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existence of an unknown cause, of which force and matter are merely 

 the phenomenal manifestations. It is this outer world of unknown 

 .and invisible energy that the scientist finds himself unable to deal with. 

 The death of the body is simply the cessation of cohesion, or dissolu- 

 tion of partnership, between the ultimate atoms of the plasm life- 

 molecules, by which dissolution the property called life ceases, and 

 the atoms of the body assume their original condition, again con- 

 taining their original sum of force. But what becomes of the huge 

 force developed during the lifetime of the bodily organism? Does 

 that vanish and become a thing of naught ? My opinion is that this 

 human force, which is the outcome of the complex union of the 

 ultimate atoms of the plasm life-molecules, and which is but a phe- 

 nomenal manifestation of the great incomprehensible cause of all 

 phenomena, will, at the death of the body, be re-absorbed into the 

 great animating spirit of the universe, and partake of the nature and 

 properties of the Unknown. This is but my opinion, from which many 

 may differ. I merely offer it as an opinion, and in no way shut my eyes 

 to the great fact that man's destiny is a riddle as yet unsolved. We 

 may safely leave the matter to be dealt with according to the wisdom of 

 that unknown cause of all things, resting quite assured that we shall 

 be far better disposed of than we could possibly dispose of ourselves, 

 even if we had the power. We must bow the head in a truly scientific 

 spirit, and reply to the great question, " I cannot tell." 



"To be or not to be? that is the question," says the immortal 

 Shakespeare ; after which he sums up the whole argument in two short 

 lines : 



" To die, to sleep. To sleep? perchance to dream 

 Aye, there's the rub." 



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