warmed and throbbed with visions of conflict and bold emprise. The commonplace surroundings assumed an aspect of grandeur and stateliness in harmony with his chivalric mania. The leaky craft in which he sate became a majestic barge, the skipper, some wrinkled Charon, who doubtless had ferried many a brave knight to his death beneath yonder castle's walls. No birch stump was that on the shore, but the castle champion, ready with silver armour and |