exclaimed Albert. "Not so paradoxical as
  you imagine ，" I replied. "You allow that we designate a disease as mortal
  when nature is so severely attacked ， and her strength so far exhausted，
  that she cannot possibly recover her former condition under any change
  that may take place.
  "Now， my good friend ， apply this to the mind ； observe a man in
  his natural ， isolated condition ； consider how ideas work， and how
  impressions fasten on him ， till at length a violent passion seizes him，
  destroying all his powers of calm reflection， and utterly ruining him.
  "It is in vain that a man of sound mind and cool temper understands
  the condition of such a wretched being， in vain he counsels him. He can
  no more communicate his own wisdom to him than a healthy man can instil
  his strength into the invalid ， by whose bedside he is seated."
  Albert thought this too general. I reminded him of a girl who had
  drowned herself a short time previously ， and I related her history.
  She was a good creature ， who had grown up in the narrow sphere of
  household industry and weekly appointed labour； one who knew no pleasure
  beyond indulging in a walk on Sundays ， arrayed in her best attire ，
  accompanied by her friends， or perhaps joining in the dance now and then
  at some festival， and chatting away her spare hours with a neighbour ，
  discussing the scandal or the quarrels of the village ， trifles sufficient
  to occupy her heart. At length the warmth of her nature is influenced
  by certain new and unknown wishes. Inflamed by the flatteries of men，
  her former pleasures become by degrees insipid， till at length she meets
  with a youth to whom she is attracted by an indescribable feeling ； upon
  him she now rests all her hopes ； she forgets the world around her ；
  she sees， hears， desires nothing but him， and him only. He alone occupies
  all her thoughts. Uncorrupted by the idle indulgence of an enervating
  vanity， her affection moving steadily toward its object， she hopes to
  become his， and to realise ， in an everlasting union with him ， all
  that happiness which she sought ， all that bliss for which she longed.
  His repeated promises confirm her hopes ： embraces and endearments ，
  which increase the ardour of her desires， overmaster her soul. She floats
  in a dim， delusive anticipation of her happiness ； and her feelings
  become excited to their utmost tension. She stretches out her arms finally
  to embrace the object of all her wishes and her lover forsakes her. Stunned
  and bewildered， she stands upon a precipice. All is darkness around her.
  No prospect ， no hope， no consolation —— forsaken by him in whom her
  existence was centred ！ She sees nothing of the wide world before her，
  thinks nothing of the many individuals who might supply the void in her
  heart ； she feels herself deserted ， forsaken by the world； and， blinded
  and impelled by the agony which wrings her soul ， she plunges into the
  deep， to end her sufferings in the broad embrace of death. See here，
  Albert， the history of thousands ； and tell me， is not this a case
  of physical infirmity ？ Nature has no way to escape from the labyrinth
  ： her powers are exhausted ： she can contend no longer， and the poor
  soul must die.
  "Shame upon him who can look on calmly， and exclaim， 'The foolish
  girl！ she should have waited ； she should have allowed time to wear
  off the impression； her despair would have been softened ， and she would
  have found another lover to comfort her.' One might as well say ， 'The
  fool， to die of a fever！