vanities；' said the old preacher。 'Calamity of calamities；' says
the new。 That soul's probationary period is ended； his record；
on which he must go； is forever made。 He has been in the flesh；
let us say； one； two； three or four score years； before him are
the countless aeons of eternity。 He may have had a reasonably
satisfactory life； from his point of view； and been fairly
successful in stilling conscience。 That still； small voice
doubtless spoke pretty sharply at first； but after a while it
rarely troubled him； and in the end it spoke not at all。 He may；
in a way； have enjoyed life and the beauties of nature。 He has
seen the fresh leaves come and go； but he forgot the moral； that
be himself was but a leaf； and that； as they all dropped to earth
to make more soil； his ashes must also return to the ground。 But
his soul； friends and brethren； what becomes of that？ Ah！ it is
the study of this question that moistens our eyes with tears。 No
evil man is really happy here； and what must be his suffering in
the cold； cold land of spirits？ No slumber or forgetfulness can
ease his lot in hades； and after his condemnation at the last
judgment he must forever face the unsoftened realities of
eternity。 No evil thing or thought can find lodgment in heaven。
If it could； heaven would not be a happy place； neither can any
man improve in the abyss of hell。 As the horizon gradually
darkens； and this soul recedes from God； the time spent in the
flesh must come to seem the most infinitesimal moment； more
evanescent than the tick of a clock。 It seems dreadful that for
such short misdoings a soul should suffer so long； but no man can
be saved in spite of himself。 He had the opportunitiesand the
knowledge of this must give a soul the most acute pang。
〃In Revelation； xx； 6； we find these words； 'Blessed and holy is
he that hath part in the first resurrection： on such the second
death hath no power。' I have often asked myself； May not this
mean that those with a bad record in the general resurrection
after a time cease to exist； since all suffer one death at the
close of their period here？
〃This is somewhat suggested by Proverbs； xii； 28；。 'In the way
of righteousness is life； and in the pathway thereof there is no
death。' This might limit the everlasting damnation； so often
repeated elsewhere； to the lives of the condemned； since to them；
in a sense； it would be everlasting。
〃Let us now turn to the bright picturethe soul that has
weathered the storms of life and has reached the haven of rest。
The struggles； temptations； and trials overcome； have done their
work of refining with a rapidity that could not have been
equalled in any other way； and though； perhaps； very imperfect
still； the journey is ever on。 The reward is tenfold； yet in
proportion to what this soul has done； for we know that the
servant who best used his ten talents was made ruler over ten
cities； while he that increased his five talents by five received
five； and the Saviour in whom he trusted； by whose aid he made
his fight； stands ready to receive him； saying； 'Enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord。'
〃As the dark； earthly background recedes； the clouds break and
the glorious light appears； the contrast heightening the
ever…unfolding and increasing delights； which are as great as the
recipients have power to enjoy； since these righteous souls
receive their rewards in proportion to the weight of the crosses
that they have borne in the right spirit。 These souls are a joy
to their Creator； and are the heirs of Him in heaven。 The
ceaseless； sleepless activity that must obtain in both paradise
and hades； and that must make the hearts of the godless grow
faint at the contemplation； is also a boundless promise to those
who have Him who is all in all。
〃Where is now thy Saviour？ where is now thy God？ the unjust man
has asked in his heart when he saw his just neighbour struggling
and unsuccessful。 Both the righteous and the unrighteous man are
dead。 The one has found his Saviour； the other is yearly losing
God。 What is the suffering of the present momentary time； eased
as it is by God's mercy and presence； compared with the glories
that await us？ What would it be if our lives here were filled
with nothing else； as ye know that your labour is not vain in the
Lord？ Time and eternitythe finite and the infinite。 Death
was； indeed； a deliverer； and the sunset of the body is the
sunrise of the soul。〃
The priest held himself erect as a soldier while delivering this
sermon； making the great cathedral ring with his earnest and
solemn voice； while Ayrault； as a spirit； saw how absolutely he
meant and believed every word that he said。
Nearly all the members of the congregation were movedsome more；
some less than they appeared。 After the benediction they rapidly
dispersed； carrying in their hearts the germs he had sown； but
whether these would bear fruit or wither； time alone could show。
Ayrault had noticed Sylvia's father and mother in church； but
Sylvia herself was not there； and he was distressed to think she
might be ill。
〃Why；〃 pondered Ayrault； 〃am I so unhappy？ I was baptized；
