It was this same Wilson who so horrified Elsworth by compelling him to tear off the thumb-nail of a patient for whom such an operation was necessary, without the use of any anæsthetic. “If we gave chloroform for every trifling job like that,” he said, “we should have enough to do.” He had become so case-hardened against feeling pain in others that he could only attribute to weakness and incompetence that hesitation to cause a single unnecessary pang in any sentient being which is the unvarying qualification of all the greatest and noblest men and women of whom we know anything. The blood-madness of some of the Dukes of Milan no doubt began early with unrestricted torture of animals. Not all at once do men bring themselves to hunt their prisoners with dogs fed on human flesh. Ecelin had to learn his cruelty as men learn any other business, slowly and by degrees qualifying for the title of “The Cruel” which men gave him. It would doubtless be some satisfaction to flies and other insects tortured by ill-trained children, if they could know that their tormentors would soon exercise their skill on their fellows, and so avenge the innocent world below them. Elsworth had done his best to get the man to consent to his mutilation, but his conscience troubled him for many days afterwards. CHAPTER XIII. “THE SOOTHING IDEA OF GOD.” How dear, how soothing to man, arises the idea of God, peopling the lonely place, effacing the scars of our mistakes and disappointments.—_Emerson._ That grand sin of atheism or impiety, Melancthon calls it _monstrosam melancholiam_, monstrous melancholy; or _venenatam melancholiam_, poisoned melancholy.—_Burton._ It would be very far from the truth to say that when people cast off their orthodox creeds they turn their morals out of doors. Some of the noblest and most beautiful souls maintain their pure and lovely lives in spite of their having long ceased to be Christians—that is, as far as they can tell—for sure it is that many such follow Christ and know it not, perhaps follow Him very much closer than more orthodox believers. Still, it must be confessed from an impartial view of the question, that these cases are quite exceptional, that they cannot be claimed as the fruits of atheism. For one such opponent of Christian teaching who lives an exemplary life in spite of his want of faith, a thousand quiet, self-sacrificing men and women could be found. Of course, philosophy and high culture will do something for mankind. It did something for the pagan world, it does much for the Buddhist and Confucian peoples. But the note of all these philosophers is Melancholy, and the note of all true Christian folk is Cheerfulness. “Christianity alone stands between the human intellect and madness.”