in the sense that they sometimes do it with even pulse and steady
nerves. No, in the sense that there cannot be perfect soundness in the
brain and heart of one who violates a primal instinct of human nature.
Each case has its own peculiar features, and must be left to the
all-seeing and all-pitying Father. Suicide, where it is not the greatest
of crimes, is the greatest of misfortunes. The righteous Judge will
classify its victims.

A noted case in San Francisco was that of a French Catholic priest. He
was young, brilliant, and popular--beloved by his flock, and admired by
a large circle outside. He had taken the solemn vows of his order in all
sincerity of purpose, and was distinguished as well for his zeal in his
pastoral work as for his genius. But temptation met him, and he fell. It
came in the shape in which it assailed the young Hebrew in Potiphar's
house, and in which it overcame the poet-king of Israel. He was seized
with horror and remorse, though he had no accuser save that voice
within, which cannot be hushed while the soul lives. He ceased to
perform the sacred functions of his office, making some plausible
pretext to his superiors, not daring to add sacrilege to mortal sin.
Shutting himself in his chamber, he brooded over his crime; or, no
longer able to endure the agony he felt, he would rush forth, and walk
for hours over the sand-dunes, or along the sea-beach. But no answer of
peace followed his prayers, and the voices of nature soothed him not. He
thought his sin unpardonable--at least, he would not pardon himself. He
was found one morning lying dead in his bed in a pool of blood. He had
severed the jugular-vein with a razor, which was still clutched in his
stiffened fingers. His handsome and classic face bore no trace of pain.
A sealed letter, lying on the table, contained his confession and his
farewell.

Among the lawyers in one of the largest mining towns of California was
H. B--. He was a native of Virginia, and an alumnus of its noble
University. He was a scholar, a fine lawyer, handsome and manly in
person and bearing, and had the gift of popularity. Though the youngest
lawyer in the town, he took a front place at the bar at once. Over the
heads of several older aspirants, he was elected county judge. There was
no ebb in the tide of his general popularity, and he had qualities that
won the warmest regard of his inner circle of special friends. But in
this case, as in many others, success had it