forth from me。〃
As he turned to go in； came a faint chord from the aeolian harp。
〃It sings； brooding over the very nest of evil deeds！〃 he thought。
〃The light eternal； with keen arrows of radiant victory； will yet at
last rout from the souls of his creatures the demons that haunt
them！
〃But if there be creatures of God that have turned to demons； may
not human souls themselves turn to demons？ Would they then be
victorious over God； too strong for him to overcomebeyond the
reach of repentance？
〃How would they live？ By their own power？ Then were they Gods！But
they did not make themselves； and could not live of themselves。 If
not； then they must live by God's power。 How then should they be
beyond his reach？
〃If the demons can never be brought back； then the life of God； the
all…pure； goes out to keep alive； in and for evil； that which is
essentially bad； for that which is irredeemable is essentially bad。〃
Thus reasoned Donal with himself； and his reasoning； instead of
troubling his faith； caused him to cling the more to the only One；
the sole hope and saviour of the hearts of his men and women；
without whom the whole universe were but a charnel house in which
the ghosts of the dead went about crying； not over the life that was
gone from them； but its sorrows。
He stood and gazed out over the cold sea。 And as he gazed； a
shivering surge of doubt； a chill wave of negation； came rolling
over him。 He knew that in a moment he would strike out with the
energy of a strong swimmer； and rise to the top of it； but now it
was tumbling him about at its evil will。 He stood and gazedwith a
dull sense that he was waiting for his will。 Suddenly came the
consciousness that he and his will were one； that he had not to wait
for his will； but had to waketo will； that is； and do； and so be。
And therewith he said to himself：
〃It is neither time； nor eternity； nor human consolation； nor
everlasting sleep； nor the satisfied judgment； nor attained
ambition； even in love itself； that is the cure for things； it is
the heart； the will； the being of the Father。 While that remains；
the irremediable； the irredeemable cannot be。 If there arose a grief
in the heart of one of his creatures not otherwise to be destroyed；
he would take it into himself； there consume it in his own creative
firehimself bearing the grief； carrying the sorrow。 Christ
diedand would die again rather than leave one heart…ache in the
realms of his lovethat is； of his creation。 'Blessed are they who
have not seen and yet have believed！'〃
Over his head the sky was full of shining worldsmansions in the
Father's house； built or building。
〃We are not at the end of things；〃 he thought； 〃but in the
beginnings and on the threshold of creation！ The Father is as young
as when first the stars of the morning sangthe Ancient of Days who
can never grow old！ He who has ever filled the dull unbelieving
nations with food and gladness； has a splendour of delight for the
souls that believe； ever as by their obedience they become capable
of receiving it。〃
CHAPTER LXII。
THE CRYPT。
〃When are you going down again to the chapel； Mr。 Grant？〃 said lady
Arctura： she was better now； and able to work。
〃I was down last night； and want to go again this evening by
myselfif you don't mind； my lady；〃 he answered。 〃I am sure it will
be better for you not to go down till you are ready to give your
orders to have everything cleared away for the light and air to
enter。 The damp and closeness of the place are too much for you。〃
〃I think it was rather the want of sleep that made me ill；〃 she
answered； 〃but you can do just as you please。〃
〃I thank you for your confidence； my lady；〃 returned Donal。 〃I do
not think you will repent it。〃
〃I know I shall not。〃
Having some things to do first； it was late before Donal went
downintent on learning the former main entrance； and verifying the
position of the chapel in the castle。
He betook himself to the end of the passage under the little
gallery； and there examined the signs he had observed： those must be
the outer ends of two of the steps of the great staircase！ they came
through； resting on the wall。 That end of the chapel； then； adjoined
the main stair。 Evidently； too； a door had been built up in the
process of constructing the stair。 The chapel then had not been
entered from that level since the building of the stair。 Originally
there had； most likely； been an outside stair to this door； in an
open court。
After a little more examination； partial of necessity； from lack of
light； he was on his way out； and already near the top of the mural
stair； thinking of the fresh observations he would take outside in
the morning； when behind； overtaking him from the regions he had
left； came a blast of air； and blew out his candle。 He shiverednot
with the cold of it； though it did breathe of underground damps and
doubtful growths； but from a feeling of its having been sent after
him to make him go down againfor did it not indicate some opening
to the outer air？ He relighted his candle and descended； carefully
