In an old book I discovered an extraordinary narrative entitled Parabola. I take it as the starting point of my observations because it affords a welcome guide. In the endeavor to understand the parable and get a psychological insight into it we are led on to journey through these very realms of fancy into which I should like to conduct the reader. At the end of our journey we shall have acquired with the understanding of the first example the knowledge of certain psychical laws. I shall then without further prelude introduce the example and purposely avoid at the outset mentioning the title of the old book so that the reader may be in a position to allow the narrative to affect him without any preconceived ideas. Explanatory interpolations in the text which come from me I distinguish with square brackets.