Armine, Chapter XV-XVII [pp. 685-708]

700 ARMiKE. [Aug.,
necessity of good works. Another consequence is the outcry
against the selfishness of religion. It is chiefly made by people
who only know religion in the narrow form of which I have
spoken; but if you remind them that modern humanitarianism
has nothing to show in practical result in comparison with the
grand work of Catholic charity, they reply that this work is
vitiated by the motive of being done for God rather than solely
for humanity. They are not aware that all other duties are included in the supreme duty of serving God, as all the light of
our material world emanates from the sun, Remove that great
central light, and what artificial substitute can take its place?
So good works undertaken without the motive of divine charity
are but rays of artificial light, transient and unsatisfactory."
"But surely," said Miss Bertram, "you will allow that one
may love one's fellow-man without loving God?"
"After a manner-yes," said D'Antignac; "but not a~ if the
central sun were in its place. You realize what the old cavalier
meant in the noble lines:
`I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not honor more.'
Can you not, therefore, realize that a man must love his fellowbeings better for loving God supremely?"
Sibyl shook her head. "I am afraid that I know very little
of what is meant by loving God," she said.
"Modern philosophers have certainly made him unknown, if
not`unknowable,' to the generation they have educated," said
D'Antignac. "But for all that he is to be known by all who
choose to seek him. And knowing him "-the pale face lighted
as with a flame-" none can fail to love him."
They were simple words, yet, winged as they were straight
from the ardent soul, it was to Sibyl Bertram as if they revealed
a world of which she knew nothing, and before which she stood
in awe and wonder. Suffering, sacrifice-what meaning could
such words have to souls which were filled with the love that
seemed suddenly to shine on her like a light from the sufferingstamped face of;this man?
Just then there was the stir of new arrivals, and two or three
people-evidently intimate friends of D'Antignac-came fbrward
to his couch. Sibyl drew back, and in doing so found herself beside Egerton, to whom she said:
"I have you to thank for being here, Mr. Egerton. I should
never have thought of coming but for your advice."