第10章

"Mywifehadremainedhereduringmyabsence，inanxiousexpectationofmyreturnwithsometidingsofhersister。Ihadnonetocommunicate。Foratime，Iwasbreathlesswithmyspeed:This，andthetremorsthatshookmyframe，andthewildnessofmylooks，alarmedher。Sheimmediatelysuspectedsomedisastertohavehappenedtoherfriend，andherownspeechwasasmuchoverpoweredbyemotionasmine。

"Shewassilent，butherlooksmanifestedherimpatiencetohearwhatIhadtocommunicate。Ispoke，butwithsomuchprecipitationasscarcelytobeunderstood；catchingher，atthesametime，bythearm，andforciblypullingherfromherseat。

"Comealongwithme:fly:wastenotamoment:timewillbelost，andthedeedwillbeomitted。Tarrynot；questionnot；

butflywithme!

"Thisdeportmentaddedafreshtoheralarms。Hereyespursuedmine，andshesaid，"Whatisthematter？ForGod"ssakewhatisthematter？Wherewouldyouhavemego？"

"Myeyeswerefixeduponhercountenancewhileshespoke。I

thoughtuponhervirtues；Iviewedherasthemotherofmybabes:asmywife:IrecalledthepurposeforwhichIthusurgedherattendance。Myheartfaltered，andIsawthatImustrousetothisworkallmyfaculties。Thedangeroftheleastdelaywasimminent。

"Ilookedawayfromher，andagainexertingmyforce，drewhertowardsthedoor——"Youmustgowithme——indeedyoumust。"

"Inherfrightshehalf-resistedmyefforts，andagainexclaimed，"Goodheaven!whatisityoumean？Wherego？Whathashappened？HaveyoufoundClara？"

"Followme，andyouwillsee，"Ianswered，stillurgingherreluctantstepsforward。

"Whatphrenzyhasseizedyou？Somethingmustneedshavehappened。Isshesick？Haveyoufoundher？"

"Comeandsee。Followme，andknowforyourself。"

"Stillsheexpostulatedandbesoughtmetoexplainthismysteriousbehaviour。Icouldnottrustmyselftoanswerher；

tolookather；butgraspingherarm，Idrewherafterme。Shehesitated，ratherthroughconfusionofmindthanfromunwillingnesstoaccompanyme。Thisconfusiongraduallyabated，andshemovedforward，butwithirresolutefootsteps，andcontinualexclamationsofwonderandterror。HerinterrogationsOf"whatwasthematter？"and"whitherwasIgoing？"wereceaselessandvehement。

"Itwasthescopeofmyeffortsnottothink；tokeepupaconflictanduproarinmymindinwhichallorderanddistinctnessshouldbelost；toescapefromthesensationsproducedbyhervoice。Iwas，therefore，silent。Istrovetoabridgethisintervalbymyhaste，andtowasteallmyattentioninfuriousgesticulations。

"Inthisstateofmindwereachedmysister"sdoor。Shelookedatthewindowsandsawthatallwasdesolate——"Whycomewehere？Thereisnobodyhere。Iwillnotgoin。"

"StillIwasdumb；butopeningthedoor，Idrewherintotheentry。Thiswastheallottedscene:hereshewastofall。I

letgoherhand，andpressingmypalmsagainstmyforehead，madeonemightyefforttoworkupmysoultothedeed。

"Invain；itwouldnotbe；mycouragewasappalled；myarmsnerveless:Imutteredprayersthatmystrengthmightbeaidedfromabove。Theyavailednothing。

"Horrordiffuseditselfoverme。Thisconvictionofmycowardice，myrebellion，fasteneduponme，andIstoodrigidandcoldasmarble。FromthisstateIwassomewhatrelievedbymywife"svoice，whorenewedhersupplicationstobetoldwhywecamehither，andwhatwasthefateofmysister。

"WhatcouldIanswer？Mywordswerebrokenandinarticulate。

Herfearsnaturallyacquiredforcefromtheobservationofthesesymptoms；butthesefearsweremisplaced。Theonlyinferenceshededucedfrommyconductwas，thatsometerriblemishaphadbefallenClara。

"Shewrungherhands，andexclaimedinanagony，"Otellme，whereisshe？Whathasbecomeofher？Isshesick？Dead？Issheinherchamber？Oletmegothitherandknowtheworst!"

