uld allow him? One little pull of a trigger, the report of a
revolver, which I probably shouldn't hear and in any case shouldn't
care about, and the journey would be accomplished and I could be
bending over her. It sounds very tempting. But I'm prepared to live
out my life like a man, now that I know that she understands. If she
hadn't known what loneliness meant, she might misjudge my motives in
taking up with Peggy, and might, out of revenge, instead of waiting
for me, herself take up with Strangeways before my arrival there."

Pere Antoine watched him gravely for some seconds after he had
finished speaking; then he said, "I don't think that Heaven is quite
like that; but none of us can be certain, perhaps your views are as
correct as those of anyone else. When I was a young man, before I came
to Keewatin, I should have been angry with any man who had said to
me a thing like that--but we come to hold strange opinions in this
land where all things, judged by our former standards of sanity,
even God Himself, seem mad. At that time I longed to be dogmatic
and definite in all my beliefs on religion, and this life, and the
after-world--that was why I became a Jesuit, that I might exchange
despair for certainty. Now, priest though I am, like you I see one
gigantic interrogation mark written over sky and earth--and because of
it I am grateful. I have learnt that the whole attraction of religion
for the human mind, and the entire majesty of God depend on His
mystery and silence, and the things which He does not care to tell. If
all our questions were answered, we might lose our God-sense. If we
knew everything, we should cease to be curious and to strive. Of one
thing only are we certain, that Jesus lived and died, and that though
we live in the uttermost parts of the earth, it is our duty to be like
Him."

"And Spurling--if Spurling dwells near us in the uttermost parts of
the earth?"

"He also is God's child."

"It is easy for you to talk, Pere Antoine; you are an old man, and,
being a priest, have never loved a woman yourself."

The stern, grey features of the Jesuit relaxed; he hesitated, then he
said, "My child, don't be too sure of that. Perhaps I may be
attempting to live this life well only in order that I may make sure
of meeting and being worthy of one such woman in the after-world. If
that were so, it would be great shame to me, for I ought to be
striving to live this life well solely for the love of Christ."