Page:Segnius Irritant or Eight Primitive Folk-lore Stories.pdf/113

 organic life, which is the active agent in so re-adjusting the earthly and the celestial as to ensure the triumph of life over death. A vague over-ruling Destiny, to which, as in Greek mythology, even the sky-gods are destined ultimately to succumb, is more or less recognized. The fates and Father Know-All are somehow associated as overruling human destinies, but it is the hero who succeeds in carrying off the three golden hairs; it is the hero who removes the spell from the frozen waters of the life-giving well, causes the life-giving apple tree once more to bear fruit, kills the dragon, cures the sick princess, exorcises the black prince, and dethrones the autumn king and takes his place.

The analysis of these eight stories has, therefore, brought out into strong relief three important facts about them: