KAT HE RI NE C E C IL T HU RS TO N

R
R R R
A UT H O O F

THE MA S Q U E A! E T HE G AMB LE

I LLU S TR TE A D

HARP E R B RO THE RS P UB LIS HE RS

W Y O RK AN! LO N ! O N
M CMV! l
C op yri g h t, 1
904 , b y K A T H E R I N E C n c n . T H U R S T O N.

A l l g h t! r es er ved .

P u b l i s h e d A p ri l , 1 90 7 .
 I LL U S T R A T I O N S

TH E P R O P H E T W IT H H I S F I ! E D G A Z E
U P ON T H E S C I T S Y M

T H E F I GU R E OF H I S UN C L E S H OW E D
T A LL AN D ANGUL A R I N T H E A P E R
TUR E F ac i n g f! . 20

HE G A T H E R E D T H E F I R S T S H E AF
OF L E A V E S I N T O H I S F I N G E R S

AC ROS S TH E P R O P H E T S B R E A ST I N

M A R K S OF A C R U E L L A C E R A T I O N ,

R AN T H E S YM B O L I C O CT A G ON A L F I G
U R E OF T H E MY S T I C S E CT

W I T H A F R E S H B U R ST O F T E A R S SH E
,

T U R N E D AN D FLUNG H E R S E LF U P O N

T H E C OU C H

H E R H AN D W A S T R E M BL I NG AS S H E
R A I S E D T H E H E A V Y K NO C K E R

I AM I N N E E D OF H E LP AN D Y O U
C AN H E L P M E

S H E S A w T H E F I GU R E OF T H E P R O P H E T
A TT E N D E D B Y T H E P R E C U R S O R
AN D T H E S I x A R C H MY ST I C S
-

.
TH C M YS T I C S
 THE MYS TK S

C H AP T E R I
F a ll th e i
se n s a t o n st o which
the h uman m i d is a p y
n re ,

there is n o ne so powerful in
its nality s o chilling i n its
,

sense of a n i mpe n ding e v e n t

a s the k n owledge th at D eath gri m i m pl

,
a ca

ble D eath h as cast his shad ow on a li fe that

cust o m a n d ci rc umstance h a v e rendered f a

milia r W h a t ev e r the personal feeling m ay

.

be whether dismay de spai r or relief no

, ,

m an o r w o man can w at c h that a dvancing

sh adow wit ho u t a q uailing at the hea rt an ,

indi v i d ual sh rinki ng from t h e t e rri ble na tu

,

ra l myste y th a t we m ust l l face i n tu n

r a r

e a ch for hi m self and each a lone .

 TH E . M YS T I CS
M H MSO I> B MM A II G I M
I a gau n t house o n the loneliest p oint
n

w here the Scottish co a st o v erlooks the I rish

Sea Joh n H enderso n w a s watching his uncle
,

di e. I n the plain whitewashed room where,

th e sick man lay a re was b urning a n d a

,

couple of oil lamps shed an uncert a i n glo w ;

-

b ut outsi de the win d roared inl an d from the

,

s hore a n d th e rain splashed in fu rious show

,

ers against the win dows of the house I t .

was a night of tum ult and d arkness ; b ut

n either the ol d ma n who lay waiting for th e
en d n or the young m a n who watched that
en d app roaching ga v e any h e ed t o the tur
m oil of the eleme n ts E a ch was self . en

gr o ssed .

Except for a n occasio n al rasping cough o r ,

a slo w indrawn breath no S ig n came fro m

, ,

the small i ro n bedstead o n which the d ying

man lay H is h ard em aciated face was s e t
.
,

i n a n impenetrable mask ; his glazed eyes

were x e d i mm ova bly o n a distant p o rt i on
of th ceili n g ; an d his ha nd s lay claspe d
e

2
 M YS T I C S
TH E .

M M M M B MM M O I M
up o n his b reast c o vering s o me o bj ect that
,

depe nd ed from h is neck .

H e h a d lai n th us si nce the doctor from the

neighbori ng to w n h ad b rav e d the rising st o rm
and ri d d e n ov e r to s e e hi m i n the fall o f t he
e v ening ; and n o accen t ua t io n of the gale t h at
lash ed th e h ou se no incre a se i n the roar of
,

the o cean th ree h u n d red yards away ha d ,

po we r to interr u pt his leth argy .

I n curi ou s co ntrast was the exp ression th a t

m ar k e d his nephe w s face An ex t ra o rdin a ry

.

supp ress ed energy was v isi b le in e v ery line of

Jo h n H en d ers on s b o dy as he sat crouchi n g

o ver the re ; a n d a l oo k o f i rrep ressi ble e x

c i t m t smoldered in t he e yes th at g a zed i nt o
e en

t he gl o wing l H e w as b arely twenty

co a s .

th ree yea rs old b ut th e self co n trol th at co m es

,
-

from e nd ur a nce a nd p ri v ati o n sat m i t k un s a a

b ly on his k n itted br o ws a n d closed lips H e .

w a s neither h andsom e o f feature nor graceful

o f gure yet th e re was s o me t hing more strik
,

ing a nd int e restin g t h an ei t h e r grace or beauty

3
 TH C M YS T I C S
M H ME M M EM A I G I M
I n a g a u n t h o use o n the loneliest p oint
w here the Scottish co a st o v erlooks the I rish
Sea J o hn H en derso n w a s watching hi s uncle
,

di e. I n the plain whitewashed room where

,

th e sick man lay a re was burning an d a

,

couple o f oil lamps shed an u n cert a in glow ;

b ut outsi de the win d roared inlan d from the
,

s hore a n d th e rain splashed in fu ri o us show

,

ers against the win d o ws of th e house I t .

was a night of tum ult a nd d arkness ; b t u

n either the old ma n wh o lay waiting for th e

e n d n or the young m a n who watched th at
en d app roaching ga v e any h e ed t o the tur
m oil of the eleme n ts E a ch was l f . se en

grossed .

Ex c ept for an i l rasping cough or

o cc a s o n a ,

a sl o w indraw n b reath no sign came fr o m

, ,

the small i ro n bedstead o n w hich the dying

man lay H is h ard emaciated face was set
.
,

i n a n impenetrable m ask ; his glazed ey e s

were x e d i mmo v ably o n a distant p o rti o n
o f th ceili n g ; and his hands lay clasped
e

2
 TH E . M YS T I C S
M II M B H M A I G IS M
U p on his b reast c o vering s om e obj ect that
,

d epen d ed fr o m h is ne ck .

H ha d lai n thus since the doctor from the

e

neigh b o ring t ow n h a d b raved the rising st o rm

an d ri d d e n o v e r to hi m i n the fall o f t he
se e

evening ; an d n o accen t ua t io n of the gale t hat

lashed t h e h ou se n o increase i n the roar of
,

the oc ean t h ree h undr e d yards a w ay ha d ,

p ow er t o interrupt his l et hargy .

I n c urious c o n t rast was t he e xp ressi o n that

m ark e d his neph ew s fac e A ex t ra o r d in a ry

. n

s u ppressed energy w as visibl e i n every line of

John Hen d ers o n s b od y as he sat cro uching

o v er the re ; and a l oo k of i rrepressible e x

i m
c te s m oldered in the e y e s t h at g a zed i nt o
e nt

the gl ow ing coals He was barely twenty

.

th ee y e ars o ld b ut t h e self control th at c o mes

r ,
-

from e n d ur an ce a n d p rivati o n sat m i k un sta a

bly on his knitted b ro ws and cl o sed lips H e .

w a s neither h andsom e o f fe a t ure nor graceful

of gure ye t ther e w as s o me t hing m o re strik
,

ing a nd int e r e s t in g th an ei t h e r grace or b eauty

3
 TH E M YS T I C S
.

M 0 l lM A l d l l l
in the strong youthful for m a n d the strong
, ,

i n telligent face For a lo n g ti m e he ret a ined

.

his crouching se a t o n the woode n stool th a t

stood before the hearth ; the n a t last the
a cti v ity at work within his m i n d m ade further
i n action intoler ab le H e ose an d tur n ed
. r

towards the b ed .

T h dying m a n l y m otio n less a w a iti n g

e a ,

the n a l s m mons with th at aloofn ess th at

u

suggests a spi rit already parti ally extricated

fro m its o v eri n g of esh H is glassy eyes
c .

w ere still x ed an d i m mo v a b le s av e for an

occasio na l twi tchi n g of the eyeli ds ; his p alli d
li p s were draw n b ack fro m his stro g p ro m i n ,

n e n t teeth ; a n d the ski n ab out his te m ples

looked shri v elled a nd sallow T h do to s e c r

parting words c am e sh arply to the you n ger

m an s mi n d

.

Sit still an d watch hi m y d no ou can o

m ore
.

H e reiterated this i n j n ctio n man y ti m es

u

m ent a lly a s he tood co n te m pl a ti n g the m

s an
 TH E .M YS T I C S
M H ll cSO lSB MlSA ll d l l l
who fo r sev e n int e rmina b le y e a rs ha d ruled ,

rep ress ed an d w orke d hi m he m i ght hav e

, as

w orked a w ell c o nstruct ed ma nag e able m a

-
,

chine ; an d a sud de n rus h of j oy o f fr e e do m ,

and recompense oo d e d h i he a rt and h is

s se t

p ulses t h ro bbing He m o m e nta rily l o st sig h t

.

o f the gri m sha d o w h ove ring o ver t h e h ou s e .

The sens e of emancipation r o se t u m ul t uo usly ,

over rul i ng even t h e i mm ense solem n ity of

-

app roaching D ea t h .

J o h n H e n d ers o n had kno w n littl e of the

easy pleasant paths of l i fe ca rpe t e d by
, ,

we alth an d sh e l te r ed by i n ue nc e H i s m o s t.

ch i l d ish an d d istant r ecol l e ct i o ns c arrie d him

bac k to d ays of anxi ou s p o v e r t y Hi fa the r. s ,

th e e ld e r so n of a we a lth y S cott is h l an d
ow ner ha d q u a rr e ll ed w i t h h i fa the r an d t
, s , a

th e ag e of t we n t y l eft his h o me d i s i nh e ri t e d
,

i n fav o r of h i y ou ng e r b ro t he r Po ssess ed of
s .

a p e c ul i a r te mp e ram e n t passi o nate h e a d ,

s t ro ng do gg ed i n h i res o lves h e ha d sha k en

,
s ,

the dust o f Sc o tlan d fro m h is feet ; s wo rn

 TH E . M YSTI C S

n e ver t o b e beholde n to eit h er father o r

br o th e r fo r t h e fraction o f a p e nny an d h ad ,

g o n e o ut into the worl d to s eek h is fortu n e .

B u t the fo rtun e h ad been far to seek For .

y e ars he h ad follow ed th e s e a ; for years he

h a d toiled o n lan d ; b ut i n every und e rta k i n g
failure stal k e d him Finally at the age of .
,

ft y he touched su c cess for the rst ti me

,
.

He fe ll i n lov e an d foun d hi s love return

e d B ut h ere again t h e i rony of fate was
.

co nstant i n its p u rsuit The o b j ec t o f .

his choice w as th e d a ug h ter o f an artist a ,

man as ne ed y as enti r e ly unfortunate as he

,

hi msel f .

B ut l o ve at fty i s someti mes as blind love as

a t t we nty Wi th an i mp r o vi d ence that b

-
ve . e

li ed h i nati o nality Alick H e n de rs o n ma rri ed

s ,

a fter a co u rts h i p as b rie f it w as happy For as .

a year h e sh ar ed t h e h ap hazard l i fe o f his -

wi fe an d f th i law ; then Na t u re w t to
a er w
n sa

alter t h e sma l l m g T h e artis t d i ed an d

en a e. ,

alm o st at the s a me ti me little John w b o rn as .

6
 my st nc s
TH C
H o m m m m w ro w
I n t h is atmosphere John l e arned to look
u pon life A n aturally high spi rited an d
.
-

c ourageous chil d he gra d u ally fell under

,

t h at spell of p remature un d erstanding th at i s

th e p o rtion o f a min d for c ed too so o n to r e alize
the signi c ance o f w ays an d means D ay by .

d ay hi s seri ou s e yes grew to Compreh e nd the

lines th at m ar k e d hi s m oth er s b e l o ve d face ;

to k now the cost at w hich his o w n e d ucation ,

his own wa n ts were supplied by the ti re d

, ,

silent father who despite his shabby c lothes

, ,

an d p rem aturely b roken ai r seemed p p , er e tu

ally to mo v e i n the glamour of a past romance ;

an d grad ually ste a dily p assio n ately as t h ese
, , ,

things came h o me to him ther e gr ew p in his

, u

y o uthful min d a desi r e to compensat e b y his

own futur e for the struggle he d aily witnesse d .

M an V were the nights when his le ss o ns -

for t h e ne x t d a y nish e d and his father away

,

at o ne of the ma n y p re ca rious tasks th at ke pt

the h o useh o l d tog e therh would draw cl o se
e

to h i m other as h sat i n dustriously sewing

s , s e ,

8
 TH E M YS T I C S
M Q ll eMEl SS ll A l d l l l
and beg her fo r th e h undre dt h ti me to rec o unt
the story o f the gri m S c o tch ho m e where h is
father had l his bi rth right ; of the ster n old
o st

grandfather wh o ha d d i e d i n ex ora b ly f un or

gi v i n g ; f th e un k n ow n uncl e o f w h o m rum o r
o

told many ec c e ntric stori e s And roused by

.
,

the reci t al his boyish face wo uld fl ush his

, ,

b oyish mi nd leap fo r w ar d t ow ar d s the fut u re .

T w ill all c o m e ba c k m o ther ! he w oul d

,

cr
y . T w ill

all come b ack ! I ll win it

b ack !
An d wi t h a s o bbing laugh his mother
, ,

wo uld dro p her sewing an d d ra w hi m t o her

heart i n a sudden yearning o f l o v e an d p ri de .

I n such surr o un d ings and i n su c h an atmos

p h e re he passed sixt e en years ; th e n the rst
upheaval of his life t oo k place H is fat h er .

d ied .

H is rs t re co llecti o n whe n the t e rri ble ne

ce ss i i of t h e event w e re past and his ow n

t es ,

grief and c o nsternati o n h a d pa rti ally b su

si d ed was the r e m e mb rance of his mother

9
 TH E . M ys r l cs

calling h i m to her ro o m ; of h er k issing him ,

c rying o ver hi m an d telling him o f th e resolv e

she h a d taken to writ e an d m a ke k no wn his
exist e n c e to his uncl e in S c otlan d .

T he co nfe ssion at rst o ve rwh e lmed him .

H is ow n p ri de his s e ns e o f loyal t y to h i
, s

father s m e mory p r o mpt e d hi m to c ry o u t

against th e i de a as against a sa c ril e g e Th e n .

sl ow ly his b oyish i mm ature min d graspe d

,

som e thing o f the n o bility th at p rompte d t he

dec ision somethi n g of the inexp ressible l o ve
-

th at co unte d s e nti m e nt an d p e rson al dignity

as n o thing besi d e h is ow n future ; a nd in a
p assi o n o f gratit u de he ung his arms abo u t
his moth e r rep e ating the o ld chil d ish vo w s
,

with a new an d d e e per fo rce .

So the letter to Sc o tlan d was desp at c h ed ;

a n d a time o f sh arp suspense fo ll owed fo r
mother an d son T h e n o ne ne v er to b for
.
,
- -
e-

g o tten d ay th e answer arri v ed

,
.

Andrew He n d erson wrote unemotion ally .

H e exp ressed fo rm al r e gret f his b rotheor

r s

IO
 M YS T I C S
TH E .

M H ME M EM M M O S M
de at h b e vinc ed n o i nt e res t i n his sist e r i
, ut -
n

la w s p o si t i o n H e b riefly d e s c ri be d hi mself

.

as l iving an is o la te d li fe in a small h o us e o n
th e c o ast a doze n mi le s fro m t h e f mi l y
se a- ,
a

ho me wh i c h h a d remain ed un t enante d sin c e

h i fa t her s de a t h H e a d mi tted t hat w i t h
'

s .

a d van c ing ye a rs th e d ut i e s of l i fe ha d beg u n

t o we ig h u p o n him d iv e rting h i min d an d , s

t im e fr o m the graver p urs uit s to wh i c h h is

li fe w as de v o t ed ; nally he gru d gingly g su

g e s t e d th a t shoul d h i n e ph ew car e t o
, s un

d e r ta k th e d u ties o f se c r e ta ry a t a sala ry of
e

six t y p ou n d s a y e a r he migh t nd a h o me ,

w i t h hi m .

T h e i mm ed ia te feel ing th at fo ll owed th e

r e a d ing of th e l ette r w fra u g ht w i th ch illing as

d isapp o intm e n t O t he m o men t p ri d e again

. n ,

asserte d its e l f urging a s w i ft r efu sal of t he

,

ri c h m an s p r o p o sal ; th e n once mor e t h e

p a t ienc e t h a t h a d k e p t M H e n de rs o n rs .

b rav e an d gen tle d u r i ng s e v e n tee n yea rs

o f we a ring p o v e r t y ma de i t s e l f felt All .

