The Last Heights 



of the biological ladder, with the same dis- 

 regard of weakness and suffering. 



But he would fain have seen man assert 

 his superiority over the animals by repress- 

 ing these instincts, which come from below, 

 by the free flight of the aspirations vouch- 

 safed from above, by the progressive subor- 

 dination of the brute power of force to the 

 spiritual power of justice and love. 



While these distressing problems were 

 filling his mind, and while, in protest against 

 happenings so utterly contrary to his ideas, 

 he would thump his fist upon his famous little 

 table, a woman was moving gently to and 

 fro, playing the parts, alternately, with the 

 same calm countenance, of Martha and of 

 Mary; and when he asked her her secret, she 

 showed him her crucifix and read the Gospel 

 to him, as though to wring from his heart the 

 cry that was uttered by the poet of La Bonne 

 Souff ranee : 1 



" Vingt siecles de bonte sont sortis de ces mysteres, 

 Je crois en toi, Jesus . . ." 



In moments of affliction, Fabre is even 

 closer to the Truth than on the heights of 

 knowledge and fame. For we are never 



1 Franchise Coppee. 



385 



