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to try our faith.I do not mourn my son, save with the blind, natural pang of paternity, because I know that he has been withdrawn from this world for higher purposes in another; but the means of his going I demand to investigate, because they may signify much more than his death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
  • 历代诗话索考

    历代诗话索考

    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。
  • 山海慧菩萨经

    山海慧菩萨经

    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。
  • 杂纂二续

    杂纂二续

    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。
  • Grimm'  s Fairy Tales

    Grimm' s Fairy Tales

    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。
  • 50 Bab Ballads

    50 Bab Ballads

    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
  • 郓城法医打包走

    郓城法医打包走

    他是隐藏在世界的天才犯罪家,他内敛,细心,有种致命的吸引力,他失去了曾经所有的记忆,开始抽丝剥茧,层层揭开命运的脉络。她因一场意外,丢失了她原本的初心,开始害怕过去,甚至不敢触碰未来。在新的世界,犯罪,仇恨,爱情,交织在一起,让他们因为一宗无头案件而相遇,相知,相爱。也在危机时刻,他们并肩作战,解开谜底,在一步步揭开过去,与罪恶斗争,只为守候那暗夜最后的星光。欢迎加入郓城法医打包走粉丝群,群聊738340518
  • 源控九天

    源控九天

    这是一个充满源气的大陆,这里有强大逆天的源者,有凶残嗜血的源兽,更有拥有毁天灭地、翻江倒海之威能的恐怖彩兽,还有各种诡异骇人的血脉神力。叶羽重生到这块强者为尊的神奇大陆上,他的强者之路也由此开始。
  • 吾乃衰神

    吾乃衰神

    我也以为我会像其他快穿者那样,在小世界里炫酷屌炸,大显身手。实际上:【任务失败,请重头再来】炮灰光环照一照,衰神附体没得跑。我也想低调,可是实力它不允许啊。欢迎大家收看,大型主角成长节目:印妖在成长。曾经我也是毫无败绩的战神,直到我参加了这场试炼。注:这是一部女主随时黑化系列群k文。
  • 腹黑CEO的羞涩小美妻

    腹黑CEO的羞涩小美妻

    夕阳下,梦晗默默地握住了储寒的手,“冷储寒,我爱你。”储寒轻笑,紧紧地抱住了梦晗,小声地喃呢,“我也爱你。”“不公平。”梦晗突然挣脱出了储寒的怀抱,“我说得那么大声,你却如此小声。”快速地转过脸去,梦晗目不斜视地看着远处的大海,佯装生气。“辛梦晗,我爱你。”梦晗转身一看,储寒站在海边,对着大海,撕心裂肺地喊着,好像要用尽肺部里所有的气息。那一刻,所有的言语都化作了一滴泪珠从梦晗的粉颊滑落,这一刻,她相信,储寒是爱自己的,所有的一切都已经不重要,她要的幸福,原来这么近。
  • 别在吃苦的年纪选择安逸

    别在吃苦的年纪选择安逸

    《别在吃苦的年纪选择安逸》是作者景天的励志文集。有多少人在异地漂泊,忍受着寂寞与孤独,下雨没人送伞,吃饭没有人陪,没人分享喜悦,难过只能一个人哭……人生就是这样,耐得住寂寞才撑得起繁华;该奋斗的年龄,不要葬在了安逸,相信自己,终将破茧成蝶!
  • 唐宋八大家散文鉴赏(大全集)

    唐宋八大家散文鉴赏(大全集)

    唐宋八大家的散文是中华文化的珍贵宝藏,是国学的重要部分,值得每一个中国人认真品读。由雅瑟主编的《唐宋八大家散文鉴赏大全集》精选唐宋八大家散文193篇。其中:韩愈39篇,柳宗元35篇,欧阳修32篇,苏洵11篇,曾巩13篇,王安石21篇,苏轼32篇,苏辙10篇。每篇散文均有翔实的注释和精辟的鉴赏,以及后人的点评。《唐宋八大家散文鉴赏大全集》力求深入浅出,雅俗共赏,使读者尽览八大家散文的概貌和精髓。
  • 永恒战帝

    永恒战帝

    一个怀着血海深仇的少年,家人尽去。以一介半废之体,历经艰险,寻得机缘,血战皇都,报仇血恨......最强神术、人族大劫、永恒之界......且看永恒战帝武冲,逆战苍穹,破灭世界,遨游混沌!
  • 汉之乱世英雄

    汉之乱世英雄

    恩恩怨怨似难辨,是是非非终须平,凄凄婉婉抒忠义,轰轰烈烈展豪情。我自横刀向天笑,去留肝胆两昆仑,此间难表忠魂义,且看乱世英雄曲。
  • 山海星游记

    山海星游记

    太阳系走到了尽头,宇宙真的再也没有人类的容身之所了吗?好在人类的技术取得了突破性的进展,虽然地球没了,但我们依旧存活在无尽的宇宙中……直到翠绿号母舰的一次意外之旅,人类第三个家园出现了,可这无比庞大的生物是这颗星球的原住民?快跑!这是一个个普通人在另一颗星球上的故事。
  • 不存在的星球

    不存在的星球

    本次出版作品,共收录了13篇第四届“光年奖”的短篇获奖小说。“光年奖”是中国科幻最大的原创科幻小说征文大赛的奖项之一。至2016年,共举办了五届。比赛邀请了王晋康、何夕、吴岩、韩松、陈楸帆、夏笳、沙锦飞、黄海、电子骑士、尹传红和江波这11位科幻界资深人士担任评委,为中国科幻遴选优秀的作品和具有发展潜力的科幻人才。