\"Thisdayyourdoubtswillbeatrest,forbeforeanothersunsetyouwillknowmoreofthewomanyoulove。\"
Theintensityofthespiritualisticinfluenceheresomewhatweakened,forhepartiallylostsightoftheluminousfigures,andcouldnolongerhearwhattheysaid。Hisheartwasinhismouthashewalked,andhefeltlikeamanabouttosetoutonhishoneymoon,orlikeabridewhoknowsnotwhethertolaughortocry。Anindescribableexhilarationwasconstantlypresent。
\"Iwonder,\"thoughthe,\"ifacaterpillarhasthesesensationsbeforebecomingabutterfly？ThoughIreturntotherockfromwhichIsprang,IbelieveIshallbewithSylviato—day。\"
Footprintsformedinthesoftgroundallaroundhim,andtheairwasfilledwithspotsofphosphorescentlightthatcoincidedwiththerelativepositionsofthebrains,hearts,andeyesofhumanbeings。Thesesurroundedandoftenprecededhim,asthoughleadinghimon,whilethemostheavenlyanthemsfilledtheairandthevaultofthesky。
\"Ibelieve,\"hethought,withboundingheart,\"thatIshallbeinitiatedintothemysteriesofspacethisnight。\"
Attimeshecouldheareventhewordsofthechorusesringinginhisears,thoughatothershethoughttheeffectwasaltogetherinhismind。
\"Oh,foraproof,\"heprayed,\"thatnosanemancandoubt！Myfaithisimplicitinthebishopandthevision,andIfeelthatinsomewayIshallreturntoeartherethecloseofanotherday,forIknowIamawake,andthatthisisnodream。\"
Afireburnedinthemouthofthecave,withinwhichBearwardenandCortlandtlaysleeping。Thespecksofmicaintherocksreflecteditslight,butinadditiontothisadiffusedphosphorescencefilledtheplace,andthelargesod—coveredstonestheyusedforpillowsemittedpurpleanddarkredflames。
\"Isthatyou,Dick？\"askedBearwarden,awakingandgropingabout。
\"Webuiltupthefiresothatyoushouldfindthecamp,butitseemstohavegonedown。\"Sayingwhich,hestruckamatch,whereuponAyraultceasedtoseethephosphorescenceorbluishlight。AtthatmomentapealofthunderawakenedCortlandt,whosatupandrubbedhiseyes。
\"Ithink,\"saidAyrault,\"IwillgototheCallistoandgetourmackintoshesbeforetherainsetsin。\"Whereuponhelefthiscompanions,whoweresoonagainfastasleep。
Theskyhadsuddenlybecomefilledwithclouds,andAyraulthastenedtowardstheCallisto,intendingtoremainthere,ifnecessary,untilthestormwasover。Forabouttwentyminuteshehurriedonthroughthegrowingdarkness,stoppingonceonhighgroundtomakesureofhisbearings,andhehadcoveredmorethanhalfthedistancewhentheraincameoninaflood,accompaniedbybrilliantlightning。Seeingthehuge,hollowtrunkofafallentreenear,andnotwishingtobewetthrough,Ayraultfiredseveralsolidshotsfromhisrevolverintothecavity,todriveoutanywildanimalstheremightbeinside,andthenhurriedlycrawledin,feetfirst。Henextdrewinhishead,andwascongratulatinghimselfonhissnugretreat,whentheskybecameluridwithaflashoflightning,thenhisheaddroppedforward,andhewasunconscious。
CHAPTERXI。
DREAMLANDTOSHADOWLAND。
AsAyrault\'sconsciousnessreturned,hefanciedheheardmusic。
