of health or impurity, in like manner is there around the spiritual body a sphere of its quality, that may be discerned by the spiritual senses.  And now come back to the philosophy of first impressions, a matter so little understood by the world.  These first impressions are rarely at fault, and why?  Because the spiritual quality is at once discerned by the spiritual sense.  But, as this kind of perception does not fall into the region of thought, it is little heeded by the many.  Some, in all times, have observed it more closely than others, and we have proverbs that could only have originated from such observation.  We are warned to beware of that man from whose presence a little child shrinks.  The reason to me is plain.  The innocent spirit of the child is affected by the evil sphere of the man, as its body would be if brought near to a noxious plant that was filling the air with its poisonous vapours.  And now, dear Fanny,”—­Mr. Allison took the maiden’s hand in his, and spoke in a most impressive voice—­“think closely and earnestly on what I have said.  If I have taxed your mind with graver thoughts than are altogether pleasant, it is because I desire most sincerely to do you good.  The world into which you are about stepping, is a false and evil world, and along all its highways and byways are scattered the sad remains of those who have perished ere half their years were numbered; and of the crowd that pressed onward, even to the farthest verge of natural life, how few escape the too common lot of wretchedness!  The danger that most threatens you, in the fast-approaching future, is that which threatens every young maiden.  Your happiness or misery hangs nicely poised, and if you have not a wise discrimination, the scale may take a wrong preponderance.  Alas! if it should be so!”

Mr. Allison paused a moment, and then said: 

“Shall I go on?”

“Oh, yes!  Speak freely.  I am listening to your words as if they came from the lips of my own father.”

“An error in marriage is one of life’s saddest errors, said Mr. Allison.

“I believe that,” was the maiden’s calm remark; yet Mr. Allison saw that her eyes grew instantly brighter, and the hue of her cheeks warmer.

“In a true marriage, there must be good moral qualities.  No pure-minded woman can love a man for an instant after she discovers that he is impure, selfish, and evil.  It matters not how high his rank, how brilliant his intellect, how attractive his exterior person, how perfect his accomplishments.  In her inmost spirit she will shrink from him, and feel his presence as a sphere of suffocation.  Oh! can the thought imagine a sadder lot for a true-hearted woman!  And there is no way of escape.  Her own hands have wrought the chains that bind her in a most fearful bondage.”

Again Mr. Allison paused, and regarded his young companion with a look of intense interest.

“May heaven spare you from such a lot!” he said, in a low, subdued voice.