should
ever die. From month to month and from year to year it had power to
renew life perpetually. And on the other side of the river stood a tree
which had power to make one wise. It was a tree of knowledge, one whose
fruit would intoxicate and revitalize,--speeding up the action of life,
causing one to think rapidly, and to see with a clearer vision. Setting
the vitalities in a key where they must wear out, bringing forth the
order of death. This tree was called the tree of Knowledge of Good and
Evil, because its power was the division between man and sin. He could
eat of the tree of life and realize the power and nature of life in all
its glory. But he could not realize the nature and effect of death and
sorrow until he should eat of the fruit of the tree of death, and become
intoxicated with the mania of its devastating forces. And for this cause
Jehovah commanded Adam that he should not eat of the fruit of the tree
of death or come near it.

But the command was not given to Eve, for she was but a child--left in
Adam's keeping. And they dwelt in glory in their home beneath the wings
of the tree in the vineyard. And they were naked 'But knew it not.'
Satan was upon earth, and envied them in their salvation, but he could
not come near the vineyard, neither could he tempt them to sin. For they
were redeemed, and Satan could not break the decree. But when Eve was
grown the servant walked to and fro beyond the templed paradise, and sat
with Satan by a pool. And Satan taught the servant how that it could
become free from its masters. Then she hastened back and came again into
the vineyard. And Eve stood by the tree of death admiring its beauty.
And the servant came and said to her, "has Jehovah said that you shall
not eat of every tree in this garden?" And Eve said, "we may eat of the
fruit of every tree but this tree, which stands in the midst of the
garden we shall not eat of it, neither shall we touch it lest we die."
And the servant said, "you shall not surely die,--For the Creator he
knows that in the day you eat of the fruit of this tree your eyes shall
be open and you shall become wise like before the fall--as gods knowing
the effect of good and evil."

And when she saw that the tree was good for food and excellent in
beauty, she commanded the servant and she brought to her the fruit and
she ate of it. Then she was enlightened and was as another woman. Then
she with her own hands brought of the fruit to Adam, and