Thoughdistant,itwasdistinct,andseemedtoringfromtheetherofspace。Occasionallyitsoundedevenmoreremote,butitwasrhythmicalandcontinuous,inspiringandstirringhimasnothingthathehadeverheardbefore。Finally,itwasovercomebythemorevividimpressionsuponhisothersenses,andhefoundhimselfwalkinginthestreetsofhisnativecity。Itwasspring,andthetreeswerewhitewithbuds。Thelongshadowsofthelateafternoonstretchedacrosstheway,buttheclearskygaveindicationofprolongedtwilight,andtheairwaswarmandbalmy。Naturewasfilledwithlife,andseemedtobeproclaimingthatthecoldwaspast。
Ashemovedalongthestreethemetafuneralprocession。
\"Whatapity,\"hethought,\"amanshoulddie,withsummersonearathand！\"
Hewasalsosurprisedatthekeennessofhissight;for,inclosedineachman\'sbody,hesawtheoutlineofhissoul。Butthedeadman\'sbodywasempty,likeacagewithoutabird。Healsoreadthethoughtsintheirminds。
\"Now,\"saidalargemaninthecarriagenextthehearse,\"Imaywinher,sincesheisawidow。\"
Thewidowherselfkeptthinking:\"WouldithadbeenI！Hislifewasessentialtothechildren,whileIshouldscarcelyhavebeenmissed。IwishIhadnodutieshere,andmightfollowhimnow。\"
Whileponderingonthesethings,hereachedSylvia\'shouse,andwentintothelittleroominwhichhehadsooftenseenher。Thewarmsouthwesterlybreezeblewthroughtheopenwindows,andfarbeyondCentralParktheapproachingsunsetpromisedtobebeautiful。Thetablewascoveredwithflowers,andthoughhehadoftenseenthatvariety,hehadneverbeforenoticedthemarvellouscombinationsofcolours,whiletheroomwasfilledwithathousanddeliciousperfumes。Thethrushhanginginthewindowsangdivinely,andinasilverframehesawalikenessofhimself。
\"Ihavealwayslovedthisroom,\"hethought,\"butitseemstomenowlikeheaven。\"
Hesatdowninanarm—chairfromforceofhabit,toawaithisfiancee。
\"Oh,forawalkwithSylviabytwilight！\"histhoughtsranon,\"forsheneednotbeathomeagaintillafterseven。\"
Presentlyheheardthesoftrustleofherdress,androsetomeether。Thoughshelookedinhisdirection,shedidnotseemtoseehim,andwalkedpasthimtothewindow。Shewasthepictureoflovelinesssilhouettedagainstthesky。Hewenttowardsher,andgazedintoherdeep—seaeyes,whichhadafar—awayexpression。
Sheturned,wentgracefullytothemantelpiece,andtookaphotographofherselffrombehindtheclock。OnitsbackAyraulthadscrawledaboyishversecomposedbyhimself,whichran:
\"Mydivine,mostidealSylvia,Ovision,witheyessoblue,\'Tisinthehighestdegreeconsequential,Tomyexistenceinfactessential,ThatIshouldbelovedbyyou。\"
Asshereadandrereadthoselines,withhiswholesoulheyearnedtohaveherlookathim。Hewatchedthecolourcomeandgoinherclear,brightcomplexion,andwasrejoicedtoseeinherthepersonificationofactivityandhealth。Beneathhisowneffusiononthephotographhesawsomethingwritteninpencil,inthehandheknewsowell:
\"DidyoubutknowhowIloveyou,Nomoresillythingswouldyouask。
WithmywholeheartandsoulIadoreyou——
Idiot！goose！bombast！\"
Andassheglancedatit,thesethoughtscrossedhermind:\"I
shallnevercallyousuchnamesagain。HowmuchIshallhavetotellyou！Itisprovokingthatyoustayawaysolong。\"
Hecamestillnearer——sonear,infact,thathecouldhearthebeatingofherheart——butshestillseemedentirelyunconsciousofhispresence。Losinghisreserveandself—control,heimpulsivelygraspedatherhands,thenfellonhisknees,andthen,dumfounded,struggledtohisfeet。Herhandsseemedtoslipthroughhis;hewasnotabletotouchher,andshewasstillunawareofhispresence。
