The Ruling Passion is a novel written by Henry Van Dyke. The story revolves around the life of a young man named John Ward who is trying to find his place in the world. John is a talented musician who dreams of becoming a composer, but his father wants him to become a lawyer. John's passion for music leads him to leave his home and pursue his dreams in Europe. Along the way, he meets a beautiful woman named Hester, who becomes his muse and inspires him to create some of his most beautiful music. However, John's obsession with his music threatens to consume him and destroy his relationships with those around him. The novel explores themes of love, ambition, and the struggle to find one's true passion in life. It is a compelling story that will resonate with anyone who has ever pursued a dream against all odds.It was a magical performance. No one could withstand it. They all danced together, like the leaves on the shivering poplars when the wind blows through them. The gentle Serena was swept away from her stool at the organ as if she were a little canoe drawn into the rapids, and Bill Moody stepped high and cut pigeon-wings that had been forgotten for a generation.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.