"You would see with my eyes if you were my wife," he said, and he
believed that she would, so large an amount of confidence had he in his
own power to dominate a woman.

"Ah!" she said, "you have provided me with the strongest reason why I
should never become your wife, Mr. Holland."

"Do not say that, Phyllis!" he cried, in a low voice, almost a piteous
voice. "I must have you with me in this great work which I feel has
been given me to accomplish. I am prepared to make any sacrifice for
the cause which I have at heart--the cause to which I mean to devote the
rest of my life; but you--you--I must have you with me, Phyllis. Don't
give me an answer now. All I ask of you is to think over the whole
matter from the standpoint of one who loves the truth, and who does
not fear the result of those who are investigators. A few years ago
the geologists were regarded as the enemies of the faith. Later the
evolutionists were looked on with abhorrence. Had any clergyman ventured
to assent to that doctrine which we now know to be the everlasting truth
of the scheme of earthly life propounded by the Creator, he would have
been compelled to leave the Church. I do not know what will happen to
me, my Phyllis. No, no! do not say anything to me now. All that I ask of
you is to think--think--think."

"That is it--that is your modern scientific spirit!" she cried. "You,
and such as you, say 'think--think--think' to us--to poor women and
men who are asking for comfort, for protection against the evil of
the world. You say 'think--think--think,' when you should say
pray--pray--pray.' Where are you going to end? you have begun by taking
from us our Bible. What do you propose to give us in exchange for it?
No--no, don't answer me. I did not mean to enter into the question with