guarding it with one hand。 The cold sigh seemed to linger about him
as he wentgruesome as from a closed depth； the secret bosom of the
castle； into which the light never entered。 But； wherever it came
from last； however earthy and fearful； it came first from the open
regions of life； and had but passed through a gloom that life itself
must pass！ Could it have been a draught down the pipe of the
music…chords？ No； for they would have loosed some light…winged
messenger with it！ He must search till he found its entrance below！
He crossed the little gallery； descended； and went again into the
chapel： it lay as still as the tomb which it was no more。 He seemed
to miss the presence of the dead； and feel the place deserted。 All
round its walls； as far as he could reach or see； he searched
carefully； but could perceive no sign of possible entrance for the
messenger blast。 It came again！plainly through the open door under
the windows。 He went again into the passage outside the wall； and
the moment he turned into it； the draught seemed to come from
beneath； blowing upwards。 He stooped to examine； his candle was
again extinguished。 Once more he relighted it。 Searching then along
the floor and the foot of the walls； he presently found； in the wall
of the chapel itself； close to the ground； a narrow horizontal
opening： it must pass under the floor of the chapel！ All he saw was
a mere slit； but the opening might be larger； and partially covered
by the flooring…slab； which went all the length of the slit！ He
would try to raise it！ That would want a crowbar！ but having got so
far； he would not rest till he knew more！ It must be very late and
the domestics all in bed； but what hour it was he could not tell；
for he had left his watch in his room。 It might be midnight and he
burrowing like a mole about the roots of the old house； or like an
evil thing in the heart of a man！ No matter！ he would follow up his
searchafter what； he did not know。
He crept up； and out of the castle by his own stair； so to the
tool…house。 It was locked。 But lying near was a half…worn shovel：
that might do！ he would have a try with it！ Like one in a dream of
ancient ruins； creeping through mouldy and low…browed places； he
went down once more into the entrails of the house。
Inserting the sharp edge of the worn shovel in the gap between the
stone and that next it； he raised it more readily than he had hoped；
and saw below it a small window； whose sill sloped steeply inward。
How deep the place might be； and whether it would be possible to get
out of it again； he must discover before entering。 He took a letter
from his pocket； lighted it； and threw it in。 It revealed a descent
of about seven feet； into what looked like a cellar。 He blew his
candle out； put it in his pocket； got into the window； slid down the
slope； and reached his new level with ease。 He then lighted his
candle； and looked about him。
His eye first fell on a large flat stone in the floor； like a
gravestone； but without any ornament or inscription。 It was a
roughly vaulted place； unpaved； its floor of damp hard…beaten earth。
In the wall to the right of that through which he had entered； was
another opening； low down； like the crown of an arch the rest of
which was beneath the floor。 As near as he could judge； it was right
under the built…up door in the passage above。 He crept through it；
and found himself under the spiral of the great stair； in the small
space at the bottom of its well。 On the floor lay a dust…pan and a
house…maid's…brushand there was the tiny door at which they were
shoved in； after their morning's use upon the stair！ It was
openinwards； he crept through it： he was in the great hall of the
houseand there was one of its windows wide open！ Afraid of being
by any chance discovered； he put out his light； and proceeded up the
stair in the dark。
He had gone but a few steps when he heard the sound of descending
feet。 He stopped and listened： they turned into the half…way room。
When he reached it； he heard sounds which showed that the earl was
in the closet behind it。 Things rushed together in his mind。 He
hurried up to lady Arctura's room； thence descended； for the third
time that nightbut no farther than the oak door； passed through
it； entered the little chamber； and hastening to the farther end of
it； laid his ear against the wall。 Plainly enough he heard the
sounds he had expectedthose of the dream…walking rather than
sleep…walking earl； moaning； and calling in a low voice of entreaty
after some one whose name did not grow audible to the listener。
〃Ah！〃 thought Donal； 〃who would find it hard to believe in roaming
and haunting ghosts； that had once seen this poor man roaming his
own house； and haunting that chamber！ How easily I could punish him
now； with a lightning blast of terror！〃
It was but a thought； it did not amount to a temptation； Donal knew
he had no right。 Vengeance belongs to the Lord； for he alone knows
how to use it。
I do not believe that mere punishment exists anywhere in the economy
of the highest； I think mere punishment a human idea； no