function fade(id, fadeDuration, fadeSteps, fadeOut)
{
	var element = document.getElementById(id);

  function fadeHelper(stepsRemaining, fadeSteps)
  {
		if(stepsRemaining == -1) return;
      
		setTimeout(function()
							 {
								 if (fadeOut == 1)
									 element.style.opacity =
										 (stepsRemaining/fadeSteps);
								 else
									 element.style.opacity =
										 ((fadeSteps - stepsRemaining)/fadeSteps);
								 fadeHelper((stepsRemaining - 1), fadeSteps);
							 },
							 (fadeDuration/fadeSteps));
  }
  fadeHelper((fadeSteps-1), fadeSteps);
}