Suddenlyawholefloodoflightandthetruthburstuponhim。HehadpassedpainlesslyandunconsciouslyfromthedreamlandofSaturntotheshadowlandofeternity。Themysterywassolved。
Likethedeadbishop,hehadbecomeafreespirit。Hisprayerwasanswered,andhisbody,struckbylightning,layfarawayonthatgreatringedplanet。Howhelongedtotakeinhisarmsthegirlwhohadpromisedherselftohim,andwho,henowsaw,lovedhimwithherwholeheart;buthewasonlyanimmaterialspirit,lightereventhantheetherofspace,andtheunchangeablelawsoftheuniverseseemedtohimbuttheironyoffate。Asaspirit,hewasintangibleandinvisibletothoseintheflesh,andlikewisetheywerebeyondhiscontrol。Thetragedyoflifethendawneduponhim,andtheawfulresultsofdeathmadethemselvesfelt。HeglancedatSylvia。Oncominginshehadlookedradiantlyhappy;nowsheseemeddepressed,andeventhebirdstoppedsinging。
\"Oh,\"hethought,\"couldIbutreturntolifeforonehour,totellherhowincessantlyshehasbeeninmythoughts,andhowI
loveher！Death,totheaged,isnoloss——infact,ablessing——butnow！\"andhesobbedmentallyintheanguishofhissoul。Ifhecouldbutcommunicatewithher,hethought;butherememberedwhatthedepartedbishophadsaid,thatitwouldtakemostmencenturiestodothis,andthatotherscouldneverlearn。
Bythattimeshe,too,wouldbedead,perhapshavingbeenthewifeofsomeoneelse,andhefeltasenseofjealousyevenbeyondthegrave。Throwinghimselfuponarugonthefloor,inaparoxysmofdistress,hegazedatSylvia。
\"Oh,horriblemockery！\"hethought,thinkingofthespirit。\"HegavemeworsethanastonewhenIaskedforbread;for,inplaceoffreedom,hesentmedeath。CouldIbutbealiveagainforafewmoments！\"But,withabittersmile,heagainrememberedthewordsofthebishop,\"Whatwouldasoulinhellnotgiveforbutonehouronearth？\"
Sylviahadseatedherselfonasmallsofa,onwhich,andnexttoher,hehadsooftensat。Hergentleeyeshadathoughtfullook,whileherfacewasthepersonificationofintelligenceandbeauty。Sheoccasionallyglancedathisphotograph,whichsheheldinherhand。
\"Sylvia,Sylvia！\"hesuddenlycried,risingtohiskneesatherfeet。\"Ilove,Iadoreyou！Itwasmylongingtobewithyouthatbroughtmehere。Iknowyoucanneitherseenorhearme,butcannotyoursoulcommunewithmine？\"
\"IsDickhere？\"criedSylvia,becomingdeadlypaleandgettingup,\"oramIlosingmyreason？\"
Seeingthatshewasdistressedbythepowerofhismind,Ayraultoncemoresanktothefloor,buryinghisfaceinhishands。
Unabletoendurethislonger,andfeelingasifhisheartmustbreak,herushedoutintothestreet,wishinghemightsoothehisanguishwithahypodermicinjectionofmorphine,andthathehadabodywithwhichtodivertandsuppresshissoul。
Nighthadfallen,andtheelectriclampscasttheirwhiteraysontheground,whilethestarsoverheadshoneintheireternalserenityandcalm。Thenwasitoncemorebroughthometohimthathewasaspirit,fordarknessandlightwerealike,andhefeltthebeginningofthatsenseofprescienceofwhichthebishophadspoken。Passingthroughthehousesofsomeoftheclubstowhichhebelonged,hesawhisnamestilluponthelistofmembers,andthenhewenttotheplacesofamusementheknewsowell。Onallsideswerefamiliarfaces,butwhatinterestedhimmostwasthegreatdivisionincessantlygoingon。Herewerejollypeopleenjoyinglifeandplayingcards,who,hisforesightshowedhim,wouldinlessthanayearbeunderground——likeMercutio,in\"RomeoandJuliet,\"to—dayknownasmerryfellows,whoto—morrowwouldbegravemen。