"Thisproposalsetmythoughtsoncemoreinmotion。Perhapswhatmyrebelliousheartrefusedtoperformhere，Imightobtainstrengthenoughtoexecuteelsewhere。

"Comethen，"saidI，"letusgo。"

"Iwill，butnotinthedark。Wemustfirstprocurealight。"

"Flythenandprocureit；butIchargeyou，lingernot。I

willawaitforyourreturn。

"Whileshewasgone，Istrodealongtheentry。Thefellnessofagloomyhurricanebutfaintlyresembledthediscordthatreignedinmymind。Toomitthissacrificemustnotbe；yetmysinewshadrefusedtoperformit。Noalternativewasoffered。

Torebelagainstthemandatewasimpossible；butobediencewouldrendermetheexecutionerofmywife。Mywillwasstrong，butmylimbsrefusedtheiroffice。

"Shereturnedwithalight；Iledthewaytothechamber；shelookedroundher；sheliftedthecurtainofthebed；shesawnothing。

"Atlength，shefixedinquiringeyesuponme。Thelightnowenabledhertodiscoverinmyvisagewhatdarknesshadhithertoconcealed。Hercareswerenowtransferredfrommysistertomyself，andshesaidinatremulousvoice，"Wieland!youarenotwell:Whatailsyou？CanIdonothingforyou？"

"Thataccentsandlookssowinningshoulddisarmmeofmyresolution，wastobeexpected。Mythoughtswerethrownanewintoanarchy。IspreadmyhandbeforemyeyesthatImightnotseeher，andansweredonlybygroans。Shetookmyotherhandbetweenher"s，andpressingittoherheart，spokewiththatvoicewhichhadeverswayedmywill，andwaftedawaysorrow。

"Myfriend!mysoul"sfriend!tellmethycauseofgrief。DoInotmerittopartakewiththeeinthycares？AmInotthywife？"

"Thiswastoomuch。Ibrokefromherembrace，andretiredtoacorneroftheroom。Inthispause，couragewasoncemoreinfusedintome。Iresolvedtoexecutemyduty。Shefollowedme，andrenewedherpassionateentreatiestoknowthecauseofmydistress。

"Iraisedmyheadandregardedherwithstedfastlooks。I

mutteredsomethingaboutdeath，andtheinjunctionsofmyduty。

Atthesewordssheshrunkback，andlookedatmewithanewexpressionofanguish。Afterapause，sheclaspedherhands，andexclaimed——

"OWieland!Wieland!GodgrantthatIammistaken；butsurelysomethingiswrong。Iseeit:itistooplain:thouartundone——losttomeandtothyself。"Atthesametimeshegazedonmyfeatureswithintensestanxiety，inhopethatdifferentsymptomswouldtakeplace。Irepliedtoherwithvehemence——

"Undone!No；mydutyisknown，andIthankmyGodthatmycowardiceisnowvanquished，andIhavepowertofulfilit。

Catharine!Ipitytheweaknessofthynature:Ipitythee，butmustnotspare。Thylifeisclaimedfrommyhands:thoumustdie!"

"Fearwasnowaddedtohergrief。"Whatmeanyou？Whytalkyouofdeath？Bethinkyourself，Wieland:bethinkyourself，andthisfitwillpass。OwhycameIhither!Whydidyoudragmehither？"

"Ibroughttheehithertofulfiladivinecommand。Iamappointedthydestroyer，anddestroytheeImust。"SayingthisIseizedherwrists。Sheshriekedaloud，andendeavouredtofreeherselffrommygrasp；buthereffortswerevain。

"Surely，surelyWieland，thoudostnotmeanit。AmInotthywife？andwouldstthoukillme？Thouwiltnot；andyet——I

see——thouartWielandnolonger!Afuryresistlessandhorriblepossessesthee——Spareme——spare——help——help——"

