Then Jessy lost control of herself, for she answered angrily, "Do you think, Ian, that I have not read 'Evidences'? Let me tell you how I felt after reading Paley's. I just thought it _probable_ that Christianity _might_ be true. That was only an opinion, but let a man or woman _do_ God's will, until He speaks within them like a living voice, and then they will _know_ there is a God." "But, Jessy,----" "Don't interrupt me. I must tell you the truth. Upon my word, I believe you are training yourself to the habit of doubting much and believing little. You have dropped words lately I did not like, and I do not like your selfishness about your children. I have always noticed, as religious faith dies, selfishness takes the place of self-sacrifice. There were the Dalrys! Their children were lost to everything good, because they were forced to marry where they did not love. What have you got to do with Marion's love? I wonder sometimes if you ever loved my little sister! I am doubting it." "Jessy,----" "Yes, I am doubting it. You thought it no sin to urge her to leave father and mother, and go away with yourself, though the Bible lays it down as the _man's duty_ to leave father and mother for his wife's sake. Marion wants to do nothing worse than you begged Agnes to do. There is a change--a change for the worse--in you, Ian. I cannot just put my finger on it, but I feel it. Yes, I feel it." "That may be so, Jessy. We all change, and no wrong done by it. We must in some way carry about with us the aura of any book that takes possession of our thoughts or feelings. The doubtful books I have been reading so steadily have their own influence--perhaps not a good one." "A very bad one." "In a way, you are right, Jessy. It makes me unhappy and uncertain, and with a strong insistence leads me from one skeptical writer to another. I wish to destroy them all!" "Ian, you are not the man appointed to destroy the devil. Keep yourself out of his power, and leave the devil and all his books to God Almighty." "Many of these skeptical books show a reverent spirit, Jessy." "I will not believe that. As far as I can judge, they are altogether destructive. They have no business in this room, though in the libraries of hell they ought to be given high place and honor." "The libraries of hell! What an idea!" "A very reasonable one. There are books that have slain more souls than any man could slay--but----" "O Jessy, Jessy! Doubts will come, even if you fight them on your knees--will come to thoughtful men and women; and doubt can only be cured by investigation." "As far as I can see, the doubt of all Doubters is just the same, and the Book of Job contains as much philosophy of that kind as the world is ever likely to come to. But I notice that, as soon as doubting gets hold of a man, he will believe anything, so long as it is _not_ in the Bible." "The 'Evidences of Christianity'----"