confirmed； and have taken the sacrament。 I have always had an
unshaken faith； and； though often unsuccessful； have striven to
obey my conscience。 The spirits also on Saturn kept saying I
should be happy。 Now； did this mean it was incumbent upon me to
rejoice； because of some blessing I already had； and did not
appreciate； or did their prescience show them some prospective
happiness I was to enjoy？ The visions also of Violet； the angel；
and the lily； which I believed； and still believe； were no mere
empty fancies； should have given me the most unspeakable joy。 It
may be a mistake to apply earthly logic to heavenly things； but
the fundamental laws of science cannot change。
〃Why am I so unhappy？〃 he continued； returning to his original
question。 〃The visions gave promise of special grace； perhaps
some special favour。 True； my prayer to see Sylvia was heard；
but； considering the sacrifice； this has been no blessing。 The
request cannot have been wrong in itself； and as for the manner；
there was no arrogance in my heart。 I asked as a mortal； as a
man of but finite understanding； for what concerned me most。
Why； oh why； so wretched？〃
CHAPTER XIV。
HIC ILLE JACET。
At daybreak the thunder…shower passed off； but was followed by a
cold； drenching rain。 Supposing Ayrault had remained in the
Callisto； Bearwarden and Cortlandt did not feel anxious； and； not
wishing to be wet through； remained in the cave； keeping up a
good fire with the wood they had collected。 Towards evening a
cold wind came up； and； thinking this might clear the air； they
ventured out； but； finding the ground saturated； and that the
rain was again beginning to fall； they returned to shelter；
prepared a dinner of canned meat； and made themselves as
comfortable as possible for the night。
〃I am surprised；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that Dick did not try to
return to us； since he had the mackintoshes。〃
〃I dare say he did try；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃but finding the
course inundated； and knowing we should not need the mackintoshes
if we remained under cover； decided to put back。 The Callisto
is； of course； as safe as a church。〃
〃I hope；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃no harm has come to him on the way。
It will be a weight off my mind to see him safely with us。〃
〃Should he not turn up in the morning；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃we
must begin a search for him bright and early。〃
Making up the fire as near the entrance of the cave as they could
find a dry place； so that Ayrault should see it if he attempted
to return during the night； they piled on wood； and talked of
their recent experiences。
〃However unwilling I was；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃to believe my senses；
which I felt were misleading me； I can no longer doubt the
reality of that spirit bishop； or the truth of what be says。
When you look at the question dispassionately； it is what you
might logically expect。 In my desire to disprove what is to us
supernatural； I tried to create mentally a system that would be a
substitute for the one he described； but could evolve nothing
that so perfectly filled the requirements； or that was so simple。
Nothing seems more natural than that man； having been evolved
from stone； should continue his ascent till he discards material
altogether。 The metamorphism is more striking in the first
change than in the second。 Granted that the soul is immaterial；
and that it leaves the body after death； what is there to keep it
on earth？ Gravitation cannot affect it。 What is more likely
than that it is left behind by the earth in its orbit； or that it
continues its forward motion； but in a straight line； till；
reaching the paths of the greater planets； it is drawn to them by
some affinity or attraction that the earth does not possess； and
that the souls held in that manner remain here on probation；
developing like young animals or children； till； by gradually
acquired power； resulting from their wills； they are able to rise
again into space； to revisit the earth； and in time to explore
the universe？ It might easily come about that； by some
explainable sympathy； the infant good souls are drawn to this
planet； while the condemned pass on to Cassandra； which holds
them by some property peculiar to itself； until perhaps they；
too； by virtue of their wills； acquire new power； unless
involution sets in and they lose what they have。 The simplicity
of the thing is what surprises me now； and that for ages
philosophers have been racking their brains with every
conceivable fancy； when； by simply extending and following
natural laws； they could discern the whole。〃
〃It is the old story；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃of Columbus and the egg。
Schopenhouer and his predecessors appear to have tried every idea
but the right one； and even Darwin and Huxley fell short in their
reasoning； because they tried to obtain more or less than four by
putting two with two。〃
Thus they sat and talked while the night wore on。 Neither