y is to him the sublime. Where this stops, pernicious
enlightenment--which corrupts the people, turns churches into
ball-rooms, and the Bible into a book of fables--begins."

"The doctor is not wrong there," said Frank earnestly. "Are they not
endeavoring with all their strength to deprive the Bible of its divine
character? Does not one Schenkel in Heidelberg deny the divinity of
Christ? Is not this Schenkel the director of a theological faculty? Do
not some Catholic professors even begin to dogmatize and dispute the
authority of the holy see?"

"We rejoice at the consoling fact that Catholic _savants_ themselves
break the fetters with which Rome's infallibility has bound in
adamantine chains the human mind!" cried Lutz with enthusiasm.

"It appears strange to me when young men--scarcely escaped from the
school, and boasting of all modern knowledge--cast aside as old,
worthless rubbish what great minds of past ages have deeply pondered.
The see of Rome and its dogmas have ruled the world for eighteen
hundred years. Rome's dogmas overthrew the old world and created a new
one. They have withstood and survived storms that have engulfed all
else besides. Such strength excites wonder and admiration, but not
contempt."

"I let your eulogy on Rome pass," said the professor. "But as Rome and
her dogmas have overthrown heathenism, so will the irresistible
progress of science overthrow Christianity. Coming generations will
smile as complacently at the God of Christendom as we consider with
astonishment the great and small gods of the heathen."

"I do not desire the realization of your prophecy," said Frank
gloomily; "for it must be accompanied by convulsions that will
transform the whole world, and therefore I do not like to see an
anti-Christian tendency pervading science."

"Tendency, tendency!" said Lutz, hesitating. "In science there is no
tendency; there is but truth."

"Easy, friend, easy! Be candid and just. You will not deny that the
tendency of Sybel's school is to war against the church?"

"Certainly, in so far as the church contends against truth and thorough
investigation."

"Good; and the friends of the church will contend against you in so far
as you are inimical to the spirit of the church. And so, tendency on
one side, tendency on the other. But it is you who make the more noise.
As soon as a book opposed to you appears,--'Partial!' you say with
contemptuous mien; 'Odious!' 'Ecclesiastical!' 'Unreadable