He saw that he had resolved to commit a deliberate sin, to be false to that great principle of life--right for the sake of right, truth for the love of truth--by which of late he had been trying to live.

So far it had not been difficult, for his nature was not one to do things by halves, but now-- Old voices out of the past, which he had thought long dead, rose out of forgotten graves to urge him on.

What was he that he should stick at such a trifle?
Why should a man with his past begin to split hairs?
And conscience said nothing, only pointed, only showed, with a clearness that allowed of no mistake, that he had come to a place where two roads met.
Charles's heart suffered then "the nature of an insurrection." The old lawless powers that had once held sway, and had been forced back into servitude under the new rule of the last few years of responsibility and honor, broke loose, and spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom of his heart.
The struggle deepened to a battle fierce and furious.

His soul was rent with a frenzy of tumult, of victory and defeat ever changing sides, ever returning to the attack.
Can a kingdom divided against itself stand?
He sat motionless, gazing with absent eyes in front of him.
And across the shock of battle, and above the turmoil of conflicting passions, Ruth's voice came to him.

He saw the pale spiritual face, the deep eyes so full of love and anguish, and yet so steadfast with a great resolve.