"Tillherbreathwasstoppedsheshriekedforhelp——formercy。Whenshecouldspeaknolonger，hergestures，herlooksappealedtomycompassion。Myaccursedhandwasirresoluteandtremulous。Imeantthydeathtobesudden，thystrugglestobebrief。Alas!myheartwasinfirm；myresolvesmutable。ThriceIslackenedmygrasp，andlifekeptitshold，thoughinthemidstofpangs。Hereye-ballsstartedfromtheirsockets。

Grimnessanddistortiontookplaceofallthatusedtobewitchmeintotransport，andsubduemeintoreverence。

"Iwascommissionedtokillthee，butnottotormenttheewiththeforesightofthydeath；nottomultiplythyfears，andprolongthyagonies。Haggard，andpale，andlifeless，atlengththouceasedsttocontendwiththydestiny。

"Thiswasamomentoftriumph。ThushadIsuccessfullysubduedthestubbornnessofhumanpassions:thevictimwhichhadbeendemandedwasgiven:thedeedwasdonepastrecal。

"Iliftedthecorpseinmyarmsandlaiditonthebed。I

gazeduponitwithdelight。Suchwastheelationofmythoughts，thatIevenbrokeintolaughter。Iclappedmyhandsandexclaimed，"Itisdone!Mysacreddutyisfulfilled!TothatIhavesacrificed，OmyGod!thylastandbestgift，mywife!"

"ForawhileIthussoaredabovefrailty。IimaginedIhadsetmyselfforeverbeyondthereachofselfishness；butmyimaginationswerefalse。Thisrapturequicklysubsided。I

lookedagainatmywife。Myjoyousebullitionsvanished，andI

askedmyselfwhoitwaswhomIsaw？MethoughtitcouldnotbeCatharine。Itcouldnotbethewomanwhohadlodgedforyearsinmyheart；whohadslept，nightly，inmybosom；whohadborneinherwomb，whohadfosteredatherbreast，thebeingswhocalledmefather；whomIhadwatchedwithdelight，andcherishedwithafondnessevernewandperpetuallygrowing:itcouldnotbethesame。

"Wherewasherbloom!Thesedeadlyandblood-suffusedorbsbutillresembletheazureandexstatictendernessofhereyes。

Thelucidstreamthatmeanderedoverthatbosom，theglowoflovethatwaswonttosituponthatcheek，aremuchunliketheselividstainsandthishideousdeformity。Alas!thesewerethetracesofagony；thegripeoftheassassinhadbeenhere!

"Iwillnotdwelluponmylapseintodesperateandoutrageoussorrow。ThebreathofheaventhatsustainedmewaswithdrawnandIsunkintoMEREMAN。Ileapedfromthefloor:I

dashedmyheadagainstthewall:Iutteredscreamsofhorror:

Ipantedaftertormentandpain。Eternalfire，andthebickeringsofhell，comparedwithwhatIfelt，weremusicandabedofroses。

"IthankmyGodthatthisdegeneracywastransient，thathedeignedoncemoretoraisemealoft。IthoughtuponwhatIhaddoneasasacrificetoduty，andWASCALM。Mywifewasdead；butIreflected，thatthoughthissourceofhumanconsolationwasclosed，yetotherswerestillopen。Ifthetransportsofanhusbandwerenomore，thefeelingsofafatherhadstillscopeforexercise。Whenremembranceoftheirmothershouldexcitetookeenapang，Iwouldlookuponthem，andBE

COMFORTED。

"WhileIrevolvedtheseideas，newwarmthflowedinuponmyheart——Iwaswrong。Thesefeelingswerethegrowthofselfishness。OfthisIwasnotaware，andtodispelthemistthatobscuredmyperceptions，aneweffulgenceandanewmandatewerenecessary。

"FromthesethoughtsIwasrecalledbyaraythatwasshotintotheroom。AvoicespakelikethatwhichIhadbeforeheard——"Thouhastdonewell；butallisnotdone——thesacrificeisincomplete——thychildrenmustbeoffered——theymustperishwiththeirmother!——"

ChapterXX

WillyouwonderthatIreadnofarther？WillyounotratherbeastonishedthatIreadthusfar？WhatpowersupportedmethroughsuchataskIknownot。PerhapsthedoubtfromwhichI

couldnotdisengagemymind，thatthesceneheredepictedwasadream，contributedtomyperseverance。Invainthesolemnintroductionofmyuncle，hisappealstomyfortitude，andallusionstosomethingmonstrousintheeventshewasabouttodisclose；invainthedistressfulperplexity，themysterioussilenceandambiguousanswersofmyattendants，especiallywhentheconditionofmybrotherwasthethemeofmyinquiries，wereremembered。IrecalledtheinterviewwithWielandinmychamber，hispreternaturaltranquillitysucceededbyburstsofpassionandmenacingactions。Allthesecoincidedwiththetenorofthispaper。

Catharineandherchildren，andLouisaweredead。Theactthatdestroyedthemwas，inthehighestdegree，inhuman。Itwasworthyofsavagestrainedtomurder，andexultinginagonies。

Whowastheperformerofthedeed？Wieland!Mybrother!

Thehusbandandthefather!Thatmanofgentlevirtuesandinvinciblebenignity!placableandmild——anidolatorofpeace!

Surely，saidI，itisadream。FormanydayshaveIbeenvexedwithfrenzy。Itsdominionisstillfelt；butnewformsarecalleduptodiversifyandaugmentmytorments。

Thepaperdroppedfrommyhand，andmyeyesfollowedit。I

shrunkback，asiftoavoidsomepetrifyinginfluencethatapproachedme。Mytonguewasmute；allthefunctionsofnaturewereatastand，andIsunkuponthefloorlifeless。

Thenoiseofmyfall，asIafterwardsheard，alarmedmyuncle，whowasinalowerapartment，andwhoseapprehensionshaddetainedhim。Hehastenedtomychamber，andadministeredtheassistancewhichmyconditionrequired。WhenIopenedmyeyesIbeheldhimbeforeme。Hisskillasareasoneraswellasaphysician，wasexertedtoobviatetheinjuriouseffectsofthisdisclosure；buthehadwronglyestimatedthestrengthofmybodyorofmymind。Thisnewshockbroughtmeoncemoretothebrinkofthegrave，andmymaladywasmuchmoredifficulttosubduethanatfirst。

Iwillnotdwelluponthelongtrainofdrearysensations，andthehideousconfusionofmyunderstanding。Timeslowlyrestoreditscustomaryfirmnesstomyframe，andordertomythoughts。Theimagesimpresseduponmymindbythisfatalpaperweresomewhateffacedbymymalady。Theywereobscureanddisjointedlikethepartsofadream。Iwasdesirousoffreeingmyimaginationfromthischaos。ForthisendIquestionedmyuncle，whowasmyconstantcompanion。Hewasintimidatedbytheissueofhisfirstexperiment，andtookpainstoeludeordiscouragemyinquiry。Myimpetuositysometimescompelledhimtohaveresorttomisrepresentationsanduntruths。

Timeeffectedthatend，perhaps，inamorebeneficialmanner。

Inthecourseofmymeditationstherecollectionsofthepastgraduallybecamemoredistinct。Irevolvedthem，however，insilence，andbeingnolongeraccompaniedwithsurprize，theydidnotexerciseadeath-dealingpower。Ihaddiscontinuedtheperusalofthepaperinthemidstofthenarrative；butwhatI

read，combinedwithinformationelsewhereobtained，threw，perhaps，asufficientlightuponthesedetestabletransactions；

yetmycuriositywasnotinactive。Idesiredtoperusetheremainder。

Myeagernesstoknowtheparticularsofthistalewasmingledandabatedbymyantipathytothescenewhichwouldbedisclosed。HenceIemployednomeanstoeffectmypurpose。I

desiredknowledge，and，atthesametime，shrunkbackfromreceivingtheboon。

Onemorning，beingleftalone，Irosefrommybed，andwenttoadrawerwheremyfinerclothingusedtobekept。Iopenedit，andthisfatalpapersalutedmysight。Isnatcheditinvoluntarily，andwithdrewtoachair。Idebated，forafewminutes，whetherIshouldopenandread。Nowthatmyfortitudewasputtotrial，itfailed。Ifeltmyselfincapableofdeliberatelysurveyingasceneofsomuchhorror。Iwaspromptedtoreturnittoitsplace，butthisresolutiongaveway，andIdeterminedtoperusesomepartofit。IturnedovertheleavestillIcameneartheconclusion。Thenarrativeofthecriminalwasfinished。TheverdictofGUILTYreluctantlypronouncedbythejury，andtheaccusedinterrogatedwhysentenceofdeathshouldnotpass。Theanswerwasbrief，solemn，andemphatical。

"No。Ihavenothingtosay。Mytalehasbeentold。Mymotiveshavebeentrulystated。Ifmyjudgesareunabletodiscernthepurityofmyintentions，ortocreditthestatementofthem，whichIhavejustmade；iftheyseenotthatmydeedwasenjoinedbyheaven；thatobediencewasthetestofperfectvirtue，andtheextinctionofselfishnessanderror，theymustpronouncemeamurderer。

"Theyrefusetocreditmytale；theyimputemyactstotheinfluenceofdaemons；theyaccountmeanexampleofthehighestwickednessofwhichhumannatureiscapable；theydoommetodeathandinfamy。HaveIpowertoescapethisevil？IfIhave，besureIwillexertit。Iwillnotacceptevilattheirhand，whenIamentitledtogood；IwillsufferonlywhenIcannoteludesuffering。

"YousaythatIamguilty。Impiousandrash!thustousurptheprerogativesofyourMaker!tosetupyourboundedviewsandhaltingreason，asthemeasureoftruth!

"Thou，OmnipotentandHoly!Thouknowestthatmyactionswereconformabletothywill。Iknownotwhatiscrime；whatactionsareevilintheirultimateandcomprehensivetendencyorwhataregood。Thyknowledge，asthypower，isunlimited。I

havetakentheeformyguide，andcannoterr。Tothearmsofthyprotection，Ientrustmysafety。Intheawardsofthyjustice，Iconfideformyrecompense。

"Comedeathwhenitwill，Iamsafe。Letcalumnyandabhorrencepursuemeamongmen；Ishallnotbedefraudedofmydues。Thepeaceofvirtue，andthegloryofobedience，willbemyportionhereafter。"

Hereendedthespeaker。Iwithdrewmyeyesfromthepage；

butbeforeIhadtimetoreflectonwhatIhadread，Mr。

Cambridgeenteredtheroom。HequicklyperceivedhowIhadbeenemployed，andbetrayedsomesolicituderespectingtheconditionofmymind。

Hisfears，however，weresuperfluous。WhatIhadread，threwmeintoastatenoteasilydescribed。Anguishandfury，however，hadnopartinit。Myfacultieswerechainedupinwonderandawe。Justthen，Iwasunabletospeak。Ilookedatmyfriendwithanairofinquisitiveness，andpointedattheroll。Hecomprehendedmyinquiry，andansweredmewithlooksofgloomyacquiescence。Aftersometime，mythoughtsfoundtheirwaytomylips。

Suchthenweretheactsofmybrother。Suchwerehiswords。

Forthishewascondemnedtodie:Todieuponthegallows!A

fate，cruelandunmerited!Andisitso？continuedI，strugglingforutterance，whichthisnewideamadedifficult；ishe——dead!

"No。Heisalive。Therecouldbenodoubtastothecauseoftheseexcesses。Theyoriginatedinsuddenmadness；butthatmadnesscontinues。andheiscondemnedtoperpetualimprisonment。"

"Madness，sayyou？Areyousure？Werenotthesesights，andthesesounds，reallyseenandheard？"

Myunclewassurprizedatmyquestion。Helookedatmewithapparentinquietude。"Canyoudoubt，"saidhe，"thatthesewereillusions？Doesheaven，thinkyou，interfereforsuchends？"

"Ono；Ithinkitnot。Heavencannotstimulatetosuchunheard-ofoutrage。Theagentwasnotgood，butevil。"

"Nay，mydeargirl，"saidmyfriend，"layasidethesefancies。Neitherangelnordevilhadanypartinthisaffair。"

"Youmisunderstandme，"Ianswered；"Ibelievetheagencytobeexternalandreal，butnotsupernatural。"

"Indeed!"saidhe，inanaccentofsurprize。"Whomdoyouthensupposetobetheagent？"

"Iknownot。Alliswilderingconjecture。IcannotforgetCarwin。Icannotbanishthesuspicionthathewasthesetterofthesesnares。Buthowcanwesupposeittobemadness？Didinsanityeverbeforeassumethisform？"

"Frequently。Theillusion，inthiscase，wasmoredreadfulinitsconsequences，thananythathascometomyknowledge；

but，Irepeatthatsimilarillusionsarenotrare。Didyouneverhearofaninstancewhichoccurredinyourmother"sfamily？"

"No。Ibeseechyourelateit。Mygrandfather"sdeathIhaveunderstoodtohavebeenextraordinary，butIknownotinwhatrespect。Abrother，towhomhewasmuchattached，diedinhisyouth，andthis，asIhaveheard，influenced，insomeremarkableway，thefateofmygrandfather；butIamunacquaintedwithparticulars。"

"Onthedeathofthatbrother，"resumedmyfriend，"myfatherwasseizedwithdejection，whichwasfoundtoflowfromtwosources。Henotonlygrievedforthelossofafriend，butentertainedthebeliefthathisowndeathwouldbeinevitablyconsequentonthatofhisbrother。Hewaitedfromdaytodayinexpectationofthestrokewhichhepredictedwasspeedilytofalluponhim。Gradually，however，herecoveredhischeerfulnessandconfidence。Hemarried，andperformedhispartintheworldwithspiritandactivity。Attheendoftwenty-oneyearsithappenedthathespentthesummerwithhisfamilyatanhousewhichhepossessedontheseacoastinCornwall。Itwasatnogreatdistancefromacliffwhichoverhungtheocean，androseintotheairtoagreatheight。Thesummitwaslevelandsecure，andeasilyascendedonthelandside。Thecompanyfrequentlyrepairedhitherinclearweather，invitedbyitspureairsandextensiveprospects。OneeveninginJunemyfather，withhiswifeandsomefriends，chancedtobeonthisspot。

Everyonewashappy，andmyfather"simaginationseemedparticularlyalivetothegrandeurofthescenery。

"Suddenly，however，hislimbstrembledandhisfeaturesbetrayedalarm。Hethrewhimselfintotheattitudeofonelistening。Hegazedearnestlyinadirectioninwhichnothingwasvisibletohisfriends。Thislastedforaminute；thenturningtohiscompanions，hetoldthemthathisbrotherhadjustdeliveredtohimasummons，whichmustbeinstantlyobeyed。

Hethentookanhastyandsolemnleaveofeachperson，and，beforetheirsurprizewouldallowthemtounderstandthescene，herushedtotheedgeofthecliff，threwhimselfheadlong，andwasseennomore。

"InthecourseofmypracticeintheGermanarmy，manycases，equallyremarkable，haveoccurred。Unquestionablytheillusionsweremaniacal，thoughthevulgarthoughtotherwise。Theyareallreducibletooneclass，*andarenotmoredifficultofexplicationandcurethanmostaffectionsofourframe。"

Thisopinionmyuncleendeavoured，byvariousmeans，toimpressuponme。Ilistenedtohisreasoningsandillustrationswithsilentrespect。MyastonishmentwasgreatonfindingproofsofaninfluenceofwhichIhadsupposedtherewerenoexamples；butIwasfarfromaccountingforappearancesinmyuncle"smanner。IdeasthrongedintomymindwhichIwasunabletodisjoinortoregulate。Ireflectedthatthismadness，ifmadnessitwere，hadaffectedPleyelandmyselfaswellasWieland。Pleyelhadheardamysteriousvoice。Ihadseenandheard。AformhadshoweditselftomeaswellastoWieland。

Thedisclosurehadbeenmadeinthesamespot。Theappearancewasequallycompleteandequallyprodigiousinbothinstances。

WhateversuppositionIshouldadopt，hadInotequalreasontotremble？Whatwasmysecurityagainstinfluencesequallyterrificandequallyirresistable？

