登陆注册
5159400000024

第24章

"Is it possible to do otherwise? How can you, of all men, ask? Science has spoken - or, rather, science has been struck dumb.No natural, physical force is responsible for his end.He died without any cause that you could discover.This is no new thing, however.History records that men have passed similarly under visitations beyond human power to explain.If the Lord could slay multitudes in a night at a breath, as we know from the pages of the Old Testament, then it is certain He canstill end the life of any man at any moment, and send His messengers to do so.I believe in good and evil spirits as I believe in my Bible, and I know that, strong and terrible though they may be and gifted with capital powers against our flesh, yet the will of God is stronger than the strongest of them.These things, I say, have happened before.They are sent to try our faith.I do not mourn my son, save with the blind, natural pang of paternity, because I know that he has been withdrawn from this world for higher purposes in another; but the means of his going I demand to investigate, because they may signify much more than his death itself.One reason for his death may be this: that we are now called to understand what is hidden in the Grey Room.My son's death may have been necessary to that explanation.Human intervention may be demanded there.One of God's immortal souls, for reasons we cannot tell, may be chained in that room, waiting its liberation at human hands.We are challenged, and I accept the challenge, being impelled thereto by the sacred message that has been put into my heart."Even his fellow-priest stared in bewilderment at Septimus May's extraordinary opinions, while to the physician this was the chatter of a lunatic.

"I will take my Bible into that haunted room to-night," concluded the clergyman, "and I will pray to God, Who sits above both quick and dead, to protect me, guide me, and lead me to my duty."Sir Walter spoke.

"You flout reason when you say these things, my dear May.

"And why should I not flout reason? What Christian but knows well enough that reason is the staff that breaks in our hands and wounds us? Much of our most vital experience has no part nor lot with reason.A thousand things happen in the soul's history which reason cannot account for.A thousand moods, temptations, incitements prompt us to action or deter us from it - urge us to do or avoid - for which reason is not responsible.Reason, if we bring these emotions to it, cannot even pronounce upon them.Yet in them and from them springs the life of the soul and the conviction of immortality.'To act on impulse' - who but daily realizes that commonplace in his own experience?The mind doesnot only play tricks and laugh at reason in dreams while we sleep.It laughs at reason while we wake, and the sanest spirit experiences inspired moments, mad moments, unaccountable impulses the reason for which he knows not.The ancients explained these as temptations of malicious and malignant spirits or promptings from unseen beings who wish man well.And where the urge is to evil, that may well be the truth; and where it is to good, who can doubt whence the inspiration comes?""And shall not my inspiration - to employ the cleverest detective in England-be also of good?" asked Sir Walter.

"Emphatically not.Because this thing is in another category than that of human crime.It is lifted upon a plane where the knowledge of man avails nothing.You are a Christian, and you should understand this as well as I do.If there is danger, then I am secure, because I have the only arms that can avail in a battle of the spirit.My trust is shield enough against any evil being that may roam this earth or be held by invisible bonds within the walls of the Grey Room.I will justify the ways of God to man and, through the channel of potent prayer, exorcise this presence and bring peace to your afflicted house.For any living fellow-creature would I gladly pit my faith against evil; how much more, then, in a matter where my very own life's blood has been shed? You cannot deny me this.It is my right.""I will ask you to listen to the arguments against you, nevertheless," replied Mannering."You have propounded an extraordinary theory, and must not mind if we disagree with you.""Speak for yourself alone, then," answered May."I do not ask or expect a man of your profession to agree with me.But the question ceases to be your province.""Do not say that, sir," urged Henry Lennox."I don't think my uncle agrees with you either.You are assuming too much.""Honestly, I can't quite admit your assumption, my dear May," declared Sir Walter."You go too far - farther than is justified at this stage of events, at any rate.Were we in no doubt that a spirit is granted power within my house to destroy human life, then I confess, with due precautions, I could not deny you access to it in the omnipotent Name youinvoke.I am a Christian and believe my Bible as soundly as you do.But why assume such an extraordinary situation? Why seek a supernatural cause for dear Tom 's death before we are satisfied that no other exists?""Are you not satisfied? What mortal man can explain the facts on any foundation of human knowledge?""Consider how limited human knowledge is, said Mannering," and grant that we have not exhausted its possibilities yet.There may be some physical peculiarity about the room, some deadly but perfectly natural chemical accident, some volatile stuff, in roof or walls, that reacts to the lowered temperatures of night.A thousand rare chance combinations of matter may occur which are capable of examination, and which, under skilled experiment, will resolve their secret.Nothing it more bewildering than a good conjuring trick till we know how it is done, and Nature is the supreme conjurer.We have not found out all her tricks, and never shall do so; but we very well know that a solution to all of them exists.""A material outlook and arrogant," said the priest.Whereupon Mannering grew a little warm.

