“I have great faith in my mother’s Bible. I believe that teaches all the religion it is wisdom for us to understand. I prefer the teachings of Christ and his disciples to any disembodied spirit, good or bad,—the Professor admits that evil as well as good spirits commune with mortals,—and I never have seen any really good results from a belief in spiritism. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ I find that in many instances its believers become its victims, and either end their days in a mad-house or permit themselves to drift into free-love doctrines or some other demoralizing fad, until they become unprincipled and lose the respect of their fellow-men. This much I have learned from observation, and I have yet to see one person whom this belief has made better, nobler, or more useful to society. Nor, in my opinion, improved in what pertains to good morality and good citizenship.” Alice looked abashed, but Lissa said: “I am afraid you will not relish spending your first evening here at a spirit-seance. I am sorry that the Professor happened to come at this time.” “I prefer to be here if Alice is to be present at such a meeting; in fact, I strongly object to her attending one in my absence,” Mark said. “I will say in all sincerity, I wish she and you had never seen this Russell or heard of his abominable _ism_. I am sorry that you have been fed on such literature as he has been sending you, and I regret more, that you have given enough credence to it to tolerate his society or his absurd seances. He is, in my opinion, a gross humbug.” “But that is only your _opinion_, Mark,” suggested Alice.