Itwouldbevaintoattempttodescribethestateofmindwhichthisideaproduced。Iwonderedatthechangewhichamomenthadaffectedinmybrother"scondition。NowwasI

stupifiedwithtenfoldwonderincontemplatingmyself。WasI

notlikewisetransformedfromrationalandhumanintoacreatureofnamelessandfearfulattributes？WasInottransportedtothebrinkofthesameabyss？Ereanewdayshouldcome，myhandsmightbeembruedinblood，andmyremaininglifebeconsignedtoadungeonandchains。

Withmoralsensibilitylikemine，nowonderthatthisnewdreadwasmoreinsupportablethantheanguishIhadlatelyendured。Griefcarriesitsownantidotealongwithit。Whenthoughtbecomesmerelyavehicleofpain，itsprogressmustbestopped。Deathisacurewhichnatureorourselvesmustadminister:TothiscureInowlookedforwardwithgloomysatisfaction。

Mysilencecouldnotconcealfrommyunclethestateofmythoughts。Hemadeunweariedeffortstodivertmyattentionfromviewssopregnantwithdanger。Hisefforts，aidedbytime，wereinsomemeasuresuccessful。Confidenceinthestrengthofmyresolution，andinthehealthfulstateofmyfaculties，wasoncemorerevived。Iwasabletodevotemythoughtstomybrother"sstate，andthecausesofthisdisasterousproceeding。

Myopinionswerethesportofeternalchange。SometimesI

conceivedtheapparitiontobemorethanhuman。Ihadnogroundsonwhichtobuildadisbelief。Icouldnotdenyfaithtotheevidenceofmyreligion；thetestimonyofmenwasloudandunanimous:boththeseconcurredtopersuademethatevilspiritsexisted，andthattheirenergywasfrequentlyexertedinthesystemoftheworld。

TheseideasconnectedthemselveswiththeimageofCarwin。

Whereistheproof，saidI，thatdaemonsmaynotbesubjectedtothecontroulofmen？Thistruthmaybedistortedanddebasedinthemindsoftheignorant。Thedogmasofthevulgar，withregardtothissubject，areglaringlyabsurd；butthoughthesemayjustlybeneglectedbythewise，wearescarcelyjustifiedintotallyrejectingthepossibilitythatmenmayobtainsupernaturalaid。

Thedreamsofsuperstitionareworthyofcontempt。

Witchcraft，itsinstrumentsandmiracles，thecompactratifiedbyabloodysignature，theapparatusofsulpheroussmellsandthunderingexplosions，aremonstrousandchimerical。ThesehavenopartinthesceneoverwhichthegeniusofCarwinpresides。

Thatconsciousbeings，dissimilarfromhuman，butmoralandvoluntaryagentsasweare，somewhereexist，canscarcelybedenied。Thattheiraidmaybeemployedtobenignormalignantpurposes，cannotbedisproved。

Darknessrestsuponthedesignsofthisman。Theextentofhispowerisunknown；butistherenotevidencethatithasbeennowexerted？

Irecurredtomyownexperience。HereCarwinhadactuallyappeareduponthestage；butthiswasinahumancharacter。A

voiceandaformwerediscovered；butonewasapparentlyexerted，andtheotherdisclosed，nottobefriend，buttocounteractCarwin"sdesigns。Thereweretokensofhostility，andnotofalliance，betweenthem。Carwinwasthemiscreantwhoseprojectswereresistedbyaministerofheaven。Howcanthisbereconciledtothestratagemwhichruinedmybrother？

Theretheagencywasatoncepreternaturalandmalignant。

Therecollectionofthisfactledmythoughtsintoanewchannel。Themalignityofthatinfluencewhichgovernedmybrotherhadhithertobeennosubjectofdoubt。Hiswifeandchildrenweredestroyed；theyhadexpiredinagonyandfear；yetwasitindisputablycertainthattheirmurdererwascriminal？

Hewasacquittedatthetribunalofhisownconscience；hisbehaviourathistrialandsince，wasfaithfullyreportedtome；

appearanceswereuniform；notforamomentdidhelayasidethemajestyofvirtue；herepelledallinvectivesbyappealingtothedeity，andtothetenorofhispastlife；surelytherewastruthinthisappeal:nonebutacommandfromheavencouldhaveswayedhiswill；andnothingbutunerringproofofdivineapprobationcouldsustainhismindinitspresentelevation。

