"No!" Montrose reflected for a few moments. "It is true. I am not afraid!"
The doctor smiled approvingly. "That is right. Fear would prevent my aiding you in any way, and you need aid more than you guess. Remember what the Bible says, my friend: 'In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.'"
"Faith and peace of mind are so hard to get," complained the young man sadly.
"Very hard. The Blessed One said that the Path was difficult."
"The Blessed One!"
"Christ: your Master and mine," replied Eberstein solemnly. "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth to life and few there be that find it."
"And those who do not find it are lost?"
"For the time being, not eternally. God is very gentle with His straying sheep, and we have many lives, many opportunities to find the way to the fold. You are coming to the strait gate, Montrose; therefore my aid is given to you lest you should faint on the hard uphill journey."
"I am not good enough even to approach the gate," sighed the young man.
"So you think! But the standard of goodness is not kept on earth, but in heaven, my friend. However"—Eberstein broke off to hail a taxi—"we can talk of these things when we reach my house. Get in, Montrose!"