Whilehiseyesbeheldthesun,hehadimaginedtheairfeltwarmandbalmy。Henowsawthatthishadbeenahallucination,forhewaschilledthroughandthrough。Healsoperceivedthatbecastnoshadow,andthatnooneobservedhispresence。He,ontheotherhand,sawnotonlytheairasitenteredandlefthisfriends\'lungs,butalsothesubstanceoftheirbrains,andtheseedsofdiseaseanddeath,whosepresencetheythemselvesdidnotevensuspect,andtheseventy—fivepercentofwaterintheirbodies,makingthemappearlikesacksofliquid。Insomehesawthegermsofconsumption;inothers,affectionsoftheheart。Inall,hesawtheincessantstrugglebetweenthehealthyblood—cellsandthemalignant,omnipresentbacillithatthecellsweretryingtoovercome。Manymenandwomenhesawwereinlove,andhecouldtellwhatallwereabouttodo。Oh,thesecretsthatwererevealed,whilethemotivesforactswerenowlaidbarethattillthenhehadmisunderstood！Hehadoftenheardtheoldsaying,thatifeverypersoninaball—roomcouldreadthethoughtsoftherest,theballwouldseematravestyonenjoyment,ratherthanrealpleasure,andnowheperceiveditsforce。Healsonoticedthatmanywerebetterthanhehadsupposed,andweretrying,inablunderingbutperseveringway,toobeytheirconsciences。Hesawsomeunselfishthoughtsandacts。Manythingsthathehadattributedtoirresolutionorinconsistency,heperceivedwereinrealityself—sacrifice。Hewentoninfranticdisquiet,distancenolongerbeingofconsequence,andinhisroamingchancedtopassthroughthegraveyardinwhichmanygenerationsofhisancestorslayburied。
Withintheleadencoffinshesawthecoldremains;somewellpreserved,othersbuthandfulsofdust。
\"Tellme,Omyprogenitors,\"hecried,\"youwhosebloodtillthismorningflowedinmyveins,istherenotsomewaybywhichI,asaspirit,cancommunewiththematerialworld？Ihavealwaysadmiredyourjudgmentandwisdom,andyouhaveallbeeninShadowlandlongerthanI。Giveme,Iprayyou,someancestraladvice。\"
Theonlysoundinanswerwasthehumoftheinsectsthatfilledtheeveningair。Themoonlightshonesoftly,butinaghastlyway,onthemarblecrossesofhisvaultandthosearound,andhefeltanunspeakablesadnesswithinthisabodeofthedead。\"Howmanyunfinishedlives,\"hethought,\"haveendedbeneaththesesods！Unimprovedtalentshereareburiedintheground。
Unattainedambitions,andthosewhodiedbeforetheirtime;thosewhotried,inahalf—heartedway,toimprovetheiropportunities,andaccomplishedsomething,andthosewhoneglectedthem,anddidstillless——allaretogetherhere,thejustwiththeunjust,thoughitbeforthelasttime。Thegraveabsorbstheirbodiesandendstheirprobationaryrecord,fromwhichthereisnoappeal。\"
Nearbyweresomeopengraves,readytoreceivetheiroccupants,whilealittlefartheronherecognizedtheCortlandtmausoleum,lookingexactlyaswhenshownhim,throughhissecondsight,bythespiritonthepreviousday。
