| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Melmoth Reconciled by Honore de Balzac: demonstrated the truths of the Catholic faith for the youth of a
generation proclaimed to be indifferent in matters of belief by
another voice no less eloquent than his own. The conference had been
put off to a later hour on account of Melmoth's funeral, so Castanier
arrived just as the great preacher was epitomizing the proofs of a
future existence of happiness with all the charm of eloquence and
force of expression which have made him famous. The seeds of divine
doctrine fell into a soil prepared for them in the old dragoon, into
whom the Devil had glided. Indeed, if there is a phenomenon well
attested by experience, is it not the spiritual phenomenon commonly
called "the faith of the peasant"? The strength of belief varies
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: him, and the next moment Sir John Dale himself, as pale as death,
walked into the antechamber. He stopped in the very middle of the
room. "I yield me to my Lord's grace and mercy," said he to the
black knight, and they were the last words he ever uttered in
this world.
The black knight shouted out some words of command, and swinging
up the iron mace in his hand, strode forward clanking towards Sir
John, who raised his arm as though to shield himself from the
blow. Two or three of those who stood in the hall without came
running into the room with drawn swords and bills, and little
Myles, crying out with terror, hid his face in his father's long
Men of Iron |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Prince Otto by Robert Louis Stevenson: wittingly disobliged you. There is a difference in station, which I
desire to waive. I would, if you still think me entitled to so much
consideration - I would be regarded simply as a gentleman. Now,
sir, I did wrong to glance at these papers, which I here return to
you; but if curiosity be undignified, as I am free to own, falsehood
is both cowardly and cruel. I opened your roll; and what did I find
- what did I find about my wife; Lies!' he broke out. 'They are
lies! There are not, so help me God! four words of truth in your
intolerable libel! You are a man; you are old, and might be the
girl's father; you are a gentleman; you are a scholar, and have
learned refinement; and you rake together all this vulgar scandal,
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