II
 TH C M YS T I C S

t h o u g h t of personal grieva nc e fa d e d from

he r min d as s h e pointed out the urgent
necessity of John s being seen an d k now n by

t h is un c l e whose only r e latio n an d ost e nsibl e

,

h e i r h e w as She talked for long w is e ly an d

.
,

k i dl v as mothers talk out o f t h e u nsel sh

n

fu lness of thei r hearts an d w ith e v ery wor d

the gol d en castl e s o f her im agin ation rose

tower on to w er to form the citadel in w hich
h e r son was to reign sup reme .

So wisely an d lovingly di d she talk th at

so

sh persuaded n o t o nly the boy b ut herself

e , ,

into the belie f t h at h e h ad b u t t o reach S co t

land to make his in h eritance sure ; an d be fore
th e d ay c lose d h w rote to An d r ew Hen der
s e

son a cc ep t ing his off er A wee k lat e r t h e

.

whole light of her li fe went o ut h w at c h ed

, as s e

the train steam o u t of the stati o n c a rrying ,

John no rth w ard .

Upon t he da v s th at follo w e d h is arri v al in

S co tlan d t here no need t o dw ell He came
is .

as a stranger an d as a stranger h e w as in t ro
,

12
 Th f . M YS T I C S

d u ce d b y his uncle to the routine of work

e x pecte d of hi m No menti o n was ma d e o f
.

his recent loss no s u gg e sti o n was giv e n t hat

,

his mother sho u ld ma k e her d ouble b e rea ve

ment e asier by visits t o h er Wh atev e r o f
so n .

hope or senti ment he ha d brou ght w i t h hi m ,

he was le ft to destroy o r smot h er as best he

coul d .

The rst w eek resolved i l f i on e r o und ts e n to

o f boyish hom e sic k ness an d d e sola t i o n ; then

gra d ually , t h e ma r v ello u s healing p roper
as

ties o f y o uth began to sti r a ne w feeling ,

awa k en ed in h i mi n d s e nse of c u riosi t y

s a

c o ncerning th e strang e o l d m an w h o m fa t e ,

by a t w is t of t h e whee l ha d ma d e t h e a rbi t er
,

o f his li fe Even to o ne y o ung an d i p

. so nex e

i
r e n ced it w as i mp o ssi ble t o k n ow An d re w
,

H en derson an d n o t t o fee l t h at s o me strang e

peculi arity set hi m apa r t fr o m o t h e r m e n .

I n his asc e ti c face i n his la rg e ligh t bl ue

, ,
-

eyes i n h is extraordina ry ai r of a bstra ct ion

,

a n d aloofn ess from m un d a n e things there ,

1
3
 TH E . M ys t l cs

was something th at fas c inated an d repell ed ;

an d with a wo n dering inter e st the boy st ud ie d
t he s e t h ings trying in his u nfo rm ed w ay to
,

reconcile t he m w ith his narrow experie n ce of

h uman n atur e .

For m any wee k s he sought without suc

cess for some key t o t he attitu de o f t h i s n e w

foun d relati v e T hen on e e v eni ng w hen
.

sol ution seemed least near the key meta ,

p h
or cai l l y speaki n g fell at
, hi s feet R etur n .

ing home from a ramble over the hea d lan d ,

his obs e rvant eye w as c a ught by t he sig h t f o

a narrow foo t tra ck th at cr o ssing th e m ain

-
,

p ath w ay of the c li ff wo und st e eply upwar d

,

an d s e emingly lost its e lf in a tangl e o f g o rs e

an d bra c k e n Sti rred b y a boyis h de si re
.

for exploration he p aused turn ed int o t h i s

, ,

obscure tra c k an d i n co n ti n ently began i

,
ts

as c ent.

F o r s o me h u n dreds of yards it le d upwa r d

i n a sh arp in c lin e ; and with its added st ee p
n ess th e ardor o f the e x plorer w a m ed W ith
, r .

14
 TH E . M YS T I C S

ing a dozen ti m es shook the he avy door a n d

,

pe e red ineffectually nto the opa que win dow

I ,

nothing r e warded his curiosity and after h alf,

an hour of d iligent e n dea v or he w a s compelled

to retur n ho m e n o wiser th an whe n he h a d
rst s t ood o n the summit of the p ath a n d
looked dow n i nto the rock y cle ft .

All th at evening ho w ever th th ught f

, , e o o

h i s disc o very remained with hi m At the .

eight o cl o c k s u pper of porri dge v egeta b les

-

, ,

a n d fruit whi c h he sh a red with his un c le he ,

c hafed under th silence of his comp anion

e

and at the ai r of cal m i n d i ff erence th at the

whitewashed roo m with its raftered ceiling
seemed to wear ; a n d it was with a sigh of
satisfactio n th at he rose from ta b le an d b a de
his uncle a for m al good n ight -
.

With th e sa m e s uggestion of relief he ,

watc h ed the old m a n lig h t his can d le and

asc e nd t h e b are stai rs to h is own room ; th e n
p r o mpt ed by th e i mp uls e he n e ver negl ec t
e d h e we n t i nto the stu d y to write the d aily
,

16
 TH C M YS T I C S

l e tter that m a d e his m o t h er s e xist e n c e bea r

abl e.

H e wrote fo r n e a rly an h o ur o mit t ing n o ,

d e t ail of t h e ev e ning s d i sc o v e ry T he n

.
, as

h e cl o s e d an d sealed th e l ette r a c l ock o n the

,

mantel pi ece str u c k ten T h e s ou n d ha d an

-
.

o dd ly h o ll o w an d chilly e ffect i n t he ba re ,

carpetl e ss room ; an d un co ns c i o usly h e raise d

his head and glanc ed ab o u t h im His i d eas .
,

s t ill s t i rre d by h is a d venture we r e m o re p ro n e

,

th an u s u al t o th e s u gg e s t i o n f w d t hings ;
o o ut ar

an d fo r almost the rst ti me sinc e his a rrival ,

he felt d ra w n to stu d y h i in ti ma t e s u rro und

s

ings Wi th a n e w c u ri o si t y h e l e t h i ey e s
. s

wander fr o m the severe b ook s h elves t o t he -

ugly i ro n sa fe th at s t o od i n th e mos t p ro mi
nent positi o n i n th e r oo m ; an d fro m the sa fe
his glan ce t u rne d to t h e r e volving b ook case by
his u n c l e s fa v ori t e c hai r i n wh i c h lay t h e

v o l u mes tha t we re i n daily F o ll o wing an

u se .

i mp u lse h e h a d n e ver p revi o usly be e n co n

s c i o u s of h e cro ss ed t h e r oo m an d d rawing
, ,

17
 TH E M ys r l c s

t h r ee boo k s at hap h a zard fro m the case

,
-
,

studied thei r titles .

Th l
e i l bl E

n a ss o u he r e ad ; T h
e s s e n ce, e

S o u l i n R el a ti on to th e H u m a n M i n d; Th e
M ys ti c I n u e n ce .

H e stood for a space gazi n g at the somb re

co vers b ut making n o attempt to dip into
,

t h ei r p ages ; the n a sudden look of comp re

hen s oni sp rang i nto his eyes The oddly .

b uilt stone h p l too k o n a new a nd more

c a e

perso n al meaning W ith a quick gesture he

.

th rust the boo k s b ack into thei r place i , e xt n

gu si h
e d t he lamp a n d softly left
, the r o om .

Gaining t he h all he di d not turn towards the

,

stai rs ; b ut tipto e ing to the table pic ke d p , u

h is cap cr o ss e d the h all noiselessly a nd opened

,

t h e outer d o or .

The warmth o f the A ugust day was still

he avy o n the ai r as he stepped into the o pen ;
a great C opper colored m o on h ung low ov e r
-

th e S ea an d a so ft lmy haze lay o v er both

, ,

land an d wat e r Witho u t h e sitati on h e turned

.

18
 TH E . M YB T I C S

int o t h e cli ff pat h and fo llo w e d it un t il h is

,

quick eyes caug h t t h e i n d istin c t foot track -

that he ha d d i s c overed earli e r i n the e v ening .

With t h e sam e d ec isi o n the sam e s u gges t i o n

,

o f anti c ipati o n he stepp e d rapi d ly forward

,

an d o nc e mor e b e g n th e s h a rp asc e nt
a .

The i mpetus of his curi o sity ca rried hi m

fo rwa rd ; he m ou n ted the p ath in h o t h aste ;
th e n as he gained the s u mmit he halted again
, , ,

b ut i n ne w surp ris e I n th e h azy mell o w

.
,

m o onlight t h e small b u il d ing stood out

,

sh arp and d a r k o n h i p revious visi t b ut

as s ,

from the r o un d stai ned glass w i ndo w a o od

,
-

o f light cri mso n

, l and gold
r o se ~ c o o r ,

poured out i nto the night .

 C H AP T E R II
N the rst m ome n t of aston
i h m t Joh n stood motio n
s en ,

less his gaze rivet e d on the

,

gl ow of color th at poured
th rough the windo w upo n the
ro c ks and heather of the cleft T hen as he .
,

contin ued to stand with wid e ly ope n ed eyes ,

another surprise was sp rung u pon him The .

door of the c h apel opened a n d the gure of

his uncle long since suppose d t o be sleeping
tra n quilly i n his own room showed tall a n d
angul ar in the aperture .

From Joh n s positi o n the open doo an d

, r

the lighted interior of the littl e edi ce we e r

distinctly v isible ; a n d in one glance he s a w

h i u n cle s silhouette d gure and b e hin d it a

s

bare sp ce some doze n feet square lined on

a ,

oor an d walls with sections of mar b le alter

20
 Th E . M yst i cs

ab n ormal e x c itement he showed n o rese n t

,

m e nt at the fa c t o f being spie d upon ; b t u

calling Joh n to him ordered hi m to wal k

,

hom e b esi de hi m across the cli ff .

N ev e was walk so stra n ge never were

r

comp anions so ill matched as t h e two who

-

th r e aded th e i r way back o v er the headlan d .

Andrew H e n derson walked rst tal k ing all ,

the time i n a j argon addresse d p artly to the

boy p artly to h i mself in w h i c h mysticism
, ,

was od d ly tangled with a c onfusio n of c razy

theories a n d beliefs ; behin d c ame John h al f ,

fascinated a n d h l l v be w ildered by t h e
W o

m ed ley of words t h at poured out up o n th e

night .

On reaching the house th e old m an b ecame

,

sudd e nly silent again falling back as if by

,

h abit into the m orose absorption th at m arked

his daily life ; but a s he turn ed t o m ou nt t h e
stai rs to his own room he p ause d an d h i
,
s

c uri o us light b l ue e yes trav e lled over his

-

n e p h e w s fac e

.

22
 TH E. M YS TI C S

Good night ! he sai d

-

You make a
.

good lis t ener .

And Joh n still co n fuse d d silent an re

ti re d to b e d to lie awake fo r m any h o urs

, ,

partly th rille d an d pa rtly elated by t h e a we

som e th ought that there wa s ma d man in a

the house .

But l l that had happe n ed se v e n yea rs ago

a ,

and n ow An d r e w H e n d ers o n lay waiting for

h is e n d I n t hose seven yea rs Joh n h ad pass
.

ed thro u gh t he mill f d eadly m o n otony t h at

o

s ps even y o uth an d lulls e v e y i n sti n ct sa v e

a ,
r

hope The rst enth usi asm o f romance t h at

.

h a d w rappe d the d i sc ov ery o f his un c l e s se

cret ha d fa d e d t with t i me By sl o w degrees

ou .

h e ha d lea rne d pa rt ly fro m h i o w n o bserv a

s

t ion pa rt ly fro m the o ld man s occasi o nal

,

fana t ic o u t b ursts that the strang e c h apel

with its metal symb o l an d ma rble o o r was
no t the out come o f a p rivate w hi m but t he ,

m anife sta t i o n of a c re ed t h at boasted a s ma ll

23
 T H E. M YS T I C S

but ardent ba n d of followers He h a d l e ar n

.

e d that to themsel v es if n ot to the worl d

,

t h ese de votees were know n as th e IVI y ti ; s cs

that thei r articles of faith were p reserve d i n

a secret book d esig n ated the S i t ym wh i c h
c s ,

p assed i n rotatio n each yea r from one to

another of the si x Ar c h M ysti c s remai n ing
-
,

in the care of each fo r two mont h s out of the

twelve He h a d d iscov e re d that Lond on was
.

the C e n tre of this sect ; and th at its fu n da

mental belie f was the anticip ation of a mys
t i
e r ous p rophet h uman and yet divinely
,

inspi red b y whose coming the light was to

exten d fr o m the small an d p reviously un

k no w n ban d across the w hole benig h te d w orld .

H e h ad learned all these things H e h ad .

been sti rred to a p assing aw e by the dis c o v ery

t h at his un c le w i n his o w n person actually
a s, ,

one o f the profo u n d Si x who fo rme d t h e C oun

cil o f the sect an d to whom alone the secrets o f
i t s cre ed were k no w n ; and for th re e s u c ce ssive
years hi s interest and c u riosity h ad been ki n
24
 TH E . M YS T I C S

dl e d when An d re w H enders o n tra ve lled to

Englan d an d r e turne d with the Arch Co un -

c ill
or an o ld blind m an of seventy w h o i n

va ri ably spent o ne d ay and night mysteri o usly

cl o seted w i t h his h o st and then l e ft h aving ,

d e p o sited t h e sa c r ed S i t ym wi t h his ow n
c s

han d s i n th e tall i ro n sa fe that stood in He n

d

e r so n s s t u d y B ut t hat ann u al ex c item e nt
.

h ad lessen ed with time Even a m adman .

m ay b eco me monot o n o us when we liv e w ith

him day in day o u t fo r sev e n l o ng y e a rs ;
, , ,

an d gra d ually the attitud e of Joh n s mind ha d

C h ang ed w i t h t he passage o f ti me The s e nse

.

o f a d v e n t u re an d tri umphan t enterp ris e h ad

stea d i l y r eceded ; the k n ow l ed g e t h at he w as
w o r k ing out a sl ow d i s t ast e ful p robati o n had
,

a d vance d R el uc tan t ly an d y e t de nit e ly he

.

h a d r e ali zed th at h is posi t i o n w n o t t o c om e

as

and co nq ue r b u t to wa tch an d w ai t ; an d this

,

c o ns c i o usness of a taci tl y e xp ected e n d ha d

g r ow n wi th t h e y e a rs w it h th e gr owth o f h i s

min d an d b od y I t w a s n ot th a t h e w as h a r d
.

25
 TH E M YS T I C S
( N W?
n atured . regul a rity with which he de
T he
s
p t
a c h de his ye a rly m o n ey to his mother
r eser v ing the m e est fr a ctio n f hi m self
r or

p recluded th at i de a B ut he w a s you n g a n d
.

h u man an d he w a s youthfully an d h um an ly
,

greedy to possess the good things of life for

hi m self a n d for the o n e b eing he passio n ately
lo v ed I t woul d i n deed h a v e b een an
.
, , en

th i t i n v i rtue who could h a v e bla m ed hi m

us a s

f cou n ti n g upo n de a d m e n s shoes

or .

An d n ow the shoes were l l b ut e m pty ! a

H e stood watchi n g his uncle die l

H a v i n g st a yed almost motio n less for se v
eral m i n utes he gla n ce d at the cl o ck ; then
,

mo v ed to the be d taking a bottle a n d a

,

m edici n e spoo n from the dressi n g table as he -

p asse d .

T i m e for your m edicine uncle ! he sai d ,

,

i n his q uiet level v oice

, .

B ut the sick m a n di d n ot seem to h ea r .

I n a S lightly l o ud e r t o n e Joh n rep e ated hi s

remark This ti me the vac an t e x pression faded
.

26
 TH E . M YS T I C S

slowly from h la rge pale e yes and And rew

t e , ,

Hen d ers o n moved h i hea d w ea k ly s .

Seeing t he i d ica t i o n o f conscio u sness J oh n

n ,

carefully meas r e d o u t a do se o f me d icin e

u ,

and st o oping over t h e pillows p a ssed one

, ,

a rm un de r h is n c le s nec ku

.

An d r ew H en d ers o n submi tte d without b o

j i
e ct o n , b u t h i h
as e a d ws raise d and the as

me d ici ne hel d to h i lips he seeme d su d d enly

s ,

t o realize t h e position to com p rehen d th at i t,

w as hi s nephew w ho le a ned o v er h i m With .

a spasmo d ic movem e nt he t u rned to w a rds

J o hn h is lips t w itchi ng w i th some i nwa rd
,

an d n ew ly a ro u se d excitement .

T he Book John ! he sai d sh a rply the

,

,

B ook !

J oh n remained qu it e composed Wi t h a .

stea d y h an d h e balan ce d the spoon o f medi

c in e that he s t ill h e l d .

You r me d i c ine rst uncle he said quiet , , ,

VV l l t al k about the Book a ft er

ly . e .

But the old man s l m had been d istur b ed

ca .

27
 TH C M YSTI C S

With une x pecte d stre n gth he r a sed one thi ni

hand and p us h e d the spoon asi de spilling the ,

cont en ts on the b ed .

How c an I le av e it i he exclai med

.

How can I go and leave th e B ook ung u ard

ed Again his lips t w itc he d an d a feverish
b rightness i ck ered in his e yes as they se a rch
ed his n e phe w s face

.

When I go Joh n he added
, ,
it l , e xc e ,

the Book m ay b e in your k e eping fo r hours

perhaps for a w h ole night I kno w the Ar c h
.

C ouncill o r w ill ans w er my sum mon s i m m d i e

at e ly ; b ut it i s possibl e he may b e delaye d I t .

m ay be the ordin a tio n of the Un k nown th at I

should Pa ss before he arrives I f this is so
.
,

I want you to guar d th e Bo ok but also I ~

want you to guard my d ea d b o dy Let no .

one touch it u n til he comes Th e key of the

.

sa fe is here H e fumbled weakly fo r t h e

t h in ch ain th at h ung about h i n e ck s No .

o ne m ust rem o ve t n o one m ust touch it

i

until he comes His v oice faltered .

28
 TH E . M YS T I C S

I h ave truste d you I h a v e left a letter by

.

which you w ill see t h at I h a v e truste d you

an d th a t your delity h as bee n rew a rded .

B ut this is another m atter C a n I tr u st y o u

.

in this ? C an I trust y o u myself ? As

as

he p ut the question a sweat of weak n ess a n d

excitement b rok e out over his fo ehe a d r .

B ut it was n e ither his wil d ppe a ra n ce n or

a

his q ues t ion t h at sudde n ly sent the b lood i n to

John s fa c e an d suddenly set his heart b ou n d

ing I t was the a b rupt an d unlooked for

.
-

j u sti cation o f his ow n secret treasur ed hope ;

,

th e ta c it acknowledgment o f k inship and

obligation m a d e n ow by Andrew Hen derson
after se v en un fruit ful years A mis t ros e b
. e

fore his sight an d his min d swam Wh a t w . as

the m ad creed of a dying m an f a d oz e n

o

dying m en whe n the reward of his own long

p robatio n a w a ited hi m ?
B ut the old m a n was set to his p urpose .

With S h aking ngers he fumble d wi t h t wo

small o bjects th at d epend ed from the ch a i n
0
3
 TH E M YS T I C S

ab out his nec k An d a s h e he l d them p

. u ,

Joh n saw b y t h e gl ow of t h e la mp that o n e

was a c opy in minia t ur e o f the metal sym b ol
that d e c o rat e d t he little chapel the oth e r a ,

l o ng th in ke y
,

A Hend e rs o n d isentangled a n d r a ised th e se

s

objects to th e lig h t his eyes tur n e d again up o n

,

his n ephe w .

Jo h n he sai d trem ul o usly I wa nt you
,

, ,

to s w ea r t o me by t he Sign t h at you w ill n o t

t o uch my b od y n o r anything my bo dy on

till th e A rch Co uncillor comes ! Swea r you

-
, as

hop e fo r your ow n h appi ne ss ! A w il d ill u

minati o n sp rea d over h i face ; the u npl e asant

s

fanati c al lig h t showe d again in h is e yes .

For a moment J oh n l o ok ed at hi m ; then

sti rred by his o w n emo t ions by the n e w p ang ,

o f self rep r o ach an d gratitu de towards this

-

half crazy man n e a r his e n d h e w ent fo r

-
so ,

wa r d an d t o u c h e d t he small o ctag o n al sym bo l

that glea me d in the light .

I sw ea r b the S i gn ! he sai d i n a low
v

, ,

31
 TH E M Y S TI C S

le v el v oice An d almost as the wor d s escaped

.

h im the ch a i n slippe d from old H e n derson s

,

ngers h is j aw dropped an d h is he a d fell

, ,

forw a rd o n hi s chest .

The m o ments th at follow an i m porta n t

e v e nt are sel d om of a nature t o be accurately
analyzed For a long w hile Jo h n re m ained
.

m o tionless an d speechless un able t o r e alize

,

that the h ud d le d gure s t ill warm in his arm s

was i n reality the v ess e l o f c l a y fr o m which
a spi rit h ad escaped T hen sudde n ly the
.

realiz a tion of t h e position came to hi m ; with

a sh arp mo v ement he stood upright an d seiz ,

ing the bell rope p ulled it vigor o usly

-
, .

W hen the old wo m a n who att e n d e d to the

househ o ld appear e d h e pointed to her m
, as

ter s b ody an d explaine d i n a few w ords ho w

the e n d h ad co me ; a nd how in a last urg e nt

comman d Henderso n h a d fo rbi d d e n his bo d y
t o be tou ched until the arr val o f a member o f
i

h is religious se c t The ol d woman accepted

.

32
 TH E M YS T I C S

th e explanation w i t h the apathy common to

t h ose who h av e ou t liv e d em ot i o n ; and with a
series of nods an d unin t elligi ble m utterings
methodically p rocee ded t o straigh t e n the l a

rea d y neatly a rrang ed furni tu r e of th e room ,

in t he instinctive b e lie f tha t order i the rs t

s

t rib ute to be p id t o De ath

a .

With s o mething of t he same feeling John

d rew the co verle t ov e r t he de a d body th en ,

turned t o w at ch the o l d wo man at h er wor k .

B ut as h e loo k ed at her a d esi re t o be al o ne

again s w ept over hi m an d w ith t he de si re a
,

correspon d ing impati e nc e of h er sl ow an d

m e asur ed m o vemen t s C h i d e himsel f as he
.

might fo r h i i mpatien ce c url h i natura l

s , ) s

instinct as he mig h t i t w as h u manly i m p i

, o ss

ble th at h i stro ng an d eager spiri t co ul d give

s

t ho ught t o De a th w hil e Li fe was c lai ming

hi m wi t h s t r etch ed h an d s
o u t- .

H e hel d hi ms e l f rigi d ly in c heck until the

las t chai r ha d b ee n a rrang ed an d t he last
cin d er sw e pt from th e h earth ; t hen a s the
33
 TH E M YS T I C S

ol d woman slowly crossed the room a n d

stepped o u t into t h e corri d or he sp rang with
,

i rrep ressible impetuosit y a nd sh ut and locked

the door .

He h a d n o superstitious consciousness of
the dea d bo d y c lose at han d The dead
so .

b o dy an d with it t h e d ea d ye a rs a nd th e
l o ng prob ati n belonged to th e past ; he
o

with h is y o uth his strengt h his hope was

, , ,

boun d fo r the limitless fu t ure .

With ou t a m o m e nt s hesit a tion he crossed

to his uncle s bur e au which stood as he h ad

,

le ft it t h r e e days be fore wh en his last illness

h ad seize d upo n him The papers were all
.

in or d er ; the in k was as yet scarc ely rusted

on t he pens ; th e k e y p rotru d ed from the lo c k
o f the p rivate drawer W ith a tremor o f ex
.

c i t m t John e x ten de d h i hand turned it

e en s ,

an d opene d the d rawer ; t h en h e caught his

breath T h ere lay a square wh ite envelope
.

addressed to hi msel f in his uncle s fa n tastic

crooked h andwriti n g .

34
 TH E M YS T I C S

As h e dre w i t ou t an d he l d it fo r a m o m e nt
in h i han d his th o ughts centr ed un e rringly
s ,

r o un d one object I n a m o m e n t th e sev e n

.
,

yea rs of waiting th e strange d ea t h sc e ne j u st

-

enacted e v e n An d rew He n de rs o n an d his

mystical creed w ere bl o tt ed fro m h i m in d b y s

a wo n derful r o se c o l o r ed mist o f ho p e fr o m ,

wh i c h one face lo o ked o ut t h e pati e nt t e n ,

d er pa the tic fa ce o f t he m othe r he a do r ed

, .

Th e em o ti o ns l o ng supp resse d w ell ed up

, so ,

as they had been w ont to d o yea rs ago in t he

sordid L o n do n ho m e .

With a th ro b of con d enc e a n d anticipa

ti o n he insert ed his ng e r u n de r the ap o f
the envel o pe a nd tore it o p e n Wi th l i g h t ning .

sp e e d his eyes s k i mme d t he od d ly w rit te n

l i n e s Th e n a sh o rt ina rticulat e s ou nd
.
, es

c ap ed h i m and the blo o d su d denly receded

,

fr o m h i s face .

M DEAR NEPH E
Y h r d I Wk wl, e ea . n ac no

e dg m f y r
e nt o rv i d i g h p t v
ou se ce s ur n t e as se en

y r ea
s d l bc
an a so I h v wi h p i t
e a u se a e no s to a ss n o

35
 TH E M YS T I C S

th e with h t i f vi d i ti v
U n se e n t my
e s a n o n c e n ess o n

S l I h v
ou -
b lit r t d fr m m y m i d h r m m
a e o e a e o n t e e e

br f m y b r th r i g r tit d f th r

a n ce o o e s d n a u e to o u r a e ,
an

h v p l d h m f 5
a e a ce t y r r d it i h
e su o 00 to ou c e n t e

Cl f br ee h f h C lid t d B k I tr t i
anc o t e on so a e an . us t

m y a i t ya ss s mm c o u to co i d t ri r r en e an n us o u s c a ee .

F or h r t it m y i t r t y
t e es ,
k w th t my
a n e es o u to no a

ca
p i l w
tahi h,
I r liz d uc p y r g r
ea d f th re on ou an a e

s

d th i
ea l r dy p l d i h t r ry f h t
, s a ea a ce n t e e asu o t e se c

to whi h I b l g wh r it will r m i u til l i m

c e on e e e a n n c a

ed by h O t ei wh ulti m t dv t I m t
ne n o se a e a en os

l m l y b li v
so e n e e e.

I m k y ac g iz t f th f t th a t a ll
e ou o n an o e se ac s

di p t
s d
u es a n ry d i ff r c m y b v i d
u n n e ce ss a e en es a e a o

ed ft r my d th
a e T h p a p r b y whi h my p r p
ea . e e s c o

et ty w m d v r h My ti m y r
as a e o e to t e s cs s o e ve ea s

t g th r w ith a d t r r i c t to m oc o

s ce t a e as
a
g o o e e
y
m t len a d so u n h ti m i i
n es s a t th h d f e e s n t e an s o

h C u cil
t e o A y tt m p t
n . m k thi d i p
n a e to u n a e s s o

i i
s t on o f my f rt w l d b fr ght wi th f il r
o u ne ou e au a u e.

W i th s i c r h p f y r f t r w lf r

n e e o es or ou u u e e a e,

Y ur l
o un c e,

AN DR E H E N D E R ON

W S .

For a s p ace John stood pal e an d rigi d ,

making no attempt t o reread the letter ; the n

3 6
 TH E M YS T I C S

an abr u pt gesture he stepped fo rw a rd a n d

pull e d bac k the counterp ane .

I n th e yellow lamp light the thi n fa c e of the

-

d ea d m an h ad an ashen h ue ; th e h al f op ened -

e yes an d the p romin e nt teeth from w hich the,

lips h ad par t ly rec e d e d c on front ed h i m gr ew

,

So m ly
e . B u t the fo rce o f his disappointm e nt
an d rage w as s o mething be fore whi c h mere
h u man horr o r was sw e pt asi d e With . an

ot he r rapi d mov e m e nt he st o ope d ov er th e

,

b e d and u n c laspe d th e t hin gold C hain th at

h u ng ro u n d t h e d e a d m an s n eck l e tting t h e

m e t al symbol an d the long t h in key sl i p from

,

it into h is h an d Turni n g to the d ressing

tabl e he c a u ght u p a lamp ; h urri ed fr o m t he
,

ro o m ; an d d e sc e nding t h e stai rs p assed into

, ,

t h e stud y .

T o his ex c ited glan c e the place l oo k e d

strangely un d isturb ed Though the fra m es
.

o f t h e w in d o w s rattl ed in t h e gal e t he interior

,

arrang e ments w ere as pr e cise an d bar e as

u s u al ; the l grate star ed at h i m col d ly
r e e ss ,

38
 TH E M YS T I C S

a n d agains t t he white w as h e d w all h heavy t e

i ron sa fe st ood li k e an acc e nt u ate d bl o t

o ut

of sha dow I mpelle d by h i o ne do minating

. s

i d ea h e crosse d ith o u t an ins t an t s hesita

, W

t i o n to the doo r of th is h it h e r to i nvi o labl e

r e p o si to ry of h i u n c l e s s ec ret s an d inserting
s

, ,

th e ke y h e c a rri ed th rew ba ck t h e massive

,

doo r .

One glan c e s how e d him the thing he so u g h t .

Lying i n s o li t a r y s t ate u p o n t h e h igh e st s h el f

w as a he avy b o o k bo u n d i n h i te leather W .

The e d ges of t he cover w ere wo rn y e llo w w i th

t ime an d u se , and fro m the centre of t he bin d
ing gl e am ed t h e fam i lia r octag o nal sym b o l
e xquisite l y w r o ug ht i n go ld an d je we ls W it h .

h an d s th a t t rem ble d slightly h e li ft e d t he

b ook fr o m i t s plac e c l o s ed an d l oc ked t he
,

doo r of the sa fe an d e x t ingu i s h i ng the lamp

, , ,

l eft the r oo m .

I n th e ood of un r e as o nin g rage and

t hw a r t ed l p t hat surge d ab out h i m he
i O e ,

h a d n o de nite plan r e ga r d ing t h e o bje c t i n

39
 TH E M YS T I C S

his h a n d H e o n ly knew b y the m edi um of

.
,

instinct th a t th rough it he coul d strike a

,

blow at the uncle who h ad exclu d e d hi m

from his j u st inheritance r the crazy sche m e a

by which he h ad bee n de fraude d of his d ue .

With h asty steps he m o unte d the stai rs an d

re entered t h e bedroom To his agitate d min d
.

it seemed but j ust th at wh at e ver his ven

,

ge a n ce ,it sho u l d be accomplished in the

grim uncons c ious p resence of the de a d
,

m an .

Stepping i n to the room he p aused an d ,

looked about him seeking some suggestion

, .

As he sto o d ther e his eyes by a natural p roc

, ,

ess of i n spi r a tion fe ll u po n the re that

,

glowed a nd crackled in th e grate ; and w ith

a S harp i narticulate sound of satisfacti o n he
,

strode forward to the hearth knelt d own a n d , ,

p r e pared for his w ork of destr u ction .

As he crouched ov e r the ames a fresh gale

s w ept inlan d from the sea seizing t he house ,

in its erce em b r a ce ; and the red tongues of

40
HE G A I H E R E I)
'

T HE FI RS T S H I-
zA r or L E A E S I NTO
V

HIS F I NG E RS
"
 TH E M YS T I C S

re leape d u p the C hi mney i n t he instant

ans w er o f element to e lem e nt .

I ns t in ct iv e ly h e b e nt fo rw ard open ed t he ,

b ook and ga the re d th e rst sh e af of l e av e s

in t o h i ng e rs T h en i nvol u n t a rily he
s .
, ,

pa u s e d , t h e b o l d c h ara cte rs o f the p rin te d

as

w or d s sh o t p blac k and cl e ar in t he erce

u

glo w .

Almos t w i t h o u t v ol iti o n h e rea d th e o pening

lin e s
O f b
ut o ity wil l H c m A d h v i g
o scu r e o e. n a n

p r v d H i m lf m will q u ti n Hi m F
o e se no an es o . or

th P t li
e as i h Gr t U k w
es n t e B y h S it
ea n no n. t e c

s m fr m whi h b h Ch m y r d ut t
y o c n one e o se n a ea

will y k w H i m ; d k wi g Hi m y will b w
e no an ,
no n , e o

d w M y ti
o n Ar h M y t
s cs , dA h C
c -
ill r s i cs , a n rc -
o unc o

ali k A d h W l d will b Hi F H will b

e. n t e or e s. or e e

P w r m d b l t !
o e a e a so u e

F o r he w i l l b e P ow er ma d e a b solu te !
S o m et hing i n the S ix s i mp le wo r d s a rr e s t e d
Hen de rs o n s u sp e n ded h i t h ou gh t s an d
, s

c h e c ked h i han d By an o d d psych o logi c al

s .

4 1
 TH E M Y S TI C S

p roc ess h is rage became chill ed his min d

,

v ee r ed from its point o f ie w With a curious

V .

sti ff ness o f mo ti o n he d re w away from th e

t he boo k hel d uninj ure d in his han d
re .

H e w ill b e P ow er m ade absol u te ! h e

repea t e d m e chanically as he rose slowly to

, ,

his feet.
 TH E M YS TICS

no ray of mellow light to slip through th e

c h inks o f shutter or curtain From attic t o .

c e llar t he h ouse seemed in darkness the only

, ,

suggestion of oc c up tion c oming from the

a

o cc asional dra w ing ba c k an d fo rth o f a sm all

sli d e that guar d ed a m o nastic lo o king grating -

set in the hall doo r .

An d y e t to w ards this unlighted and un

friendly d we lling t h in stream o f people

a

all on foot and all e vi de ntly agitated m a d e

thei r way c o ntinuously on th at January nig h t

b e tween t h e hours of ten a n d e leven T h e .

b e havi o r of these people w ho di ff er ed wi de ly

,

in out w ar d c h aracteristics w as marke d by a

,

peculia r fundamen t al similarity Th e y all .

en t ere d th e quie t p r e cincts o f the C r e scent

wi t h the same ai r of sub d ued ex c itement ;
ea c h m o ved soft ly and silen t ly t o war d s th e
da rk e ned house a n d moun t ing t h e steps
, , ,

k n oc ke d o nc e upon the heavy doo r An d .

e a ch i n t u rn stood patient whil e the sli de ,

was d rawn ba c k an d a vo i c e from within

,

44
 TH E M YS T I C S

d emand e d the signal t hat granted admit

tance .

This mysteri o us gath e ring of forces h ad

c ontin ue d fo r nea rly an hou r w hen a c ab
d r e w up s h arply a t the c o rn e r whe re He ll i e r
C r e sc e n t a b ut s u p o n St Ge o rge s Terr ce
.

a ,

an d a la d y d es ce n d ed fr o m it A h h an de d . s s e

h is f t o t he c abman h er face an d gure

a te ,

w er e plain l y visi ble in the lig h t of t he s t r ee t

lamps T h e fo rmer w pal e in col o ring
. as ,

de l ic a t ely o val i n s h ape an d ill u min ed by a

,

pai r of la rg e an d u n usual l y brill i an t e y e s ;

the la tte r w t a l l gra c e fu l an d c la d in
as , ,

bla ck .

Having d ismiss ed he r b th e ne w co m e r ca ,
-

cro sse d St G eo rge s T e rra ce w i th an app e a r

.

a n ce of has te an d e n te ring H el l ie r C re s ce n t
, ,

i mm ed ia te ly m ou nt ed the s te ps of N o 8 . .

T he l as t m e m b e r of th is s t rang e p roc ess io n

h a d d is pp e a r ed in to the ho us e h r e a ched
a as s e

the doo r ; b ut a ct ing w i th ppa r e n t fam i l i a r

, a

i ty h l i fted the k n ocke r an d let i t fall o n ce

, s e .

45
 TH E M YS T I C S

For a moment there was n o respo n se ; th en ,

as in the c ase of the former isitors th e sli d e

V ,

was dra w n b ack and a be a m of light came

t hrough the grating to be i mme d iately b
, o

sc u r ed by th e sha d owy suggestion of a face

with tw o in quiring e yes .

Th e Wo rd d emand e d a solemn v oice .

The newcomer li fte d her head .

H e sh all be Po we r m ade abs o l u t e ! she

respo n d ed in a low an d slightly trem ulous

v oic e ; an d a m o m e nt later t h e do or opened ,

an d h stepp ed into th e h all

s e .

The s c ene insi de t h e h o use was c urio u s in

t h e extr e m e I f th e r e we r e qui e t an d d ark
.

n e ss o u tsi d e a brilli ant light and a tense

, ,

co ntagio u s ex c i t ement reigne d w it h in T h e .

large h all l i gh d b y tall lamps w as

,
te O
, c ov

ered w it h a t h ic k b la c k c arpet into w h i ch

t h e fe et sank n o is e lessly an d th e walls an d
,

c eiling w e re d rape d in the sam e sombre t in t ;

but at int e r v als of a few feet co l umns o f ,

wh it e marbl e chiselled into curious sh apes

, ,

46
 TH E M YS T I C S

gleam ed up o n the obs e rver fr o m shado wy

ni che s .

On o r d ina ry occ asi o ns the re w as a s o lem,

n i ty a c o l d n e ss in thi s s o mb r e v e s t i b u l e ; b
, , ut

to n i ght a strang e e l ec tri c a ct ivi t y s ee med t o

-

h ave be e n b r e a thed u p o n th e a t m o sp he r e .

W o men w i t h u s hed fa ce s an d m e n w ith

fev e r i s h ly brig h t e y e s h u rri ed to an d fro in
an i rrep ressi bl e ai mless agi t t i o n A bl e n d
, a .

ing o f d rea d an d h ys te r ic al an t i c i pa tio n w as

stamped u p o n e v e ry fac e P eo pl e s to pp ed .

o ne an o t he r w i th n e rv ou s u ns t r u ng g e s t u re
,

an d odd d isj o in ted s e n te n c es

, .

As the las t co m e r e nt e r ed h pa u s ed fo r , s e

a m o m e n t u n ce rtain an d he si t a t ing ; but

,

alm o s t as h d i d s e a remar k abl e l ook ing

so , -

an d m assiv el y b u ilt man who w s t an d ing as

in t h e h a ll d is e ngage d h ims e l f fr o m a grou p

,

o f p eo p le an d co ming d i rectly t ow a r d s her

, , ,

to ok h e r han d .

W i h l y ! A t las t ! he e xclai m e d

M rs . tc er e ,

in a fu ll e m ot i o nal v oice
, I l ook e d fo r y o u
.

47
 TH E M YS T I C S

among the gathering an d for a moment I

alm o st feared

Th at I would fail ? H er voice w as still

tinged w ith agitation ; t he p upils o f her la g e r

eyes were d ist e n de d .

No I di d not m ean th at B u t at such a
, .

moment we burn lest even one of th e Elect

b e missing He contin u ed to hol d her h a n d

.
,

loo k ing into h e r fac e wit h his p rominent dark

ey e s from w hi c h ashed and glowe d an ex
,

ci t m t that spread o ve r his whole heavy

e en

face .

T he night of n ights he exclaimed To .

h a v e li v e d to witness i t ! His fa ce glowed

with a sudde n enth usi asm ; and freeing her

nge rs he li ft e d up his right han d
, H .

e

sh all walk into your mi d st and S it a b o v e you

as a b q u ote d in a lou d v oice
e , .

T hen rem e mberi n g his c ompanio n he low ,

ered his ton e .

E v ery th ing i in rea d iness h e added
s , ,

m o re soberly T he Pr e curs o r still unc e as

.

48
 TH E M YS TICS

i n gl y p rop h e sies t h e A d v e nt Com e w ith me .

int o t h e Place T he Ga the ring is all b ut

.

ass e mble d Laying h i larg e han d upon her

.

s

a rm he l e d her fo wa r d unr e sistingly th ro u gh

, r

the gro ups of men an d wo men an d on w a rd ,

down a l o ng corridor t o w h e re a curtain h i d

an arc h e d do o rway .

F o r a m oment t hey paused outside this

d oor and the man still laboring under s o me
,

s t range e xcitement agai n raise d his h an d

C o me ! h e crie d

A d b efore w e lea v e
. n

the Place may the Ho pe o f t he Universe be

,

ful lled ! Li ft ing t h e cur t ain he ushered

,

h e r th ro u gh t he doo r .

T h e ro o m ch apel into which they

or

s t eppe d w la rg e an d l ofty c o vered o n oo r

as ,

and w al l s w i th s ec tions of ma rbl e al te rna t ely

blac k and wh i t e ; overh e a d s wu ng a h uge
oc t ag o nal s ymb o l i n j ew e l l ed an d p o lis h ed
metal ; an d at the e n d far the st fro m the d oor
a h aze of incense c l o u d e d wh a t appea re d to
be an alta r .

49
 TH E M YS T I E S

A concourse o f people lled e v ery c or n er

of t h is v ast room ; an d from the crouche d or
upright gures rose a co n ti n uous in a udible ,

m u rm uring .

Still gui d ing his compa n io n the m assi v ely ,

built m an fo rce d a way bet w ee n th e c losely

packe d gures B ut half w ay up the roo m
.
,
-
,

the woman p aused an d glance d a t hi m .

This will do she whispere d , Not an y

nearer please N o t any nearer

,
. .

H is only answer w as to lay h is h an d upon

he r arm an d by a persistent p ress u r e to d raw
,

he r onwar d up the n arrow aisle R eaching .

t h e railed i spa c e about which the i nc ense

-
h

h ung h e p aused in his own turn a n d motio n

,

ed her towa rds the fo r e most r o w of s e ats ,

fro m which the m ajority o f the gathering

se e m e d to hol d aloo f .

With a quic k ner vous g e stur e h d epre

,
s e

d th e sugg e stion N o ! N o ! h m ur
c a te . s e

m ured Let me i t behind Please let m e

.

s .

s i t b e hin d .

5 0
 TH E M YS T I C S

ch ai r raise d upon a d ais an d a heavy lect e r n

o f symbolic desig n on which rested a w hite
l e ather book worn yello w at the edges Over
, .

t h is boo k a m a n was poring appa re n tly , un

co n scious of t h e active interest he e v o k ed

H e was short and thick t w i th a square j aw -
se , ,

a long upper lip and keen eyes O ve r a hea d

, .

o f vivi d ly red h ai r he wore a r o un d black silk

,

ca
p, an d his gure was en v eloped in a owing
blac k gown .

From time to time as he re a d he lifted o n e

, ,

h a nd in rapt exciteme n t w hile his lips mo v ed ,

unceasingly in rapi d i na ud ible speech At , .

last with a su d den d ram atic gestur e he tur n

, ,

ed from the lectern a nd th rew ou t both ar m s

towards the high g o ld ch ai r .

Oh empty th ro n e ! Empty w orld ! he
,

cried . Be lle d !

There was something i n tense somethi n g ,

ele c tric in th e wor d s A startled y b ro ke . cr

from the people al read y wrought to nerv ous

,

te n sio n So m e a m ong them rose to thei

. r

52
 TH E M YS T I C S

fe e t ; some glan ced fe a r fu lly b eh in d t hem ;

othe rs c owe r ed u p o n the gro u n d .

An d t h e n i wh a t p r e cis e mann e r n o o n e
n

p re s e n t e v e r r e m e mb e re d the c u r t ain a t the

doo rw ay of the ch a p e l w s wu ng sha rply as

ba ck ; an d t h e t all s t raig h t g u re of a m an
,

cla d all i n wh i te m o v ed sl ow ly u p the a i sl e .

H e m o v ed fo r w a r d c alml y an d de li b e ra te ly
h is ga ze x ed h i s e ns e s a ppa re n tl y
, s u n co n

s c i ou s of the many e y e s d to ng ue s fr o m an

wh i ch frig hte n ed g lan ce s an d frig hte n ed a we ,

stru ck wo r d s e scap ed as he m ad e his s o l i ta ry ,

i mp r e ssi v e p r o gr e ss .

R ea c h i ng the railing he pa u s ed an d l ift e d

,

o ne h an d as i f i n b e n ed ict i o n tow a r d s the r ed

hai red man who s t ill r e m ain ed in s ol ita ry
occ upa tio n of the S an ct u ry a .

At th e a ctio n a gasp we n t u p fro m t he

,

c ro w ded ch ap e l an d e v e n tho s e who s ti l l

,

c rou c hed u p o n the oo r v e nt u r ed to rais e

thei r h e a d s an d g l an ce a t the sp ot whe re the
ta l l gure in t h e wh ite s e rg e r o be st oo d m o
53
 TH E M YS T I C S

ti o n l e ss a n d impressive Then t h e w h o le .

con c ourse of d e v o tees sti rred i n inv o l u ntary

excit e m e nt as t h e red h ai red m an wi th a cry
-
,

o f rapture r u sh ed fo r w a r d an d p rostrated
,

hi ms e l f at the fe e t o f the stranger .

For a sp a c e t h at to t he watc h ers seeme d

,

interminable the t wo ce n t ral g res rem ained

, u

rigi d ; th e n at last the tall m an stooped and ,

with great dignity raised the other .

As he gaine d his feet it was o bvi o us th at

,

t h e small e r m an w as dee ply agitat ed His .

lips we re trembling w ith som e strange e m o

ti o n an d it seem e d th at he co ul d scarce ly
c om m an d his gestures A fter a protract ed
.

moment o f str u ggle how ever h e appear ed

, ,

to regain his s e lf c o ntr o l ; for w i th a slig h tly

-

tr e m u lo u s mov e m e nt he st e pped fo r w ar d lai d ,

his h ands on the l ow railing an d g l an c ed at

t h e assem b led pe o pl e .

M ystics ! h e bega n C hosen Ones !

.

Out o f th e Unse e n I ha v e c o me to p r o ph e sy
to you I an obscure servant an d follower
,

54
 TH E M YS T I C S

of t he M ig h ty F o r fteen days h ave I

.

sp oke n telli ng y o u that w hi c h w at hand as .

An d n ow b eho l d I a m j u s t i e d ! H e pa u s ed
,

and in d i c at ed t h e t all wh i t e gu re s ti ll stan d

ing moti o nl e ss w i t h face av e r t ed fro m the
,

c ongr e ga t i o n .

W h a t h ave I to l d y o u ! h e co ntin ued h is

,

v o ice rising Hav e I no t qu ot e d fr o m th e

.

sa c r ed S i ym wh ic h un ti l th is hour I h av e
c ts -

n e v e r b e en p e rmi t te d t o l ook U p o n ? H ave I

n o t fo r eto l d t h e c o ming o f this m an th e gar
m e n t s h e wo ul d w ea r t h e Sign up o n his
p e rs o n ? An d h av e I no t do ne the se t hings
b y a p owe r out si de mys e l f ? Again his v o i c e

r o s e ; an d th e c ongr e ga t i o n th r i ll ed in te

s o n se .
p

You h av e l i s t en ed to m e y o u h av e ma r
b ut i n y ou r S ou ls dou bt h he l d
ve l l e d as

s w ay N ow i the m o ment of j u s t i c ati o n !

. s

It i n ot meet th at th e Gr e at On e sh o ul d
s

p le a d fo r r eco gni t i o n ; i t is fo r you t h e

Watchers t o see an d c laim hi m M aster ! .

55
 TH E M YS T I C S

h e crie d suddenly
, M aster S how them the
.

,

Sign !

A hush like the h ush of n ight fell upo n the

people ; an d in this curious a n d imp ressive
l u ll the w h ite robed m an turned slowly roun d
-

facing th e congregation .

His appearance was arresting and re m ark

able th ou g h i p o ssessed no t h ing o f beauty
,
t .

H e h ad a tall an d po w er ful gure a s t rong ,

and d etermine d fac e ; his b ar e head w a s

co ve r e d with close t bl ack h ai r ; his h a r d
-
cu ,

rm lips were C l e an sh a v en an d his gray eyes

-
,

looked across the ch apel with a peculi ar

som b re re .

H e stood silent for a mome n t sur v eyi n g ,

the faces c l ustered before hi m ; then he r a ised

his l eft h and .

M y People ! he began i n a deep sl o w

, ,

v o ice . We li v e i n an age whe n d oubt

roams th rough the world li ke a beast o f
p rey I k not for the fa ith th at accepts
. as

b li n dl y ; b ut i n this m ost s a cred S i t ym c s

5 6
A C R O S S T H E P R O P H E T S B R E A S T I N M A R K S OF A

,
C RI
LA C E R A T I ON R A N T H E S YM B O L I C CT A G O N A I
, O .

GF I U R E o r T H E MY ST I C S E C T
 TH E M YS T I C S

His eyes move d sl ow ly fr o m s e at to seat

p ausing momentarily on th e p ale absorbe d ,

fa c e of the w oma n in bl ac k But scarcely .

h a d his glance rest ed upon h e r th a n the

h e a v ily b uilt m a n w ho sat besi d e h e r rose ,

agitate d ly a n d st e pp ed forw ar d to the sanct

ua y F o r a spac e h e stood staring at th e
r .

scarre d skin from w hich the symbol of his

creed st ood fo rth as i f mi ra c ul o usly bran d ed ;
t h en h e turned t o the co n gregati o n his p romi ,

n e nt e y e s b urni n g his hea vy face working

,

with e m o tion

Bret h ren he sai d inarticulately B reth
, , .

ren it is in deed t he Sign !

,

B u t th e Prop h et rem ained m ot i o nl e ss .

Where a re t h e oth e r v e ? h e as ked in a

,

le v el voi c e .

Almost sim ulta n eously fo ur m e n ros e fro m

t h e c ongr e gatio n an d came forwar d One .

w as tall an d gaun t w i t h a Slav o ni c t ype o f

,

fa c e w il d eyes an d a long fai r b e ar d ;

, , ,
an

ot her w a s young scarcely m o re t h an sev e n

58
 TH E M YS T I C S

an d twe n t y w ith t h e fre e carri ag e e y , r

glan ce an d s w ar thy c om pl e xion of t he no

,

m a d ic rac e s of s ou th e ast e rn E u ro pe ; the

th i r d w a small frail m an o f ft y w it h a
as , ,

n e rv ou s sys te m pain fu lly i n a dvance of h i s

p h ysical s t reng th ; wh il e the fo urt h was a

t r ue mys t ic impassi o n ed ent h usi asti c de
, ,

r a ched One by o ne t hes e m e n a d van c ed

.
,

ex m i n ed th e s c a rs an d turning to t he p eo
a ,

pl e co n rm ed th e wo rds of t he i r fell ow
,
.

T he n am i d a t rem u l o us h ush the l ast of

, ,

t he i t he Arc h Co uncillor himself w as

s x -

le d up t h e ai sl e .

F o r an i nstan t t he g l i mm e ring of s o me n ew
fee ling c ro ss ed t h e Pro p het s fa ce
hi , as s

glan ce res ted o n th e o l d man who sl ow ly

appro a c h ed w i th fee bl e steps b e nt ba ck , ,

an d anxi ou s s i g ht l e ss e yes B ut

i k as u c
,
.
q ,

l y as i t h a d co m e the e xp r e ss io n p asse d
, ,

an d h e s te pp ed fo rw a r d fo r the o l d man s

touch .

W i th a qui vering g e stur e t he Arch Cou n -

59
 TH E M YS T I C S

c lifte d his h a n d an d nervously passe d his

illo r
ngers over t h e scars ; then d rawing t h e ,

Prophet do wn h e touched his f c e For a, a .

long moment o f suspense h is ngers lingere d

o ver th e features ; th e n they fell ag in u pon a

th e scars And an instant later he sank upon

.

his k n e es .

It i ind e ed m ad e m ani fe st ! h e cried in

s

,

a lou d u nst e a d y voi ce

, He sh all i t above
.

s

you as upon a Th r o ne !
The wo rds w ere magical The wh o le con .

c o urse f peopl e s w aye d forwar d hy st e ri c ally

o .

M en p ress ed upwa rd towards the railing ;

wo m e n w e pt .

An d th ro ug h it all th e Prophet s to o d un

m ov ed He s tood l i ke rock against w hi ch

. a

t h e c lamor o us h uman b e at w il dl y Wi th
se a .

a q uiet mov e ment h e d rew h i r o b e a c r o ss his s

breast h i d ing t h e unsigh t ly s c ars b o th e r

, , ut

w ise he m a d e no m ot i o n A t last t h e r ed .

h ai r ed m an wh o ha d rst claimed hi m st e pp ed ,

fo rwa r d t o h i si de s .

60
 TH E M YS T I C S .

Sp e a k t o the m M ast e r ! h e sai d

,

.

T h e wo r d s r ou se d the P r o ph et With a .

cal m g e s t u r e he rais ed his hea d his eyes ,

co n fro n ti ng t h e m ass o f stra i n ed e xci ted ,

fa ce s l i fted to h i s.

M y P eo pl e h e sai d again in h i deep
,

, s

voic e . \Vh w i l l y ou do w i t h me ?
at

Th e r e sp o ns e w instant as .

T h e T h ro n e ! T h e T h r o ne ! The crowd

s u rg ed fo rw a r d i n a w av e the n rec ed e d th e
, as

t i de r ecede s ; an d the o l d Arch Co uncillor -

s te pp ed fee bly in t o th e S an c t u a r y an d e x te n d
ed h i h an d s to the Pr o p h et
s .

I t w a m o m e nt of b rea th less a we T he
as .

t a l l wo man who u n ti l th a t mom e n t h a d

, te

ma i n ed s e a ted i nv ol u n t a rily r o s e to h e r
,

feet .

S h e sa w th e gu r e of th e Proph e t move
gran d l y a c r o ss the San ctu a ry in th e w a ke o f
th e o l d b l in d man ; h w h i m halt fo r an
s e sa

i n ni te sima l spa ce the foot o f t he t h ro n e ;

at

s he sa w h i m c a l mly an d deci siv e ly m o un t t h e

61
 TH E M YS T I C S

steps of t he dais an d seat h i m l f i t he g o l d en

se n

ch ai r T h en p rompt ed by an o v e r whe lming

.
,

imp ulse h yi e l d e d t o th e spi rit o f the mo

, s e

me n t a nd d roppe d t o her knees .

 C H AP T E R I V

HR E E h ou rs la t er w h e n th e
,

c u ri ou s rit e of k w l dg ac no e

m e nt ha d b e en c o mpl et e d d an

the co n co urs e of ze al ot s h a d de
pa rte d fr o m H e lli e r C re sc e nt ,

th e rst nig h t i n h is n ew k ingd o m o p e n ed

fo r t he Pr o p h e t A th e c l o c k s of Bro mp to n
. s

we r e str i k ing t wo t he i Arc h M ys t ics

, s x -

ea ch of w h o m p o ss e ssed r oo ms in a rem ot e
p o rti o n of the h o use lingeringly an d fe a r
fully ba de h i m g oo d nig h t an d l eft hi m al o n e
-
,

w ith the Pr ec urs o r in t h e apa r t m e n t s th t fo r a

n e a rly fty years h ad been ke p t s we p t an d

ga rnish ed i n expecta t i on o f h i a d v e nts .

Apar t fro m th e i r sugg e s t i o n o f t he mys t i c al

an d fantas t i c th e se r oo ms p o ss e ss ed an i
, n

t i
r ns ci int e r e s t o f th e i r ow n An d s o me c o n
.
-
x

i
sc o u s n e s so f t his i nt e rest appea red to b e at
63
 TH E M YS T I E S

w ork w ithi n the P rophet s mi n d ; for scarcely

h a d he and his comp anio n b ee n assured f o

priva c y th a n he rose from the m ass i v e i vo y

, r

c h ai r w h i c h h ad b ee n app o rtioned to him a n d

from w h i c h he h ad ma de his seco n d an d
p rivat e j u sti cati o n of his claims ; an d v ery
slowly an d deliberately began a ci rcuit of the
chamber .

W ith engrossed attentio n he p assed from

o n e to another of th e rare an d costly o b je c ts
th at form e d the furniture of th e pla c e ; while ,

from the e bo ny table i n th e centre of the

room his red h ai red co m p anio n watche d hi m
,
-

with v igilant eyes .

Still mo v ing with l d d e liberation

un ru e ,

he complet e d his tour of the apartment ; then

a remarkable startling thing took place
a .

H e wheeled round lai d his h ands hea v ily on

,

the P recursor s shoulders and l o oking closely

,

into his face b roke into speech

,
.

Well he demanded intensely Well ,
.

Well ? Wh at h a v e you to say ?

64
 TH E M YS T I C S

it all ! H ow m u ch o f this has b ee n n ative

adroitness an d how much unbelie v able goo d
,

fo rtune ? Out w ith it ! I m h ungry and

thi rs t y for the tru th .

For answer the Precursor slo w ly lifted the

gold as k an d repl e nishe d his own glass .

Tru th i n a g o l d en as k ! B u t to th r o w a ,

s o p t o your curiosity it was a matter o f n ati ve

,

g e ni us en gineere d b y P r ov idence I do n t .

min d a d mitting th at wh en I stoo d o n the

d oorstep of t h is h ous e fteen nights ag o an d
knocked the mystic k noc k I felt li k e a m an
,

embarking on a l ship He stopped to

co n- .

d rain his glass .

Th e Prophet t oo k a step forward

And t h e n h e sai d eag e rly Th e n
,
.

Th e oth e r w aved h is e mp t y g l ass .

Oh the re enter ed the n ative g e ni us o f
,

T e r e n c e D omini c k De ver e aux ! Un de r that

tremend ou s e scort I s t orme d t he c ita d el
T he Prop h et smile d And the M ystic

e rs I h ave n o d o u bt
a ,
.

66
 TH E M YS T I C S

For a thi r d t i me t he Prec u rs o r lled hi s

glass .

T h e to ngu e is m i g h t i e r an d a g ood d e al

mor e portabl e t h an e i th er the p e n o r the

s wo rd J o hn he sai d sa g ely
, ,

Paving
,
.

yo u r way w i t h w or d s h b ee n an as
g u n re c o

i d w or k of art
n z e B u t how ab out y ou rs e l f ?
.

I h av e my ow n c u ri o si t y H e wh eel e d .

r ou n d i n hi s sea t and l ook ed i n to his com

panion s face
.

The Prop h e t loo k e d a w ay .

Oh I h ad my q u al ms too ! h e sa i d slo w
, ,

,

ly. J u s t fo r a m o men t th e wo rl d se e m ed

t o tr e mbl e wh en th e o l d Ar ch Cou n ci ll o r
,

gr o pe d fo r w a r d an d p ut h is h an d s o v e r my
fa c e It s we p t m e ff my feet s we p t m e
. o

bac k t e n y e a rs It w l i ke a visi o n i n a c ry s
. as

tal i f s uch a th i ng coul d e xis t I w th e

. sa

w h ole pas t sc e n e T he ba r e roo m the o l d

.

de ad ma n mys el f ; the o v e whel ming wi s h to

r

aveng e my w ro ngs an d th e s udde n s u gg e s tio n

,

that turn e d the w ish co l d I w t h e l o ng . sa ,

67
 TH E M YS T I C S

bleak night i which I completed the c o lossal

n

tas k of copying the S i t ym li n e for line ; I

c s

saw t he gray m o rni n g steal i n across the room

as I closed the bo o k returned it to its safe a n d
,

repla c e d the k e y on my uncle s neck in p rep

aration for t h e arrival o f th e Arc h Co un c il -

lor I t all p assed b e fore my min d an d then

.
,

in a ash w as gon e I c ease d to be J ohn

.

H e n d ers o n
.

T h e Pr ec urs o r glan ce d q uic k ly t ow ards the

d oor .

Av o i d that n am e Habits gr ow an d so
.

do suspici o ns Yo u r p robati o n h as b ee n t oo
.

l o ng and too har d to permit u s to run ris k s .

No w th at yo u ve stepp e d in to y ou r king

d om H e m a d e a n exp ressiv e g e st u re .

T h e Proph e t la u ghed sh o rtly th e n d , su

d l y t u rned grave again

en .

Y o u ar e right ! h e sai d Only a man

.

w ith a light co ns c i e n ce c an s k ate on t hin i ce .

T o return t o ou r original subj ec t wh at ab out ,

the inner wor k ings of this od d ga me ? I t i s

68
 TH E M YS T I C S

s o curi o us to h ave liv ed fo r yea rs o n t heo ry ,

an d s u d d enly t o c o me face t o fac e with p rac

tice I t e ll you I m sta rving fo r fac t s H e

.

.

stepped fo rwa rd quickly an d d r o ppe d into a

chai r th at faced his companion s
.

Out w i t h it a l l ! To begin w ho is t h e ,

m aster spi rit ? Yo u k no w w hat I mean

-
.

T he m aster spi rit i n the tr ue s e nse

-
Po o r .

old blin d Arian does n t stand fo r m uch

.

The Precursor looked m editati v ely at his

empty glass .

No he sai d thoughtfu lly
, , Y ou tou c h .

truth ther e ! M icha e l Ari an i the c i ph e r ; s

Bale C ph w t he meaning Bal e C ph w

-
or e

s .
-
or e

is an in t er e s t ing m an John I h ad al m ost

,

sai d a d ang e r o u s man

Th e Pr o p h et s l i p curled slightly

.

D ange ro us !

Y ; d ang e r o us i n a sens e
es I n the s e nse .

th at a p e rs o na l i ty al w ays is d ang e ro u s .

Am o ng t h e i Arch M ystics the r e i to my

s x -
s,

th in k ing o nly o ne m
, a nd h e i n te r e s t s
a n,

69
 TH E M YS T I C S

me . H e interests m e does H orat o Bale

, i

Co r ph e w !
The Prophet le an ed fo w a rd i n his ch ai r
r .

I think I catch you meaning he said
r ,

.

Somethi n g of the sa m e i dea occ u rred to me

w he n he ose fro m hi s seat to night While
r -
.

w e spied u p on them in the last six months ,

h e always struck me as c uriously Englis h u n- ,

with th at sleek e x terior an d thos e ashing

ey e s of his B ut i n the ch ap e l to n ight he was
.
-

almost aggressi v ely alien Wh e n he touched

.

m y ar m I could literally feel hi m b ristle

.

Th e other nodded .

Y ou v e sai d it ! he cried

H oratio
.

bristles ! His whole qu ee r so u l is in this b usi

n e ss e v ery bre of it H e attempts no divi
.

sion of all e gi a n ce except perh ps i n the

, a ,

m atter of the heart

T h e P r o p h et glan ce d p and smil e d
u .

T he h e art ? D o my faithfu l Watchers
permit the m sel v es hearts ? Th e S i t ym c s

m a k es n o p ro v isio n for such frail orga n s

.

0
7
 TH E M YS T I C S

T he P r e curs o r laugh ed again .

Oh we Elect a re by n o m e ans free fro m
,

lit t le s a ving wea k nesses ! Th a t s w here w e

become d a matic Yo u can t h ave e ffect

r .

with o u t co ntrast H oratio fo r instance is

.
, ,

i nstincti vely d ra m atic .

I n de e d f

Y es Oh y ! I know wh at I m saying
. es

.

I v e stu d ied them all M ore t han o n ce when

.
,

my Soul h a s been c om m uning with you r

August Spi rit I h ave watched H or a tio s

,

d a m a tic co n tr a st from the cor n er of my

r

eyes .

Agai n th e P ro p het smiled .

The contr a st freq uents the chapel then
Frequ e nts Un d oub t edly H orati o h
? . as

li te rally swept h e r int o the fol d She was .

he r e to night to ben d t he k nee t o yo u .

A l oo k o f rec o llectio n crosse d the Pr o phe t s

ey e s .

To night he sai d
-?
N o t t he w oman .

who besi de hi m ? T he wo man w i t h t he

sa t

71
 TH E M YS T I C S

b ig eyes She a n d Bale C ph w ! The i de a -

or e

i a b surd !
s

U n de n i b le n e v ertheless I h av e de
a , .

du ce d the story The l a dy is a widow n o

.

relatio n s too m uch freedo m vague aspi ra

tions after the i d eal She h as sounded society

.

an d foun d it too sh allo w ; sounded philosophy

an d found it too deep ; an d upo n h er horizo n
of desires an d disappointments h as loomed
the colossal p rese n ce of B ale C ph w -
or e en

th i t m ystic leader of a fascin atingly

us as , ,

unorthodo x sect Wh at i the result ? The

. s

lady too fe m i n i n e to b e truly m odern too

,

mode m to b e wholly womanly is iewing V

life th rough new glasses an d by thei me d i um , r

seeing H oratio in v ested with a h alo otherwise

in v isi b le
.

The P ro p het re ma i n ed q uiet an d sile n t ;

then he ose slowly from hi s se a t an d wal k ed
r

r o und the ta b le D e v ere a u x he sai d

.

,

,

l aconically only the P rophet i s goi n g to

,

we a r a h l h a o
e re .

7 2
 C H AP T E R V

T is astonishi n g i n ho w short
a sp ace o f time a m a n o f
vigorous ch aract e r can mak e
h is person ality fe lt O n t h e
.

night o f his mysterious d a

vent the Prophet h a d fou n d h is p eo ple in a

,

c on d iti o n o f m e ntal ch a o s as li able to te

pu d i ta e as t o a cce pt t h e seeker for thei r

c o n dence ; b ut b e fo re on e month h ad p ass e d
he had by d omination of w ill
, , so m o ulde d
this n e u rot ic m ass o f h u mani t y th at his o w n
position h ad gra d u ally an d insensibly merg e d
fr o m suppliant into t h at o f autocrat With .

ou t m u rm u r of do u bt o r d issensio n the
a

M ysti c s h a d p ro c laimed him thei r k ing .

On t he last d ay o f the thirty he sat al o ne

in h i room the room in whi ch he an d the
s

re d hai re d Precursor h ad held thei r pri v at e

-

74
 TH E M YS T I C S

co u ncil on the nigh t of hi s coming The .

hea y p urple curtains th at sh i e l d ed the win

v

d o ws were p artly d rawn th ro w ing a subd ued

, ,

almost a d ev o ti o nal light o ver t h e wide i m

, ,

p o sing apartm e nt and across t h e e b ony table ,

o n w hi c h rested t h e sacr ed S i t ym surroun d c s ,

e d by array o f small e r and more an c ien t

an

b o o k s s eve ral r o lls o f pa rch ment a n um ber

, ,

of q uill p e ns and a d ish of in k I t was a t

, .

t his tabl e t h at t he Pr o p h et sat ; he wore the

monas t ic w hi te r o be t h a t he always a ff ec t ed
i n p re s e nce of his p eo pl e his a rms were ,

fo l d e d an d h i fa ce loo k e d calm an d grav e

, s ,

as t h o ugh b a pp re c i a t e d t he m o ment s
e

so h t u de .

T h e soli t ude h o w ever was not d es t i ned to

, ,

e n d ur e T he s oft booming of a g o ng p r e s
.

en t ly r o use d h i m to a t t e n t i o n an d a m o ment ,

later t he doo r of the a pa t m e n t o pen e d an d r

an as cet i c l ook ing man who s e d ut y an d p riv

-
,

il e g e i t w as to w ai t u p o n h i m e ntere d defe r ,

e n ti a l l y .
 TH E M Y5 T I CS
-
d &0
H e stood for a moment in an attitude of
pro found a b a se m ent ; the n he stepped for
war d an d stood b esi de the table .

Ma ster he said in a low v oice Th e
,

, .

newest among us would spea k w ith you !

The P rophet raised his head an d a gl e am
of interest crosse d his eyes ; b ut almost i m
medi ately he su b dued the look .

I a m willing h e replie d unemotionally
,

, ,

in the usual form ul a Then he glanc e d at .

his attendant After this the au d iences for

.

,

the day are o v er he added ,

.

The m a n bowed an d w ith awe struck ,

-

deference mov ed silently from the room ,

almost i mm ed i ately reappeari ng to usher ,

in the d e v ot e e an d with the sam e conscious

,

ai r o f mystery t o reti re closing the heavy

, ,

door .

For a moment the n ew comer stood j ust -

insi d e the th reshold As on the night of th e

.

Prophet s coming she wo re a long bl a ck d ress

, ,

that accentuate d her h e ight an d grace a n d ,

76
 TH E M YS T I C S

brought i nto p rominen c e th e clea r p allor of

her ski n and the remarkable lumin o us brill
ia n ce o f her e yes A str u ggle b et w een super
.

s ti ti o us d r e a d and h uman c uri o si ty w as d i s

ti n ctl y visi bl e in h e r e xpr e ssion h s tood as s e

unc e rtai n of he r positi o n dou b tful as t o h e r ,

rst mov e .

