“Still you cling to opinions founded on its errors.  Why not be consistent, and, in rejecting its most potent ally, reject the conclusions of Rationalism also?”

“Because I must believe something.  Faith in some creed is an absolute necessity of human nature.”

“You distinguish faith, then, from intellectual belief?”

“No; I compound them; my faith is based on mental conviction,” replied Beulah, perceiving whither he was leading her, and resolved not to follow.

“And this conviction results from those same processes of ratiocination which you condemn as unworthy of credence, because subject to gross, sometimes ludicrous, perversions?”

“I am unable to detect any such perversion or inaccuracy in the cautious course of reasoning which has assisted me to my present belief.”

“Pardon me; but does this fact convince you of the Infallibility of the course?  Have you constituted your individual reason the sole judge?”

“Yes; there is no other left me.”

“And your conclusions are true for you only, since the individual organism of your mind makes them so.  To an intellect of a higher or lower grade these conclusions would be untenable, since the depressed or exalted reason judged them accordingly.  You may cling to some doctrine as absolutely and necessarily true, yet to my mind it may seem a shallow delusion, like the vagaries of spirit-rappers.”

“No; reasoning is often fallacious, but reason is divine; reasoning often clouds the truth, but reason, by spontaneous apperception, grasps truth,” persisted Beulah unhesitatingly.

“Then truth has as many phases, and as antagonistic, as there are individuals in the universe.  All men are prophets; all are alike inspired; all alike worthy of trust and credence.  Spontaneous reason has grasped a number of oddly conflicting doctrines, let me tell you, and the reconciliation of these would be an undertaking to which the dozen labors of Hercules seem a farce.”

“The superstitions of various ages and nations are not valid arguments against the existence of universal and necessary principles.”

“Why, then, have these principles produced no unanimity of faith?  The history of the human race is the history of the rise of one philosophy and religion from the ashes of its predecessor.  There is one universal belief in the necessity of religion, and this belief built altars in the dawn of time; but your spontaneous reason is perpetually changing the idols on these altars.  The God of one man’s reason will not satisfy that of his neighbor.”

Before Beulah could reply she heard Eugene calling her in the hall, and was hastening to meet him; but Mr. Lindsay caught her hand, and said:  “You have not yet given me permission to intrude on your seclusion.”  She withdrew her hand instantly.

“When you have nothing else to occupy you, and wish to while away an hour in literary discussion, you will generally find me at home during vacation.”