"He is not to be apprehended by reason, but by life," said the Mason.

"I do not understand," said Pierre, feeling with dismay doubts reawakening.

He was afraid of any want of clearness, any weakness, in the Mason's arguments; he dreaded not to be able to believe in him.

"I don't understand," he said, "how it is that the mind of man cannot attain the knowledge of which you speak.