Fromthegravesfilledrecently,andfrommanyothers,rosethreadsofcolouredmatter,intheformofgases,theforerunnersofmiasma。Henowperceivedshadowyfiguresflittingaboutonthegroundandintheair,fromwhoseeyespouredstreamsofimmaterialtears。Theirbrains,hearts,andvertebralcolumnswerethepartsmosteasilyseen,andtheywerefilledwithaninextinguishableanguishandsorrowthatfromitsveryintensitymadeitselfseenasablueflame。Therufflesandknickerbockersinwhichsomeofthesewereattired,evidentlybytheeffectsofthethoughtsintheirminds,doubtlessfromforceofhabitfromwhattheyhadwornonearthwhilealive,showedthattheyhadbeendeadatleasttwohundredyears。Ayraultalsonowfoundhimselfinstreetclothes,althoughwheninhisclubshehadwornadresssuit。
\"Tellme,fellow—spirits,\"hesaid,addressingthem,\"howcanI
communicatewithonethatisstillalive？\"
Theylookedathimwithmoisteyes,butanswerednotaword。
\"Iattributedthemiseryinmyheart,\"thoughtAyrault,\"entirelytothedistressatlosingSylvia,whichGodknowsisenough;butthoughIsuspecteditbefore,Inowsee,bymycompanions,thatI
aminthedepthsofhell。\"
CHAPTERXII。
SHEOL。
Failingtofindwordstoconveyhisthoughts,hethrewhimselfintoanopengrave,prayingthattheearthmighthidehissoul,ashehadsupposeditsomedaywouldhidehisbody。Butthegroundwaslikecrystal,andhesawthewhitebonesinthegravesallaroundhim。Unabletoendurethesesurroundingslonger,herushedbacktohisoldhaunts,whereheknewheshouldfindthefriendsofhisyouth。Hedidnotpausetogobytheusualway,butpassed,withoutstopping,throughwallsandbuildings。Soonhebeheldthefamiliarscene,andheardhisownnamementioned。
Buttherewasnocomforthere,andwhathehadseenofoldwasbutanincidenttowhathegazedonnow。Prayingwithhiswholeheartthathemightmakehimselfheard,hesteppeduponafoot—stool,andcried:
\"Yourbodiesaredecayingbeforeme。Youareburyingyourtalentsintheground。Wemustallstandforfinalsentenceatthelastday,mortalsandspiritsalike——thereisnotashadowofashadeofdoubt。Youreverythoughtwillbeknown,andforeveryevildeedandeveryidlewordGodwillbringusintojudgment。Theangelofdeathisamongyouandatworkinyourverymidst。Areyoupreparedtoreceivehim？Hehasalreadykilledmybody,andnowthatIcanneverdieIwishtherewasagraveformysoul。IwasreassuredbyavisionthattoldmeI
wassafe,buteitheritwasahallucination,orIhavebeenbetrayedbysomespirit。LastnightIstilllived,andmybodyobeyedmywill。SincethenIhaveexperienceddeath,andwiththeresultingincreasedknowledgecomesthelossofallhope,withkeenerpangsthanIsupposedcouldexist。Oh,thatIhadnowtheiropportunities,thatImightwriteathesisthatshouldliveforever,andsavemillionsofsoulsfromtheanguishofmine！Inoculateyourmortalbodieswiththegermsoffaithandmutuallove,inastrongerdegreethantheydweltinme,lestyoulosethelifeabove。\"
Butnooneheardhim,andhepreachedinvain。
Heagainrushedforth,and,afterahalf—involuntaryeffort,foundhimselfinthestreetbeforehislovedone\'shome。
Scarcelyknowingwhy,exceptthatithadbecomenaturetowishtobenearher,hestoodforalongtimeoppositeherdwelling。
\"Ohouse！\"hecried,\"inanimateobjectthatcanyetenthralmeso,Istandbeforeyourcoldfrontasasuppliantfromaverydistantrealm;yetinmysadnessIamcolderthanyourstones,morealonethaninadesolateplace。Shethatdwellswithinyouholdsmylove。Ilongforhershadoworthesoundofherstep。