同类推荐
  • 海意菩萨所问净印法门经

    海意菩萨所问净印法门经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 韩愈集

    韩愈集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 毗沙门仪轨

    毗沙门仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 凤山县志

    凤山县志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Twenty Years After

    Twenty Years After

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 养心食谱

    养心食谱

    《养心食谱》精选了近百种养心食谱的做法,你能在短时间内享用色香昧美的养心菜肴。这里既有大众熟悉的传统菜式,也有名厨新近的创新品种,种类齐全,制作简单,操作方便,内容实用。
  • 萧萧落红

    萧萧落红

    她是不幸人,却有着倾国倾城之貌,她成了当今天子的妃子,却在洞房花烛时,用剑指着他的脖子,不允许碰她。为了共同的目标,她从他的床上,当着妃子的面将他拉走。她对他说,他若爱她,就要让她独冠后宫,她若爱他,必要杀尽他后宫佳丽。一切的温柔背后,竟又是一个阴谋,互不信任,她一次次陷入危机,心一次次被伤。她,又杀了他最敬重的人。踏入江湖,她是神秘组织的接班人,叱咤风云。再见时,却又是刀剑相向,她要的爱太强烈,他是否给得起,他要的爱太虚幻,她是否会相信。最想要得到,却最害怕失去,最容易想起,也最容易忘记,她说爱上她便是万劫不复,最后谁才是那个万劫不复的人。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 主神实验品

    主神实验品

    无限流,厌倦了日复一日,厌倦了哪种平淡似水的生活,也许是逃避,是自己懦弱,除了上班睡觉排泄做爱,人们需要有所刺激,虽然能一时忘记自己,但睡一觉之后,你还是会回到现实!
  • 华严经义海百门

    华严经义海百门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 语音的使用力度

    语音的使用力度

    现代社会是“信息大爆炸”的社会,信息在社会各行各业?起着越来越大的作用。一项工作往往需要多人的共同合作,需要多个信息的综合作用,语言是最普遍、最方便,也是最直接的传递方式。语言能力强,双方就能达到顺利的交流,信息也能顺利、准确地被对方接收、理解,从而达到交流的目的。
  • 当情深遇上久伴

    当情深遇上久伴

    当年的一次朝夕相处,令他对她念念不忘。几年后,当他再次出现在她的面前时,他的心依旧免不了悸动。可她并未认出他……阴差阳错,他开出天价,将她带走,留在自己的身边。“你为什么对我这么好?”她问。“因为你是令我第一个心动的女生。”他答。后来,她才发现,原来他就是当年的他……
  • 世界因我而美好一点

    世界因我而美好一点

    本书收录了作者近两年发表的美文作品90篇,分为“闲语:走错路看到不一样的风景”;“情语:幸福家庭的姿态”;“世语:成为美好的一部分”;“物语:一只拟人化的狗”等四辑。有感人亲情,也有生命感悟;有人生哲理,也有借物抒怀。文字朴实,而意境深远。
  • 自遣

    自遣

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 特种部队之德国篇

    特种部队之德国篇

    德国特种部队的组建与第二次世界大战有着密不可分的关系。德国希望在地区冲突不断、恐怖主义威胁世界安全的今天,在维护地区和平、防止和打击恐怖主义方面有所作为,为提高自身的国际政治地位增加筹码,于是着手组建及发展特种部队。
  • 黄檗断际禅师宛陵录

    黄檗断际禅师宛陵录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。