CHAPTER XXII 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 



The preceding pages attempt to show certain facts, evi- 

 dent in the modern sciences of evolutionary research, which 

 are of stupendous import in the consideration of human 

 conduct. Some of them must modify greatly our concep- 

 tions of the rightness and wrongness of conduct, and will 

 give a new aspect to our oldest ideas of morality. 



The most important truth thus newly revealed is the 

 immortality of the germ-plasm. It is seen, in wonderful 

 significance, that the material substance which, in the egg 

 or germ, ceases alliance with a mature body, and emanci- 

 pates itself to regenerate a similar body, is part of the 

 same substance which began the life evolution of its race 

 in the far remote past; and which has had, in all the inter- 

 vening ages, continuous life uninterrupted by death. And 

 following this truth comes the corollary, that in the equally 

 remote future the material substances then living will be 

 those which shall have continued from now on, in that 

 immortal progress. 



It may be objected to this inference, that new life may 

 arise in a new series. This cannot be affirmed or denied, 

 yet it must be assumed that new life, if possible, must arise 



404 