Iammorewretchedlyinlovethanever——I,animpotent,invisiblespirit。MustIbearthissorrowinadditiontomyothers,inmyfruitlesssearchforrest？Mylifewillbeawakingnightmare,mostbitterironyoffate。\"
Thetreesswayedabovehishead,andthemoon,initslastquarter,lookeddreamilyathim。
\"Ah,\"thoughtAyrault,\"couldIbutsleepandbehappy！
Drowsinessandweariness,fatigue\'sgraspisonme;ormaySylvia\'snearnesssoothe,ashervoicehasbroughtmecalm！
QuietImaysomedayenjoy,butslumberagain,never！Iseethatsoulsinhadesmusteverhavetheirmisdeedsbeforethem。Happymaninthisworld,therepentant\'ssinsareforgiven！Youloseyourcareinsleep。Somnolenceanddrowsiness——balmofachinghearts,angelsofmercy！Mortals,howblessed！untilyoudie,Godsendsyouthisrest。WhenIrecallsummereveningswithSylvia,whilegentlezephyrsfannedourbrows,IwouldchangePope\'sfamouslineto\'Manneveris,butalwaysHASBEEN
blessed。\'\"
Aclockinachurch—steeplenowstruckthree,thesoundringingthroughthestillnightair。
\"Itwillsoonbetimeforghoststogo,\"thoughtAyrault。\"I
mustnothauntherdwelling。\"
TherewasalightinSylvia\'sstudy,andAyraultremainedmeditativelygazingatit。
\"Happylamp,\"hethought,\"toshedyourlightononesofair！
Shecanseeyou,andyoushine,forher。YouarebetteroffthanI。Wouldthathersoulmightshineforme,asyourlightshinesforher！Thelightofmylifehasdeparted。Othatthedarknesswerecomplete！Iamdead,\"histhoughtsranon,andwhentheprivilege——bitterword！——thatpermitsmetoremainherehasexpired,ImustdoubtlessreturntoSaturn,andthereinpurgatoryworkoutmyprobation。ButwhatcomfortisitthatafewcenturieshenceImaybeabletorevisitmynativeearth？——
Theflowerswillbloominthemorninglight,Andthelarksalutethesun,Theearthwillcontinuetorollthroughspace,AndImaybenearermyfinalgrace,ButSylvia\'slife—threadwillbespun。
\"EvenSylvia\'shousewillbeaheapofruins,oritsplacewillbetakenbysomethingelse。IfIhadSylvia,Ishouldcarefornothing;asIhavelosther,eventhissight,thoughsweet,mustalwaysbringregret。Iwish,atallevents,ImightseeSylvia,ifonlywiththesespirit—eyes,since,asamortal,shemaynevergladdenmysightagain。\"
Tohissurprise,henowperceivedthathecouldsee,notwithstandingthedrawnshades。Sylviawasatherwriting—desk,inalight—colouredwrapper。Shesatthererestingherheadonherhand,lookingthoughtfulbutworried。Thoughitwassolate,shehadnotretired。ThethrushthatAyraulthadofteninlifeadmired,andthatshehadforsomereasonbroughtup—stairs,wassilentandasleep。
\"Happybird！\"hesaid,\"youobtainrestandforgetfulnessoncoveringyourhead;butwhatwingcancovermysoul？IusedtowishImightfluttertowardsheavenonnaturalwingslikeyou,littlethrush。NowIcan,indeed,outflyyou。ButwhateverIdoI\'munhappy,andwhereverIgoI\'minhell。Whatismaninhishelpless,firstspiritualstate？Heisbutaflower,andwitherssoon。HadI,likethebishop,beenlessblind,andobeyedmyconscienceclear,ImighthavereturnedtomynativeearthwhileSylviastillsojournshere;andcomingthusbyvirtueofdevelopment,Ishouldbeabletocommunewithher。
\"Whatislife？\"hecontinued。\"Intheretrospect,nothing。Itseemstomealreadyasbutaninfinitesimalpoint。Thingsthatengrossedme,andseemedofsuchmoment,thatovershadowedthedutyofobeyingmyconscience——whatwerethey,andwhere？Ah,where？Theyenduredbutamoment。Realityandevanescence——
