We hear the voice from Sinai thundering no more, and the still small voice of reason is not yet heard.

We have proved the religion our mothers fed us on to be a delusion; in our bewilderment we see no rule by which to guide our steps day by day; and yet every day we must step somewhere." The stranger leaned forward and spoke more quickly.

"We have never once been taught by word or act to distinguish between religion and the moral laws on which it has artfully fastened itself, and from which it has sucked its vitality.

When we have dragged down the weeds and creepers that covered the solid wall and have found them to be rotten wood, we imagine the wall itself to be rotten wood too.

We find it is solid and standing only when we fall headlong against it.