A VIEW IN PERSPECTIVE. 165 



ferred from the convergence of the great branches as 

 they approach this region of obscurity. All above 

 the top of the trunk, however, is in sight, and we 

 can see the tree growing with an ever widening ex- 

 panse of its branches. But the storms of the ages 

 have played great havoc. Many limbs have been 

 torn off completely, many more have been so shat- 

 tered that only a remnant is left to mark the position 

 of a once mighty member. The prunings that have 

 thus occurred have frequently served to give more 

 room to the branches that are left, and these have 

 taken advantage of the opportunity to develop large 

 numbers of small twigs and fill the space formerly 

 occupied by a fallen member. Occasionally we see 

 a branch that has grown with marvellous rapidity for 

 a short time and then suddenly died ; or another 

 that grew for a long period as a single trunk and 

 then suddenly expanded into minor branches and 

 twigs. This tree of life is old and most of it has 

 long since spent its energy. Many of the branches 

 are dead, while others continue to live only in the 

 shape of scraggy twigs. Death and destruction have 

 played such havoc that the tree has become very un- 

 symmetrical and seems from our distant view almost 

 a wreck. But still some of the branches that are left 

 alive are very vigorous, and when we look simply at 

 the top of the tree the vigor displayed there almost 

 conceals from us the wreck of the past. There at 

 the top we see a single branch of this venerable tree 

 that has in recent times begun to grow to an enor- 

 mous size. A new law regulating its growth has 

 stimulated it in a new direction and caused it to de- 



