Now in this life let us take some moral crisis.

Let us suppose the low desire to cling to some pleasing or comforting superstition is contending with the heroic desire to face the naked truth at all costs.

The man in question is at first about to yield to the low desire.

For a time there is a painful struggle in him.

At last there is a sharp decisive pang; the heroic desire is the conqueror, the superstition is cast away, and '_though truth slay me_,' says the man, '_yet will I trust in it_.' Such is the aspect of the question when approached from one side.