Th e Pr o phe t glanc ed at her and t h e ,

sh a do w of a smil e to u che d his lips .

H av e n o fe a r he said ,

C ome for .

wa rd !

T h e s t r o ng steady v oic e gave her co ur a ge

, ,

an d w i th slig ht ly agi tate d h aste h stepped s e

t ow a r d s t h e tabl e .

T he Pr o p he t grav e ly m ot i o ne d h e r t o a
s e at an d ass u m ed a n a tt i tude of a tte n t i o n .

Up o n e a c h of the th i r t y m o rnings h e ha d
sa t i n th is sam e p o si t i o n i n h i iv o ry c h ai r s ,

wh i le o n e a fte r an ot her t he m e mb e rs of
, ,

the s e c t ha d c lai m ed a ud i e n ce w i th h im .

Mo rning a ft er m o rning h e h a d e x h i bi ted th e

same grave l , f i
a oo his hands c laspe d
n te re s t ,

77
 TH E M YS T I C S

his ey es upon the S i t ym while the fear

c s

ful the fanatical t h e hysteric a l had poured

, ,

forth thei r tales of struggl e or aspi ration .

B ut n ow o n thi s last morning he w a s c on

, ,

s c ious of a n ew suggesti o n a n e w impressio n ,

in wh at h ad grown to b e r o utine T his last .

a spi ra n t fo r spi ritual light was neither f ti ana

cal n or hysterical was scarcely e v en i mb ued

,

wi t h fea r Som e thing withi n his b rai n

. te

s
p on d deto the i dea to the r
, e ass u ring h u man
c u riosity th at gleame d i n h e r e yes He fou n d .

hi mself waiting for her rst wor d s wi t h a n

i mp atience th at no o t h e member o f the r con

g g re t
a i onh a d aro u s ed .

B ut the wait was long d isconcertingly long .

T he aspi rant glan ced u n ce rtainly abo u t the

room as if unwilling o r unable t o br e a k into
,

s p eech ; then at l ast sh e rais e d her h e a d and , ,

with a n e ffort met t h e Pr o p he t s e y e s

,

.

I m terri b ly ner v ous ! she sai d i n a n

,

i res i stibly feminine v oi c e

r .

T he e ff ect upon her he a re w a s i nsta n t an e r

7 8
 TH E M YS T I C S

ous T he d ist a nt an d spiritu a l a loofn ess

.
, so

easy to assume i n the p resenc e of the d c re u

l o us b ec am e s uddenly a m atter of i m p i
,
o ss

b i l i ty . With a quiet digni t y th at h a d more

o f m asculine p rotectiveness th an of mys t ical
inspi rati o n h e turned t o h e r a fr e s h .

H a v e n o fear ! he ans we red g e n t ly

,
.

M y o n ly desi re i s t o h e l p y ou T el l me .

e v erything th at i i n y ou r min d
s .

She leane d fo r w ar d q u ic k ly Yo u y o u .

are most ki nd h b e gans e Th e n agai n h
. s e

h alte d .

B ut h e t o o k n o n o tice of her emba rrassment .

W h y h av e y o u never co m e b efo re he ?

aske d .Ha d y no dou b t s to be t at

ou se

rest H e sp oke s o q u i e t l y th a t he r n e rv ou s
n e ss fors ook he r an d w i th a s wift imp u lse
,

s h glanc ed p a t h im
e u .

I I th in k I w as a frai d h sa id c an
,
s e ,

d i dl y . Yo u see I a m n ot e xa ct ly o ne o f

,

t h e o thers

Yo u d i d not quite b e li e v e that th e On e
79
 TH E M YS T I C S

y o u h ad waited for h ad really come ? H is

voice was low a n d tinged with some i t n sc r u a

bl e meaning .

Oh n o ! No ; it was n ot that B e fore .

you ca m e l confe ss I w scepti c al ; I con

, as

fe ss I di d n ot b elieve that any on e woul d

c o me that there was any tru t h any real
,

meaning i the s e ct But then whe n you

n .

di d c o me
T h e Prop he t li fted h i head s .

Wh e n I d i d come ? he asked sh arply

, .

The whole thing was d i fferent m

T he whole thing was di ffere n t ? he

te

t d slowly an d m editati v ely By a curi

pea e ,
.

ous p rocess of sugg e stio n a n d recollectio n ,

something o f his ow n e xperie n ces i n the realm

o f m ntal upheaval rose with her words H e
e .

s u d ied the pale face an d b rillia n t eyes with

t

a fresh and more i n ti ma te i n terest .

The whole thing was di ff erent ? he sai d

o n ce more in his slow deep v oice

, ,
.

T he w a r m color ooded her fa ce Y . e s,

80
 TH E M YS T I C S

of a tremor of di m t ; for the rst time

sc o u re

the spectacle of his frau d as seen fro m a poi n t ,

of view other th a n h is ow n touched hi m , un

pleasantly H e m o v ed slightly in his m assi v e

.

c h ai r .

I n this life he sai d with a sudden l
, , , a

m ost inconti n ent assumpti o n f his Proph e tic o

m anner we m ust be ever c areful to d istin

,

guish the W ine fr o m the V e ssel th at contains

it I e n de av or w it h l l t h e Power I a m pos
.
, a

s e ssed of to imp ress up on my People th at I

,

h a v e come t t o b the W ay b ut to h w
, no e , s o

the W ay ! T o teach you all that what you seek

in m e is i n each o ne o f you E v ery m a n is
, .

his ow n P roph e t if h e b u t k new it ! As he

,

spoke he turne d his eyes upo n th e S i t ym c s ,

an d the h ard inscru t able look th at so domi

,

na et d his foll o wers de scen de d upon his face .

A h reached t he last w o rds he glance d agai n

S e ,

at his c omp nion but as h is ey e s rested on

a ,

he r face he p ause d d iscon ce rte d She w a s .

gazin g a t hi m with a ca n did s p o n ta n eous ,

82
 TH E M YS T I C .

a dm i rati on i n nitely m o re h uman an d i n

nit e ly m o r e i rresis t i ble than the n e uro ti c

a do rati o n t h at was d aily l avishe d o n him .

Wi th an odd i nexpli c able sense of g u il t h e

, ,

r o s e q u i ck ly from his seat .

Do n o t fo rget d o not all ow y urself t o o

fo rg e t t h at th is i s my t e c h i ng he sai d a ,
.

T h a t y o u h av e e ac h w i th in y o ursel v es t h e
thing y o u de m an d i n m e L ook fo r it w ithin
.

y ou rselv e s ! R e ly u p o n yo u rselv e s !

A h e c e ase d h als o r o se
s ,
s e She w as pale
.
,

an d t r e mbl ed sl i g ht ly .

B u t i f o n e c ann ot fo ll o w t hat t e ac h ing ?

h as ke d I f o n e l o ngs t o r e ly u p o n som e

s e .

o ne e lse ? If on e c ann ot r e ly u pon o n e s s e l f ?

T he Pr o ph e t ma de n o ans we r H e s too d .

w it h one h an d r e s t ing o n the t abl e h i gaze , s

x ed u p on t h e b ook .

Embol d ene d by h i s silen ce h app ro a c h ed , s e

h i m by a s te p .

I t hin k I cou l d b e li e ve s he murm u red .

I t hi nk I c o uld beli e v e any t hing i f I might ,

83
 TH E M YS T I C S

l e arn it from you She p aused pleadi n gly ;

.

th e n as he still stood un esponsi v e the color

,
r ,

rus h ed again int o her face .

I I h ave b e en p resumptu o us h s a id

, s e .

I h av e off en d ed you
.

Something i her t o ne in her c h ar m ing

n ,

una ff e c ted h umility stung hi m For the rst .

t i me in his career as Prophe t the bl ood surge d ,

h ot ly an d p ainfu lly in to h i fa c e s .

D o no t say t h at ! h e began i mp ulsi vely ;

,

then h e c h e c ked h ims e l f I am h ere to .

te a ch my Peopl e he added
,

All my Peo .

ple w i t ho u t e x ce ption .

F o r o ne m o m e nt h stu d i ed his face half

s e

dou bt fu lly ; th en at last her own emotions

conquere d h e r d o u bt .

Th en I m ay come again ?
He di d n ot reply at o nce ; and w he n at last
h i w or d s di d c ome his oi c e was u n us u ally
s , V

i rresol ute an d lo w .

Y ou m ay c o m e t any ti me he sai d
a , ,

without m ee ti ng h er eyes .

84
 TH E M YS T l E S

o w n wea k ness he h a d turned to wh e re th e

,

white b inding of the S i t ym c aught the sub

c s

d ued light The sight o f the b o o k h ad ne rved

.

hi m as it n e v e r fail e d to do ; b ut for all his

,

r e gai n e d rmness t h e sense of u neasy sh ame

,

had remain ed w ith hi m during the d ay ; an d

th at nig h t wh en h e a dd r e sse d h i peopl e he
, s ,

h ad instin c tiv e ly guar d e d his glan c e from

resti n g on the seats that fronte d the S anct
uary .

B u t n o w th at rst i n ter v iew was p ast b y

th ree we eks an d Eni d s daily v isits to th e
,

great roo m where he ga v e a udience to the

c ongregatio n h ad b ecome one o f the recog
i d e v e n ts of the t w e n ty
n z e four h o urs The .

sense of sh ame returned perio d ically ; b ut on

e a c h re n ewal of the feeling he sal v ed his con
sci e nce m o e and m ore su c cessfully with the
r

ass u rance th a t to her as to hims e lf th e

, ,

M ystics were i n reality nothi n g b ut the p ro d

uc st of a n eurotic age m ere hysterical d ab

ble rs i n the truths o f the u n i v erse She w a s

.

86
 TH E M YS T I C S

t oo d e lica te ly fe minine he to l d hi ms e l f w i t h
,

gr o wing convi ct i o n to o intelligent an d sel f

,

controlled to be m o re than temp o ra rily t

, a

tracte d to any such e x o tic cree d She might .

t oy with it fo r a wh ile b ut the day m u s t

,

in ev ita bly d a w n wh e n c ommo n sense an d the

-

n eed o f s u re r t hings w oul d s e nd her ba c k in to

the b roa d c hann e l o f si mple sa t isfying C h r i s
,

tian i ty
. F o r a space t his unnat u ral sta t e o f
th ings wou l d las t ; fo r a spa ce t h e i r curious
compani o ns h i p wou l d co n ti n ue th ei r long ,

i nti ma t e t al k s w o u l d mak e li fe s o me t hing n ew

an d w o n d er ful ; the n B ut t here fo r som e ,

unexplaine d reason spe c u la t io n i nva riably

,

st o pp ed .

S o t hings st ood o n t he fti eth morning

a ft er her rs t c o ming T h e str a m of p
. e su

p l ian t s fo r h i fav o r w as a l l but e xha u s t e d

s ,

an d h e a w ai t e d to g i v e t h e las t a ud ien ce o f
t h e d ay .

A ft er t h e m o m e nt of quiet and solitu d e

th a t a lways se pa rated the i n ter v iews th , e

87
 TH E M YS T I C S

sonorous go n g announce d the l a st v isitor ; th e

silent a scetic atte n dant th rew ope n the door
,

an d E n i d entere d .

T his ti me she display e d non e o f the hesi

tanc
y that h ad marked her early m an n er .

She came towards the tabl e with q u ick as ,

sured ste p s her face brig h t with anticip ation

, .

A s she app roac h ed th e Proph e t rose I t , .

was rem a rkabl e th at h e n o longer retaine d

his sitting position wh en she entere d the
ro om as was his c u stom w ith the o ther mem
,

bers of the sect I n vo luntarily a n d almost

.

unco n sciously h e extended to her th or d inary e

c o urtesies th at ma n instinctively off ers to

wo m an .

As h reached the table h glanced up

s e ,
s e

at hi m d s o mething of th e pl e asure d ied

, an

out of her face .

Y ou look ti red she s a i d so ftly , , .

H e smiled .

D oes th a t dis a ppoi n t you ?
H is to n e c on fus e d h e r .

88
 TH E M YS T TE S

h a d d isca rded th e all e gorical m a n ner o f

speec h d h ad b e gun to S how himself a s he
, an

n aturally w a s .

E v en w e a k nesses ? he sai d a g a i n a s she

,

m a de no attempt to answer .

At th e wor d s h e r ey e s once more met his .

Y e s,she said with n ew resol u ti o n

,

ye s, even wea k ness e s I o

. ft e n think th at
it is b ecause you a re soh um a n th at yo u
so

hold us a s you do I t se e ms right that a

.

Prophet should b elong to the people he has

c o me to teach All the p ro p h e ts of th e
.

w orld h ave ess e ntially bel o nged to th e i r own

times I f you h a d sat upon the T h r o ne all
.

day an d comm uned with y o ur So u l I sh ou l d ,

h a v e b ee n v ery m uch afrai d of you ; b ut I

s ho uld n e v er ha v e b elieved i n you as I do
now when you talk to me an d ad v ise me an d
,

help me like like a frien d Her v oice trem

.

ble d slightly
A peculia r e x p ression crossed th e Pr o phe t s

fa ce .

0
9
 TH E M YS T I C S

S o I s e em a frien d ?
Mo r e th an a fri e n d I can nev e r tell y o u
.

w h a t y ou h av e b ee n to m e wh a t yo u h ave
do ne fo r m e I hav e nev e r b ee n h appy so

so sa t is e d i n my li fe as in the s e last ,

three w e ek s Every d isapp o intm e n t an d d is

.

satis facti o n seems t o h av e slippe d a w ay ; I

se e m t o h ave b e en living in s o m e calm b e a u ,

ti fu l rest ful
, ph
a tl n o s S he p a
e reu se d h er ,

fa c e as w ell as her v o ice t ing ed with a sub t le

e x c it e m e nt .

I t may b e very sel sh b u t I w ish that ,

the se d ays co u l d go o n fo r e v e r I k n ow .

t h at for y ou th ey a re o n l y a p rob a t i o n ;
, ,

th at you m u st crave fo r th e m o m e nt wh e n ,

h avi ng ta u g h t every th i ng y o u w il l g o
us ,

ou t i n to th e wo rl d an d t e a c h t h e Unb e
li
e ve rs . I k n ow a l l th a t an d I k n ow i t i
, s

o nly rig h t b b I h a t e to t h i n k of i t !
,
ut ut

A s ud de n br e a k c am e i n he r oice V .

Y ou hat e to th i n k th a t al l t h i s m u st
en d ?

9 1
 TH E M YS T I C S

Again thei r eyes met ; b u t as though t h e ,

c ontact o f gla n ces e mba rrassed her Eni d ,

loo k e d a w ay .

Y es I do h ate it D o you de spise m e
, .

fo r b e ing so l h
se jealous of th o se o th e r
s so

people who will ta k e our plac e

For a m om e nt t h e Prophet mad e n o reply .

I n the dim light of the r o om th e m uscles o f ,

his h ard face l o oked set ; his s t ro ng han d s

were c lasp e d .

D o you despise me ? she asked again
.

I t is not fo r m e to j udge a ny one you

le a st of all he a ns w ered without looki n g at
,

,

her .

At th e s u b d ued to n e the unexp e cte d words

, ,

sh t u rne d t o hi m a pp r e hensiv e ly
e .

Y ou are angry with m e ?

I ndeed n o
, .

T hen wh a t is it ? W h at h ave I do n e or

s ai d
H e remained silent .

I n her sudde n distress h le an ed forward s e

92
 THE M Y5 T I CS

and lai d his ng e rs o v er hers T he p ress u re .

of his h and was like steel the exp ressio n of ,

his face was a ltere d an d distur b ed .

I f you o n ly knew he sai d sh arply if ,

you only k new h o w I h a v e longed to hear y ou

say j ust th at on e wor d m ! He p aused an

almost tri umph antly h is e y es searching h

, er

frig h t e ned fa c e his ng e rs gripping hers

, .

For a n instant h sat p e tri e d an d fas

s e

i t d ; then a fai n t soun d o f alarm esca p ed

c na e

h er and h turned t ow ards t h e door

, s e .

Wit ho ut the form ality of the an n ounci n g

gong t w o men h ad entered the room a nd
, ,

stood sil e nt spectators of the tabl e au O n e .

w as D evereaux th e Precursor ; th e other w a s

,

Horatio Bale C ph w -
or e .

For one em b arrassed m oment all four look

e d at each other ; th e n th e Pr e curs o r h aste n ed
to save t h e situation H e m ad e a long p ro
.
,

fo un d obeisance a n d s tepped d eferenti ally to

,

the ta b le .

Your p ardon Ma ster ! he m ur m ured
,

.

94
 TH E M YS T I C S

We k n e w not t h at t he i mmutable So u l w as
sp e a k ing fro m wi thi n y calling on e am o ng
ou,

u s to w ards th e Ligh t ! H e glanc ed q uickly

o ver his sh ou l de r t o w here the massive fo rm

an d agitated fac e of Bal e C ph w was - or e

fra me d i n t h e d oo rway .