evanescenceandreality。\"
ThelightinSylvia\'sroomwasoutnow,andintheeasthebeheldthedawn。Theubiquitousgreywhichhesawatnightwasinvadedbystreamsofgloriouscrimsonandbluethatreachedfarupintothesky。Hegazedatthespectacle,andthenoncemoreatthathouseinwhichhislovewascentred。
\"WouldImightbeherguardianangel,toguideherintherightandkeepherfromallharm！Sleepon,Sylvia。Sweetone,sleep。
Yonstarsfadebesideyoureyes。Yourthoughtsandyoursoularefairerfarthantheeastinthisday\'ssunrise。IknowwhatI
havelost。Ah,desolatingknowledge！forIhavereadSylvia\'sheart,andknowIwaslovedastrulyasIloved。WhenBearwardenandCortlandtbreakherthenews——ah,God！willshelive,anddotheyyetknowIamdead？\"
Againcamethatspasmtoshedspirittears,andhadhenotknownitimpossiblehewouldhavethoughthisheartmustbreak。
Thebirdstwittered,andthelightgrew,butAyraultlaywithhisfaceupontheground。Finallythespiritofunrestdrovehimon。
Hepassedthebarreddoorofhisownhouse,throughwhichhehadenteredsooften。Itwasunchanged,butseemeddeserted。Next,hewenttothewater—front,wherehehadlefthisyacht。
Invisiblyandsadlyhestooduponherupperdeck,andgazedatthelevers,inresponsetohistouchonwhichthecrafthadcleftthewaves,reversed,orturnedlikeathingoflife。
\"\'Twasaprettytoy,\"hemused,\"andmanyhoursofjoyhaveIhadasIfloatedthroughlifeonboardofher。\"
AshemopedalonghebeheldtwounkemptItalianshavingapiano—organandaviolin。Themusicwasnotfine,butittouchedachordinAyrault\'sbreast,forhehadwaltzedwithSylviatothatair,anditmadehisheartache。
\"Oh,theacutenessofmydistress,\"hecried,\"theutterdepthofmysorrow！CanIhavenopeaceindeath,nooblivioninthegrave？Iamremindedofmyblighted,hopelessloveinallkindsofunexpectedways,byunforeseentrifles。Oh,wouldImight,indeed,die！Mayobliterationbemydeliverer！\"
\"Poorfellows,\"hecontinued,glancingattheItalians,forheperceivedthatneitheroftheplayerswashappy;thepianistwasavaricious,whiletheviolinist\'snaturalandhabitualjealousydestroyedhispeaceofmind。
\"Unhappinessseemsthecommonlot,\"thoughtAyrault。\"Earthcannotgivethatjoyforwhichwesigh。Poorfellows！thoughyourackmyearsanddistressmyheart,Icannothelpyounow。\"
CHAPTERXIII。
THEPRIEST\'SSERMON。
Itbeingthefirstdayoftheweek,themorningairwasfilledwithchimesfrommanysteeples。
\"Divineservicealwayscomfortedinlife,\"thoughtAyrault,\"perchanceitmaydosonow,whenIhavereachedthestateforwhichittriedtoprepareme。\"
Accordingly,hemovedonwiththethrong,andsoonwasascendingtheheightsofMorningsidePark,afterwhich,heenteredthecathedral。Thepriestwhosevoicehadsooftenthrilledhimstoodathispostinhissurplice,andthechoirhadfinishedtheprocessionalhymn。Duringtheresponsesinthelitany,andbetweenthecommandments,whilethecongregationandthechoirsang,heheardtheirnaturalvoicesasofoldascendingtothevaultedroofandarrestedthere。Henowalsoheardtheirspiritualvoicesresultingfromtheearnestnessoftheirprayers。