*ManiaMutabilis。SeeDarwin"sZoonomia，vol。ii。ClassIII。1。2。wheresimilarcasesarestated。

ChapterXXI

Such，forsometime，wasthecourseofmymeditations。Myweakness，andmyaversiontobepointedatasanobjectofsurprizeorcompassion，preventedmefromgoingintopublic。I

studiouslyavoidedthevisitsofthosewhocametoexpresstheirsympathy，orgratifytheircuriosity。Myunclewasmyprincipalcompanion。Nothingmorepowerfullytendedtoconsolemethanhisconversation。

WithregardtoPleyel，myfeelingsseemedtohaveundergoneatotalrevolution。Itoftenhappensthatonepassionsupplantsanother。Latedisastershadrentmyheart，andnowthatthewoundwasinsomedegreeclosed，thelovewhichIhadcherishedforthismanseemedlikewisetohavevanished。

Hitherto，indeed，Ihadhadnocausefordespair。Iwasinnocentofthatoffencewhichhadestrangedhimfrommypresence。Imightreasonablyexpectthatmyinnocencewouldatsometimebeirresistablydemonstrated，andhisaffectionformeberevivedwithhisesteem。Nowmyaversiontobethoughtculpablebyhimcontinued，butwasunattendedwiththesameimpatience。Idesiredtheremovalofhissuspicions，notforthesakeofregaininghislove，butbecauseIdelightedinthevenerationofsoexcellentaman，andbecausehehimselfwouldderivepleasurefromconvictionofmyintegrity。

MyunclehadearlyinformedmethatPleyelandhehadseeneachother，sincethereturnofthelatterfromEurope。Amidstthetopicsoftheirconversation，IdiscoveredthatPleyelhadcarefullyomittedthementionofthoseeventswhichhaddrawnuponmesomuchabhorrence。Icouldnotaccountforhissilenceonthissubject。Perhapstimeorsomenewdiscoveryhadalteredorshakenhisopinion。Perhapshewasunwilling，thoughIwereguilty，toinjuremeintheopinionofmyvenerablekinsman。I

understoodthathehadfrequentlyvisitedmeduringmydisease，hadwatchedmanysuccessivenightsbymybedside，andmanifestedtheutmostanxietyonmyaccount。

Thejourneywhichhewaspreparingtotake，attheterminationofourlastinterview，thecatastropheoftheensuingnightinducedhimtodelay。ThemotivesofthisjourneyIhad，tillnow，totallymistaken。Theywereexplainedtomebymyuncle，whosetaleexcitedmyastonishmentwithoutawakeningmyregret。Inadifferentstateofmind，itwouldhaveaddedunspeakablytomydistress，butnowitwasmoreasourceofpleasurethanpain。This，perhaps，isnottheleastextraordinaryofthefactscontainedinthisnarrative。ItwillexcitelesswonderwhenIadd，thatmyindifferencewastemporary，andthatthelapseofafewdaysshewedmethatmyfeelingsweredeadenedforatime，ratherthanfinallyextinguished。

TheresadeStolbergwasalive。ShehadconceivedtheresolutionofseekingherloverinAmerica。Toconcealherflight，shehadcausedthereportofherdeathtobepropagated。

SheputherselfundertheconductofBertrand，thefaithfulservantofPleyel。Thepacquetwhichthelatterreceivedfromthehandsofhisservant，containedthetidingsofhersafearrivalatBoston，andtomeethertherewasthepurposeofhisjourney。

Thisdiscoveryhadsetthisman"scharacterinanewlight。

Ihadmistakentheheroismoffriendshipforthephrenzyoflove。Hewhohadgainedmyaffections，maybesupposedtohavepreviouslyentitledhimselftomyreverence；butthelevitywhichhadformerlycharacterizedthebehaviourofthisman，tendedtoobscurethegreatnessofhissentiments。Ididnotfailtoremark，thatsincethisladywasstillalive，thevoiceinthetemplewhichassertedherdeath，musteitherhavebeenintendedtodeceive，orhavebeenitselfdeceived。Thelattersuppositionwasinconsistentwiththenotionofaspiritual，andtheformerwiththatofabenevolentbeing。