At h i p e rempt o y lo o k th e Arc h M ys t ic
s r -

seemed to ga th er h i ms e l f to g ethe r S t epping .

fo rwa rd he m a de a slig ht ly t ar d y rev e ren ce

, .

M aster he sai d h us k ily w hat t he Pre
,

, ,

curs o r t e lls yo u i s th e tru t h S e eing the .

th r e shol d u ng u a rd ed w e c o n c l ude d t hat the

,

a u d i e n ce s fo r t he d ay w ere o v e r His p romi

.

nent b row n e yes we r e ll e d with c o ni c ting

e xp re ssi o ns he t urn e d t h e m on t he P roph et
as .

B ut the Prop h et r e maine d unm o v e d T he .

h a r d l ook h a d r et urn e d t o his fa c e the st e rn ,

rigi d ity to h is g u r e V e ry sl ow ly he released

.

the han d t h at s ti ll t r e mbl ed under his ow n .

T h e ti me of t h e Pro ph e t belongs t o his
P eo pl e h e sai d w i th d ignity
, He h o l d s
.

au d i en ce w h e n e v e r whe re v e r an d h w
, , o ev er

95
 TH E M YS T I C S

it is e xp edie n t Speak my son ! I n w hat

.
,

can I serve you ?

B ale C ph w looked at hi m in sile n ce
-
or e .

Wh atever he h ad co me to say appe a red to

h ave escape d his mind For a while in a ctio n .

reigne d in the roo m ; t h en with a p ale face ,

an d ner v ous m anner Eni d r o se b owed to the

, ,

P r o p h et and move d noiselessly to the door

, .

All th ree w atc h ed her until she h a d di p sa

pe a re d ; then Bale C p h w foun d-

v oice
or againe .

M aster he m urm u red h urriedly w ith
,

, ,

your permission I also would le av e the Pres

,

ence ; a nd with a pertur b ed gesture he t , oo

b o w ed a n d p a ssed out of the roo m .

 TH E M YS T I C S

Tea Norris ! h said in a n unusually

,

s e ,

curt and l aconic v oi ce .

For a considerable time after the m aid s

d eparture h sat m o ti o nless her h an d s

s e ,

stretched out t o war d s th e bl a zing l o gs her ,

l arge eyes abs e ntly w a t c h ing the light on re -

h e r m any a n d beau t i ful rings When the .

wom a n r e app e ared a nd noiselessly

, , g a rr a n

ing the tea table mo v ed it to h er si de h

-
, , s e

scarcely glanc e d p ; and to th e most super

U

i l ob s e rver it w oul d h av e been patent

c a

th at her ow n thoughts an d speculatio n s fully

a b sor b ed her min d .

She retained her contempla t ive attitude

a fter th e ser v ant h a d w it h d ra w n for the
se c on d ti me an d it i s do u btfu l how long sh e
,

woul d h ave r e m ai ned sun k i n a pp arent

leth argy h ad not the un ex pected soun d of
t h e h all d o o r bell c a u se d her t o start i nto an
-

u pright posi tion wi th a little e xclam a ti on of

surprise an d i mp ati e nce .

A s she t li te n ing with n e v ous i nte nt

sa s r

98
 TH E M YS T I C S

ness th e d o or p e n e d an d o nce m o r e N o rris

,
O ,

app e ared Aft e r a second s h esita t ion h

.

s e

crossed to her m istr e ss .

There s a g e n t l e m an at the d oor ma am

sh sai d d ep recatingly
e ,
.

Enid looked p a fro w n still d ark e ning her

u ,

fo reh ea d .

I t o l d you I was not at home .

I k n ow m a m b t N o rris he s i ta te d
,

a , u .

B ut wh a t ? I tol d you I w as no t t o b e
d ist u rbed I w t be disturbed With
. on

.

a gesture plai nly i ndicati ve of high strung -

nerv e s h turn e d to th e ta b l e an d p our e d

, s e

h e rself o ut a p of te a cu .

T he mai d glanc ed b eh in d he r tow a r d s

th e door B u t t h e g e n t l e man wo n t g o

m a am

Won t go ! I n h e r surp rise Eni d lai d

dow n t h e c up h ha d b ee n ab o ut t o rais e to
s e

h er li ps Wh o is h e she d e man ded

.

.

N o rris l oo k ed dow n I d o n t k n ow .

,

m a a m I t o ld hi m you were n ot at h o me

.
,

99
 TH E M YS T I C S

but he won t go He s the sort of ge n tlem a

.

n

who wo n t ta k e no for an answer

.

I do n t underst a n d you Who i s b ?

. e

Wh at i he li k e ? Uncons c i o usly a n d i
s

n

V o luntarily E n i d s ton e q u ic ke n e d Some

.

t h ing i n the w oma n s words something

und e ned an d yet s uggesti v e sti rred an d

agitated h e r .

Norris s ee med to choose h er w ords Well .

,

ma a m h ans w ered slo w ly h e s v ery

,

s e , ,

tall an d n o t like a ny o th e r g e ntl e man th at

c o m e s h ere I ca n t rig h tly explai n i t miss
.

, ,

he seems used to h avi ng hi s o w n w ay

As sh e h alted unc e rtain h ow to c hoose her
,

wor d s Eni d ros e n e rv o usly She C oul d n o t

, .

hav e d e n e d her em o tions b ut s o m e feeling ,

a t onc e v ag u e an d portentous was working

in h e r min d .

D i d h e giv e n o am e ? n

No m a am I w as to y th at he w as
,

. sa

s o me o n e that m ust b e s ee n He d giv e no .

n mea .

1 00
 TH E M YS T I C S

a moment a s if un deci ded as to his action

, ,

while N o rris reti re d so ftly closing the do o r

, .

T hen w ith a su d den leap of the heart h

, , s e

was c o nscious th at he was co m i n g towa rds

her across the sh adowed r oo m .

He moved straight fo rward u n til h e was

c lose besi de her ; an d with one of his de ,

i i
c s ve , i mperio u s g e stur e s he p ut out both ,

hands an d caught h e rs .

I t was a cas e of M oh amm ed an d the
m ou ntain ! he sai d in h i grave voice

, s .

You woul dn t c om e to me ; I h d to co m e

a

t o yo u
.

N o sound e scape d h e r Sh e stoo d befo re .

h i m m utely h er fa c e pal i ng an d ushing

, ,

h e r hands ut te ring in h is .

Ther e was a slig h t p ause ; an d again he

b e nt t o war d s h e r .

W h y h a v e y o u stay ed a w ay ?
Sh e h e sita te d fo r a m o m e nt spellbound by ,

h e r e mo t i o n ; the n m a k ing a su dde n e ff ort

, ,

s h e loo ke d p 1 1 was a frai d H

u .

.

er

[ 02
 TH E M YS T I C S

v oice w as s o l ow an d sh a k en th a t t he wo r d s
were a mere wh i sp e r .

Afrai d Afrai d of w h a t ?
?

S h e mad e n o ans w er .

O f w h t ? Of Bal e
a C ph w He gav e or e

a sligh t sarcasti c la u g h
, .

No ! S h e l ooked p sha rply Oh n o !

u .

Then of w hat ? O f m e ? H is v o ic e

s udde nly sank and t he p ressure of h is

, n

g e rs ti gh te n ed .

N o ! O h I do n t k n ow ! I do n t k n ow !
,

With a tre mu lo us g e sture h t r ied to with s e

d raw h er h an d s .

At the m ov ement h e su dde nly d r ew he r

,

tow a r d s hi m T el l m e ! he sai d
.

I w an t
.

t o k n o w I m ust k n ow !
.

F o r th e rst t i m e sin ce he h a d entere d t he

r oo m h er g l an c e r e s ted ful ly o n hi s fa ce
,
.

T he light w as u nc e rtain b ut as h e r gaze , co n

d its e l f a n ew l ook
c e n t r a te ,
l ook o f wo n de r a

and al a rm sp rang a c ro ss he r e y e s I n t h e .

se v e n d ays sinc e th e y h a d sp oke n t o g eth er a ,

1 03
 TH E M YS T I C S

C h a n ge h a d fa lle n o n hi m Some alt e ration .

she could t de n e h ad grow n i n to his e x

no

p ressio n ; the cold m astery of hi mself an d

o thers w a s still vi si b le ; b ut a n ew emotion
h ad i n se n si b ly b ee n created s o met h ing
p o werful a n d e v e n domin ant for which she
co ul d n d n o n a m e With a sh arp i ti
.
, ns nc

tive al ar m her lips p arted

,
.

Wh at is it ? h sai d app rehensi ve ly

s e , .

Why you here ? The ti me has not

a re

c o me for y to go out into the world ?

ou

A faintly i ronic smile i tt d a cross his lips e .

S urely if one is a P ro p het o n e

, alter , can

e v en p rophecies
.

H e sai d the words deli b erately l o o k ing ,

d o w n into her face .

The t o ne the i ntention al i pp y of the

, anc

words ca me to her with a shock I t was a s

, .

if by co nsi dered action he h a d set a bout

, ,

j e opar d izing his ow n dignity A chill of .

un d ened app rehensio n b lew a cross her mind

like a cold wi n d .

1 04
 TH E M YS T I C S .

Have t h e People d one wrong H av e you

h av e y ou b ee n call e d els e where At the last
d rea d p o ssibility he r v oic e faltered .

B u t t he Prop he t sto od c ol d and almost

rigid At last by an i mm e nse e ff ort he
.
, ,

se e m e d to gather hi msel f together for som e

tr e m e n do us end .

Eni d he sai d grav e ly I don t know
,

, ,

ho w m u c h you k no w of li fe b u t I p res u m e ,

you k n ow ve ry littl e I presume th at an d

.

sh all a c t on th e p res u mption I sh all not e x .

pe e t e v en k any l e ni e n c y o f you

as .

I came h e r e t h is e v e ning t o t e ll y o u some
thing t h at w ill al te r y o u r pini o n f me so
O o

eff e c tually th at nothing h e r e a ft e r can r e in

stat e m e in your min d He spok e slo w ly
.

an d de liberat el y w i t h o ut tr e mor or falt e r

,
.

W h at e v e r o f str u ggle lay be h in d his words ,

it lay w i t h the past It w evi d ent as he

. as

s tood th e e in th e p r e tty l ux u rio u s r o om th at

r , ,

he poss e ss ed a p urpose an d th at he h el d
,

to it w i t hout thought of a retrogra d e st e p .

1 06
 TH E M YS T I C S

I have co me to mak e a c o n fe ssi o n h e ,

sai d q uiet ly N ot b ec a u se I b e li e v e in the

, .

habi t of u nb u r de n i ng o n e s c o ns c i e n ce b ut

b ec a u s e t h e re i some t hing y o u h ave a righ t

s

to k n ow

I A right to kn ow ? H e r lips pal ed

.

Y es. A rig h t t o kn o w With a s udde n

.

a c c e ss of fee l i ng h e d ro ppe d her h an d s an d

t u rn ed tow a rds t h e w i nd ow w h e r e t h e l as t
,

gli m m e r of the w intry t w ilig h t sh o w e d th roug h

the s oft silk curt ains .

I a m p ut ting mysel f i n y ou r h an d s he ,

sa i d stea d ily I a m j eo pa r d izing m y l f

, .

se ut

te r l y by w ha t I am g o in g to y ; b ut
sa i t s ee ms
to m e the o nly w ay by wh ich I c an ma ke
we l l c an pat ch p s o m e p oo r am e n d s
, u

I may b e p re s u mp t uou s b ut I b el i e v e
,

I th in k th a t I h av e s tood fo r s o m eth i n g in
y ou r e y e s H e t u rn ed an d l ooked a t he r
. .

Bu t in the m i ng l ed d usk an d l ig h o nly re t

the pa le out lin e of h er fa c e w as visi bl e .

Eni d ! he c ri ed w i t h s udde n r e s ol u t i o n

, ,

I o7
 TH E M Y S TI C S

it m ust b e fa ce d I t m u st b e said I m
. .

not wh at y ou t h ink me I m a frau d li e .

a

an impost o r N o more a Prophet no mor e

.

inspi r ed t h an yo u Bale C ph w ! H e or -
or e

st o ppe d abruptly a n d drew a slow deep ,

br e a th .

T h e p ause th at followed was long and

strained I n t he grip of str o ng emotions
.
,

each stood rigi d striving v ainly to read the

,

other s face At last goaded by the silence

.
, ,

he spoke again .

Y ou h av e done this ! h e cri e d You .

h ave compell e d me to t ell yo u ! I came to

t hese peopl e ; I dupe d them an d gloried i n

d uping the m I despise d them un d erstood

.
,

th e m tra d ed on t h em w it h out a scruple

,
.

Then y c ame Y ou came an d the scheme

ou .

was sh att e r e d The w hole thing th at had

. ,

b u bble d and sparkled became su d denly like ,

at c hampagn e T hat i a common si mile

. s ,

b u t it i s de scri ptiv e The acting of an act o r

.

d epends u p o n h i a ud i e nce While my a u d i

s .

1 08
 TH E M YS T I C S

B u t again h retreated invol u ntarily

s e .

O h wh y di d you do it ? h e xc laimed
,

s e ,

sud de nly in a faint sh aken v oice O h

, ,
.

,

w h y d i d you d o it ? Why di d you do it ?

For an instant her t o ne an d her m anner

d aunted hi m ; then he straightened hi s b ody
an d raised hi s head .

I d i d it for wh at i s reckoned the most

s o r d i d mo tiv e in t he wo rl d he sai d i n a , ,

lev e l voi c e . I d i d it for money !

For money ? Wit h a scare d mo v ement
,

she turned up o n h im an d fo r the rst time ,

since he h ad m a de h is r e v e lati o n he sa w her ,

pale alarm ed incre d u lous fac e in t h e full

, ,

lig h t o f th e r e

I w as wronged ! he said sh arply These

,
.

p e ople h ad d e frauded m e I wanted wh at .

was j ustly mine

.

W anted ? The word formed itself l

a

most i n arti c ulately .

Y es ; w anted Wa nted with all m y might
. .

I h a v e wo rke d s c hem e d su ff ere d fo r t h is in

, ,

1 10
 THE M YS T I C S

ways y o u c o ul d n e ver i mag i n e I tho ught .

my l f i
se i ibl
nv nc I b e li e v ed th at i f h d e il
e. t e v

hi mself s too d i n my w ay i t wou l d n ot det er

me An d n ow y o u frail gi rl hav e wr ec k
. a

e d t he s c h e m e ! H e pa u s ed aga i n l e an i ng

,

t ow a r d s he r i su d d en uncons c i o us appeal
n

for c o mp r e h e nsi o n .

I wo n t say it h asn t b ee n a s t r u ggl e to

c o m e to y o u li ke th i s t o mak e my f co n e s

si o n It h
. M y co ns c i e nce an d I h ave
a s.

bee n s t r u ggling nig h t and d ay I h av e h e ld.

ou t to t h e las t It w as o nly to d ay t hi s
.
-

ve ry d ay w h e n I wo k e t o fa ce t h e c ri si s o f

my plans that I k n ew I w a s b e a te n k ne w
,

t he g ht w as o v e r .

An d do y o u un de rs t an d w hy th is h as

happ e n ed ? Do y o u k n ow wh y I a m g o ing
a w ay as e mp t y h an ded as I c a me ? I is b
-
t e

ca u s e I hav e s ee n you b ec a u s e I l o ve y o u
H e p u t out h i han d s B ut a s hi s ng e rs
s .

t ouched h e r h t h r u s t h i m a w ay freeing
, s e ,

h e rs e l f with e rce res e n t m e n t .

I I I
 TH E M Y5 TI C S

D on t ! d on t ! do n t ! she cried Y

. ou

call yourself an i mpostor You are worse -

th a n th at M uc h worse Y ou a r e a thief !
.

H e stepped bac k as though h h ad s e

struck him and his hands dropped to his

,

sides .

Y es you are a t h ief ! h sai d again
,

s e ,

hysterically ; a thie f !

The repetitio n o f th e word goaded hi m .

Wait ! Let me d efen d myself !

B ut w ith a b roken soun d of p rotest sh e

ung her h ands over her e a rs .

N o ! no ! no ! she cri e d v ehemently

, .

There is no defe n ce to m a k e There is no .

defence Y ou m ay lea v e th e money of the

.

sect b ut you h av e stolen things th at can

,

.

ne v er b e replaced Faith hopes i de a ls
He r v oice faile d her .

M istak e n faith m istaken ideals
He
caught her wrists d rawing her hands down
,

war d .

B ut again she freed herself a n d co n fro n ted

1 12
 TH E M YS T TE S

is quiet we g as unobtrusi ve ly as we c am e
, o .

You s e e I give you the k ey to our plans ; you

are free to fr u strate them if you think t I , .

d o n t believe I h ad any real ho pe of merci ful

j ud gm e nt when I cam e here w omen are n o t

m e rcifu l w h e n th e y a re r o bbe d of thei r illu
si o ns B u t I c o n fe ss I ho pe d fo r j ustice I
. .

t hou ght th at you might h ate me

H at e you ? she cri ed
Hate you ? We .

only h ate wh at we respect I do n t h at e you .

.

I o nly d e spise y o u w ith all my he ar t I w ant .

you to g o be fo re I d e spise mys e l f as w el l !

