midnight
It is worthy of remark that this was the first time in Helwyse 's career -- at least since his arrival at years of discretion -- that he had thanked God for anything . This was not owing to his being of a specially ungrateful disposition , but to peculiar ideas upon the subject of a Supreme Being . God , he believed , was no more than the highest phase of man ; and in any man of sufficient natural endowment , he saw a possible God ; just as every American citizen is a possible President ! What is of moment at present , however , is the fact that the young man 's first inconsistency of word with creed dates at the time his self-control forsook him on board the midnight steamer . In that thanksgiving prayer his passion passed away . After unnaturally distending every sense and faculty , it suddenly ebbed , leaving the consciousness of an irritating vacuum . Something must be done to fill it .