ely the LATEST outside
influence of a procession of preparatory influences stretching back over
a period of years. No SINGLE outside influence can make a man do a thing
which is at war with his training. The most it can do is to start his
mind on a new tract and open it to the reception of NEW influences--as
in the case of Ignatius Loyola. In time these influences can train him
to a point where it will be consonant with his new character to yield
to the FINAL influence and do that thing. I will put the case in a form
which will make my theory clear to you, I think. Here are two ingots of
virgin gold. They shall represent a couple of characters which have
been refined and perfected in the virtues by years of diligent
right training. Suppose you wanted to break down these strong and
well-compacted characters--what influence would you bring to bear upon
the ingots?

Y.M. Work it out yourself. Proceed.

O.M. Suppose I turn upon one of them a steam-jet during a long
succession of hours. Will there be a result?

Y.M. None that I know of.

O.M. Why?

Y.M. A steam-jet cannot break down such a substance.

O.M. Very well. The steam is an OUTSIDE INFLUENCE, but it is ineffective
because the gold TAKES NO INTEREST IN IT. The ingot remains as it was.
Suppose we add to the steam some quicksilver in a vaporized condition,
and turn the jet upon the ingot, will there be an instantaneous result?

Y.M. No.

O.M. The QUICKSILVER is an outside influence which gold (by its peculiar
nature--say TEMPERAMENT, DISPOSITION) CANNOT BE INDIFFERENT TO. It
stirs up the interest of the gold, although we do not perceive it; but a
SINGLE application of the influence works no damage. Let us continue the
application in a steady stream, and call each minute a year. By the
end of ten or twenty minutes--ten or twenty years--the little ingot
is sodden with quicksilver, its virtues are gone, its character is
degraded. At last it is ready to yield to a temptation which it would
have taken no notice of, ten or twenty years ago. We will apply that
temptation in the form of a pressure of my finger. You note the result?

Y.M. Yes; the ingot has crumbled to sand. I understand, now. It is not
the SINGLE outside influence that does the work, but only the LAST one
of a long and disintegrating accumulation of them. I see, now, how my
SINGLE impulse to rob the man is not the one that makes me do it, but
only the LAST one of a preparatory series. You might illu