After one's eyes have rested long on these dark mountains and glaciers, one likes now and then to see a fertile sunshiny stretch of country such as France, or the plains of Lombardy.

Of course there may be exceptions, but I tell you climatic influences have a great deal to do with the state of mind and morals.
Now, take the example of that miserable old Lovisa Elsland.

She is the victim of religious mania--and religious mania, together with superstition of the most foolish kind, is common in Norway.

It happens often during the long winters; the people have not sufficient to occupy their minds; no clergyman--not even Dyceworthy--can satisfy the height of their fanaticism.

They preach and pray and shriek and groan in their huts; some swear that they have the spirit of prophecy,--others that they are possessed of devils,--others imagine witchcraft, like Lovisa--and altogether there is such a howling on the name of Christ, that I am glad to be out of it,--for 'tis a sight to awaken the laughter and contempt of a pagan such as I am!" Thelma listened with a slight shadow of pain on her features.
"Father is not a pagan," she declared, turning to Lorimer.