Howard Pyle, a chronicle by Charles D. Abbott, with an introduction by N. C. Wyeth and many illustrations from Howard Pyle's works.

HOWARD PYLE: A CHRONICLE
dom of Heaven is not to be gained by self-denial nor by
virtue-no, not by goodness itself. If it had flashed upon
Nevil's eyeballs instead of mine perhaps it would not have
been necessary for him to die by the sleeping car.
"Very- sincerely yours,
"HOWARD PYLE.""
In his reply to this letter, Howells defends Nevil as a
victim of circumstance, at the same time expressing his own
spiritual doubts and his inability to refrain from speculation
in regard to things above him. He concludes by saying that
he often feels that peace lies only in the giving up of one's
will. This is the answer sent by Howard Pyle:
"Wilmington, Delaware,
"May 5, 1890.
"My dear Mr. Howells:
"I have resisted, and resisted quite manfully I flatter
myself, the temptation to answer your fkind reply to my
letter relating to your story. But like most of my temptations, the itch to say something more has gotten the better
of me.
"I think you misunderstood my remarks concerning Nevil.
I regard him distinctly as a hero and not the less a hero because he wrestled vainly with an angel of truth. Such struggles are upon a higher plane than my standing of dull commonplace and my pity for him was only pity for the suffering of a high and noble nature. Your story ran parallel
with a truth with which my mind was then very pregnant
and which you again assert in your letter-that all must
suffer into the truth.
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