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CHAPTER XII. 



ARGUMENTATIVE. 



WE do not propose to anticipate arguments 

 against this new theory of evolution, but we 

 may examine two obvious objections. 



This, it will be said, is merely the old 

 theory of successive creations, according to 

 which every new species was evolved by a 

 " miracle" or by a direct intervention of 

 " Supernatural Power." 



Our theory does not assume, in the evolu- 

 tion of new species, any intervention of 

 Supernatural Power different in principle 

 from that which brought into existence the 

 simplest forms of life. 



If it is held that life was evolved by 

 forces that previously existed in matter, 

 then matter must have been endowed with 

 properties that produced life. We cannot 

 escape from a First Cause. 



But what is a " miracle " ? 



A phenomenon, apparently at variance 

 with some law of Nature we think we 