Thesewererungthroughthevastervaultofspace,arousingaspiritualechobeyondtheconstellationsandthenebulae。Theservice,whichwasthatoftheProtestantEpiscopalChurch,touchedhimasdeeplyasusual,afterwhichtherectorascendedthestepstothepulpit。
\"Thetext,thismorning,\"hebegan,\"isfromtheeighthchapterofSt。Paul\'sEpistletotheRomans,attheeighteenthverse:
\'ForIreckonthatthesufferingsofthispresenttimearenotworthytobecomparedtotheglorythatshallberevealedinus。\'
LetussupposethatyouorI,brethren,shouldbecomeafreeanddisembodiedspirit。Aminuteveininthebrainbursts,oraclotformsintheheart。Itmaybeameretrifle,someunexpectedthing,yetthecareerinthefleshisended,theeternallifeoftheliberatedspiritbegun。Thesoulslipsfromearth\'sgrasp,asairfromourfingers,andfindsitselfinthefrigid,boundlessvoidofspace。Yet,throughsomelongingthissoulmightrejoinus,and,thoughinvisible,mighthearthechurch—bellsring,andlongtorecallsomeoneofthemanybrightSundaymorningsspenthereonearth。Hasadirefulmisfortunebefallenthisbrother,orhasaslavebeensetfree？Letussupposeforamomentthatthefirsthasoccurred。\'Vanityofvanities,\'saidtheoldpreacher。\'Calamityofcalamities,\'saysthenew。Thatsoul\'sprobationaryperiodisended;hisrecord,onwhichhemustgo,isforevermade。Hehasbeenintheflesh,letussay,one,two,threeorfourscoreyears;beforehimarethecountlessaeonsofeternity。Hemayhavehadareasonablysatisfactorylife,fromhispointofview,andbeenfairlysuccessfulinstillingconscience。Thatstill,smallvoicedoubtlessspokeprettysharplyatfirst,butafterawhileitrarelytroubledhim,andintheenditspokenotatall。Hemay,inaway,haveenjoyedlifeandthebeautiesofnature。Hehasseenthefreshleavescomeandgo,butheforgotthemoral,thatbehimselfwasbutaleaf,andthat,astheyalldroppedtoearthtomakemoresoil,hisashesmustalsoreturntotheground。Buthissoul,friendsandbrethren,whatbecomesofthat？Ah！itisthestudyofthisquestionthatmoistensoureyeswithtears。Noevilmanisreallyhappyhere,andwhatmustbehissufferinginthecold,coldlandofspirits？Noslumberorforgetfulnesscaneasehislotinhades,andafterhiscondemnationatthelastjudgmenthemustforeverfacetheunsoftenedrealitiesofeternity。Noevilthingorthoughtcanfindlodgmentinheaven。
Ifitcould,heavenwouldnotbeahappyplace;neithercananymanimproveintheabyssofhell。Asthehorizongraduallydarkens,andthissoulrecedesfromGod,thetimespentinthefleshmustcometoseemthemostinfinitesimalmoment,moreevanescentthanthetickofaclock。Itseemsdreadfulthatforsuchshortmisdoingsasoulshouldsuffersolong,butnomancanbesavedinspiteofhimself。Hehadtheopportunities——andtheknowledgeofthismustgiveasoulthemostacutepang。
\"InRevelation,xx,6,wefindthesewords,\'Blessedandholyishethathathpartinthefirstresurrection:onsuchtheseconddeathhathnopower。\'Ihaveoftenaskedmyself,Maynotthismeanthatthosewithabadrecordinthegeneralresurrectionafteratimeceasetoexist,sinceallsufferonedeathatthecloseoftheirperiodhere？
\"ThisissomewhatsuggestedbyProverbs,xii,28,。\'Inthewayofrighteousnessislife,andinthepathwaythereofthereisnodeath。\'Thismightlimittheeverlastingdamnation,sooftenrepeatedelsewhere,tothelivesofthecondemned,sincetothem,inasense,itwouldbeeverlasting。