H er o wn cr ue l d i sill u si o ning h er ow n
un

b e arable sense o f loss s we pt ov e r h e r afr e sh ;

her v o i c e rose again an d again bro ke h y t i

, s er

cally With an uncontro ll e d mov e m e nt of

.

gri e f an d m ti ti she t u rn e d a w ay from

or ca on

hi m and t h rew hers e lf U p o n a c ou ch burying ,

h e r fac e i n t h e pillo w s .

For several min u t e s h cri ed t m p s e e e st u

ous l y ; t h en th r ou gh the storm of her angry

t ears h caug h t the soun d o f a c losing d oor
s e .

1 14
 TH E M YS T I C S

Wi th a sta rt h sat p an d lo o ked ab o ut

s e u

her .

The faint r e lic o f d aylig h t still sh owe d

t h ro ugh th e cur t ains o f the win dow ; th e re

lig h t still play ed pleasantly o n the u n to uc h e d

t e a table an d th e fragil e fu rnit u re ; b u t the
-

r o o m was empty The P rophet w as g o n e

. .
 C H AP T E R VI II

HEN sh e r e alized this fact ,

Eni d rose from h e r s e at th W i

a m urm u r o f dismay I n h . er

sh arply fe minine s e ns e o f l o ss ,

h took o n e involuntary step

s e

towards the do o r ; b alm o st as the step w as

ut

ta k e n her a nger h e r shatt e r ed faith assail e d

, ,

h er anew and with a fresh burst of t e ars h

, , s e

t u rned an d ung h e rself b a c k up o n th e c ouc h .

F o r a long ti me h lay with h e r face

s e

among th e pill ow s ; th e n at last as her angry

, ,

s o bs d i ed out and th e vi o l e nce o f h e r gri f e

s u bsi d ed h t p w ip ed her e yes and

, s e sa u , ,

gl anced at her dri pping h an dk er ch ie f .

At sight o f th e h an dke rc h i e f m e r e w i sp
a

of w e t camb ri c h e r s e nse of i nj u ry stung her

afr e sh an d o nce m o r e her li ps b egan t o
,

qui v er ; b u t fat e h a d de ci d e d against further

1 16
 TH E M YS T I C S

t e ars Before her grie f h ad gathered for c e

.
,

the h l l of the h all d o o r s ou nded o nce m o r e

e -

l o ng a n d loudly ; an d ha r d upo n the sou n d

th e d o or of the room o p e ned .

With a start of con fu sion h sp rang to h e r s e

fee t an d turned to confront N o rris stan d ing

, ,

at a d iscre et d istan ce with an apologetic ,

m anner an d d ow ncast e yes .

M r Bale C ph w m a am h m u r
.
- or e ,

, s e

m u re d as Eni d loo k e d a t h er
, I to l d h i m .

y o u were n o t at h o m e ; b ut he sai d h e wou l d

w ai t till wh e nev e r h e co u ld see y it d i dn t o u,

m a t ter h ow l o ng .

With a li tt l e cry o f d ismay an d annoyance ,

Eni d p u t h e r h ands t o h e r d is o rd e r e d hai r .

Oh how stupi d o f you ! h cried
,

s e ,

tremul o usly Yo u kn ow I can t

.

hi m
se e .

Yo u know I wo n t h i m T e ll hi m I m

se e .

ou t ill any t hing y o u c an t hink f

B ut o

her v o i c e su dde nly fal te re d an d he r w o r d s ,

e n ded i n a gasp h gl n ced fr o m t h e

,
as s e a

ser v a n t t o the d oo r w h ic h h ad ab r u ptly

, re

I I7
 TH E M Y S TI C S

opene d displayi ng the face an d gure of

,

B l C ph w hi mself
a e n
or e .

Without hesitatio n he h a d entered the room ;

a n d without hesit a tio n he walked str a ight
towar d s her .

Forgi v e m e ! he e x clai med
I know .

this m ust seem unp ardo n abl e ; b ut the oc ca

sio n is without p recede n t M ay I speak with .

you alo n e
In the mo m e n t of his e n try a n d during his ,

h urried greeti ng Eni d ha d m astered her

,

agitatio n She looked at hi m n ow with an

.

a tte m pt at calmness .

Ce rtainly i f you h a v e anything to say
, .

I n the excitement un d er whi c h he was

o b i usly laboring he d i d not o b ser ve the
v o ,

cold n ess of the gr an ted p er m ission H e wait .

ed w ith ill co ce a led i m p atience until Norris

-
n

h ad with drawn the n he tur n ed to her afresh

, .

M rs W i t h l y ! he cried you see b e

. c er e

,

fo r e you a n outr a ged m an !

H e m ade the a nn ounceme n t ercely an d

1 18
 TH E M YS T I C S

D upe d ? D eceived She echoed the

wor d s faintly W h a t do you mea n What
, .

h as h a pp e n ed

E v eryth ing ! E v erythi n g ! A gain h h w
et re

out his h and s T his m an th at we h a v e

.

called P ro p het this m an th at w e h ave b e n t

the knee to h i s nothing ; nothing
e O n ce
m ore m i
e o t o n e ve r
p w d his
o words e re .

Nothing ? Eni d s v oice was i ndisti n ct

h e r tongue dry .

Nothing but an i mpostor ! A n im p ostor !

A thief !

He spoke lou d ly e v en iolently T o his

V .

listener it seemed th at his v oice r a ng out ,

lling the room lling the street outsi d e

, ,

lling the whol e world As sh e h ad done i n .

the Prophet s p res e nc e she raised her h an ds

,

and p ressed them o v er her ears B ut e v en .

,

th rough her ngers his tones ca m e loud an d

,

pe n etrat in g .

A n i m postor ! he cried a g a i n

A liar !
, .

A b lasph em e r !

1 20
 THE M YS TICS

Her h an d s d r o ppe d fr o m her face .

S to p ! Stop ! h crie d weakly

s e , .

B u t h e w as beyon d appeal .

Yo u m ust hea r ! he crie d

I t is ordain .

e d Yo u h av e been the un w itting i n strume n t

.

by wh ich the man h fallen as .

I ? I ? The instrum e nt ? She t d
s a te

at hi m w i t h w i de e y e s and a hi te face W .

Ye s y ! H e stepped to her side
, ou

.

W itho u t you suspicion wo ul d n e ver h av e

,

b ee n a r o used Without y he mig h t h av e

. ou,

carried out h i b ase designs I t w as the

s .

po w er of the Uns e en th at gui ded m e on t h e

d ay I ent e re d the Pr e s e n ce R oo m an d fou n d
y o u al o ne w i t h hi m He sp oke h u rri ed ly
.

an d d isj o intedly b u t the l ast wo r d l e ft his

, as

l i ps another expr e ssi o n c r o ss ed h is face , as

thou gh a new s u gges t i o n p assed thro u gh hi s

min d .

D i d y o u see n o thing strange i n t h at A u

die n ce he de man ded D i d y o u n ot h

.

se e

ing strange i n the fa ct th at h Pro phet o f e a

12 1
 TH E M Y S TI C S

S u bli me M ysteries shoul d hol d your h a n d

,

as any ma n of the earth might hold it ? H e

b ent still c l oser jealousy an d suspicion d ar k

,

i g his face
en n .

Eni d glanced a t hi m fearfully No ! N o ! .

she sai d sh arply I saw n othing str a nge

. .
,

He was the P rophet .

B ale C ph w face rel ax ed

-
or e

s .

Ah ! he sai d slo w ly

I b elieve you
, .

.

B ut if y w ere b lin d I saw H e p aused

, ou , .

an d p assed his han dker c hief o ver his face .

C old as the day was drops of perspi ratio n ,

stood upon his for e head .

I saw A n d fro m th at hour the man w a s

.

L o st ?
Y es lost H e l a ughed e x cite d ly ; an d
, .

to Enid the laugh s o unded singularly un

ple a sant sha rp an d cr u el

, From that day
, .

we h a v e watche d him w the Si x We e, .

h ve w atched hi m a n d h is frie n d the dog

a

who h as d ared to des e crate the n ame of Pre

122
 TH E M YS T I C S

Y ou are rig h t he i d d d ly What

,

cr e , su en

you say is right T h ere will be o plu n der n .

The T reasury of the U n see n wi ll re m ai n

in v iolate
As he p ause d she m ade soun d ; b ut herno

eyes rested upon h i fascin ate d by th e i r

s,

fe v erish b rightness ; an d i n the mi dst of her

sil e nt regard he spoke agai n b endi n g for ,

ward until hi s lips app roached her ear .

T hey h a ve lai d thei r plans h whispered , e ,

with a sudd en and s a v age exultati o n but we ,

also h a v e lai d ours An d even we C annot

.

reckon upon the c onsequences The spi rit u al .

enth usi ast is n ot easy t o hold in ch e c k o n c e h e ,

h as b e en aro u sed !

Eni d stared at hi m the pupils o f h e r e yes

,

dilat e d h e r li ps pale
,
.

You m e an Y ou m e an she stam
mere d ; then her fe ar fou n d v oice What .

do you m ean ? h dema n de d i n sharp

s e , ,

alarm e d to n es .

Bale C ph w m et her questio n steadily

or e ,
.

1 24
 TH E M YS T I C S

mean he said w i th erce vindictive

I , ,

ness t h at at th e Ga th ering to night he will

,

-

b e p u bli cly d en o un c e d !

He ma de th e d e c la rati o n sl ow ly a n d ea c h ,

wo r d fe ll wi t h ove w he l ming we ight upon r

h i c o mpani o n s u n de rstan d ing A i n the

s . s

b ew il de r ed m az e s o f a nigh t ma r e h w s e sa

t he c row de d ch apel the fana t i c al unstabl e , ,

fac e s of h c o ngre ga t ion t h e i A rc h

t e , s x

M ysti c s utrag e d i ncens ed unrelen t ing ;

o , ,

an d i n t h e ir mi ds t t he P r o ph et tall an d grave ,

an d m ast e rful as h h a d s e en hi m a b
, s e un

d re d ti m e s One m an faci ng a
. of se a un

g o v e rn ed em ot ion ! At th e isi o n h e r h e ar t V

s we ll ed s udde n l y an d her s ou l sic ke ne d Wi th .

a gestur e almost passi o na t e as h i o w n h

, as s , s e

t urn ed u p o n Bal e C ph w -
or e .

Yo u w oul d de n ou n ce hi m b efore the P e o
ple h said in c r e d u lo u sly Yo u w o u l d
s e , .

t rap hi m ? On e m an agains t a h undr e d !

O h it wo ul d b e cow a r d l y ! C r u el !
,

Bale C ph w fa ce a me d t o a de eper r e d
-
or e

s .

I2
5
 TH E M YS T I C S

C o w ar d ly ? D o yd kn ow
Cowardly ? u

wh at you are m a n i s a thie f !

sayi ng ? T he

For one mo m ent she sh rank b fore t h e e

epith e t ; the next she raised her head h e r ,

ey e s ashi ng her li ps p arted

, .

Y ou h a v e no right to use that word .

You h a v e not seen hi m steal .

Seen h i m ? No B ut the ears a re a s
.

r eliable as the eyes an d we h ave he a rd hi m

,

declare t h at he intends to st e al .

I nten ds ! I nten ds ! I ntentio s a re n ot n

acts I n her deep agitation h tur n ed

3)
.
, s e

upon hi m with a new d emeanor

Oh be mer c ifu l ! she c ried Gi v e hi m
,

.

t h e b e ne t of mercy W ait till the Assem b ly

.

i ove r and then a ccuse hi m

s ,
If you . can

p ro ve yo u r accusation then j ustice can be

,

d o ne On the other h and

.

The other h a n d ? Agai n B aleC o r

p he w s cru e l l augh b roke fro m hi m

He .

h as n ot sh runk from lies from i m posture

from b lasph e my I s it likely he will shrink
.

1 26
 TH E M YS T I C S

Because he stole out of the house to d ay a n d -

c a me here to you I tr a cked hi m here an d

.

tracked hi m b ack again .

E n i d sh rank a w a y fro m hi m .

S you are a spy ? she sai d i n a

o so , c on

fused u n even v oice

, .

He turn ed i nstantly hi s p assions m , a a e.

A py ? he cried
s

I am a spy ? Very
.

well ! W e will see who c omes out ictor V .

T he thief or the py His v oice rose his

s .

,

face darke n ed The de mon of j eal o usy th at

.

h a d p ursu e d hi m for se v e n d ays was free of

the leash a t last .

"

I wanted to know this he e x clai med , .

I wanted to be sure I h ad my suspicions .

b ut I wanted p roof O n t h e day I surp rise d

.

you with hi m I suspecte d ; to day when I saw

,
-
,

him e nter this house I felt co nv i n ced ,

Con v inced of wh at
C onvinced that there is m or in this e

matter th an h is lo v e for you Th at th i . e re

also
128
 TH E M YS T I C S

Wi t h a swi ft m o vement Eni d S t opp ed him .

S h e w q u i v eri ng violently b ut h held her

as , s e

h e a d high
h said distinctly you a re

Y e s, s e Y , . e s,

quite right T here i s m o re i n th is matt e r

.

than h i l o ve for me Th e r e is als o my love

s .

fo r hi m !
H er eyes w ere b lazing ; h e r hea rt was b e at
ing fast W i t h an agita t i o n equal to Bale
.

C ph w
or e own h m o ved t o t he replace

s s e

an d p ressed the be ll .

Wh e n t he ser v ant appea r ed h turn e d to s e

her .

N o rris h sai d i n a q u i e t v o ic e show
, s e , ,

M Bal e
r. C ph w out or e
 C H AP T E R I!

HER E a re few p h ases of h uman

e xistenc e more int e resting th an
th at in whi c h a young a n d sen
i ti
s wom a n is compell e d by
ve

ci rcumsta n ces to cast asid e the

pleasant i the carefully m od ulate d
a rt ce s ,

emotio n s of a sh e lter e d li fe an d to face the

,

realities of fact and fe eling .

For t we nty th ree y e ars Eni d W i h l y

-
tc er e

h ad playe d with existenc e toying with it ,

enjoying i t as an epic u r e enjoys a rare wine

,

o r a ch o ice morsel of foo d p rep ared for his

appreci ation Now as she stood al o ne i n
.
,

h e r small d ra w ing roo m with its costly dec

o rations its feminine atmosph e r e h was
, , s e

c o nscious f the rst time th at the ban q ue t

or

o f life i s not i n reality a di splay of delicat e

v i an ds a n d tempting vintages b ut a meal o f ,

1
3 0
 TH E M Y S TI E S

But now that m ome n t with its i n structive ,

an d p rimiti v e e m otions was p assed b y wh at

,

seemed mo n ths years century By a a .

p rocess of m ind as swi ft a s it was su b tle th e ,

child h ad grow n i n to a woman the egoist

h ad b ecome conscious of anoth e r existence .

With the e n tra n ce o f B ale C ph w with the -

or e

soun d of her o w n de n unci ation upon his lips

a n ew feeling h ad awak e ned within her a

feeling stronger th an h umili ation strong e r ,

than p ri de I t h ad ris e n blin d ing an d daz

. ,

zl i g her as a great light might b lind and

n ,

d azzle ; an d h stood glori ed and e x alted

s e

wit h in its radia n ce .

A the door h ad closed u pon her seco n d

S

visitor a long sob b ing sigh o f excit e ment of

, ,

tumultuo u s joy and fe ar shook h e r fro m

h e ad t o fo o t ; sh e i n vol untarily d rew h e r g
u re to its full height an d c ov ered h e r face
,

w i t h both h a n ds as t h ough to ward ff the

,
o

lig h t th at lay acro ss her worl d .

B ut the great mom e nt o f joy and C o m

1
32
 TH E M YS T I C S

p r e h e nsi o n c ould n o t las t ; ot h e r and m o r e

i nsistent factors were at w o r k w ithi n h e r
mind cl ai ming eve n de man d ing att e n t i o n
, .

Almost as the o ut e r d o o r c l o s ed up o n Bal e

C ph w h e r h an d s d r o pp ed t o h e r sid e s an d
or e ,

an e xpr e ssi o n akin t o terr o r c ro ss ed h e r e yes .

With a min d r e n d er ed s u p e rs e nsi t iv e by i t s

o w n emotions s h e realize d w h at t h e n e xt v e
,

hours might h o l d ; an d l i ke a tang i b le m e na ce

th e d ar k angry fa c e o f th e Arch M ys t ic
,
-

as h ed ba ck upon her c o nsci ou sn e ss .

.W h ile h e h a d be e n p re s e nt in th e r oo m ,

wh il e h i t u rb u lent v o i c e h a d ll ed h e r e a rs
s ,

s h h a d b ee n o n l y par t ly alive t o th e t h r e at
e

e n ed d ang e r ; b u t n o w th at h is p re s e n c e ha d
b e en r e m o v ed n ow t h at h w fre e t o sift
, s e as

the meaning of his wo r d s t h ei r fu ll ig i , s n

cance w as b o rn e i n u p o n he r W ith an .

ala rming c l e a rn e ss of is io n h re co gni ze d

V , s e

t hat b eh i n d h i th r e a t s l ay a de n i te m e an i ng ;
s

t h at the man h i ms el f at a l l ti m e s passi o na te

, ,

and on o c casi o n vi ole nt in te mp e ram e nt h a d

, , ,

1
33
 TH E M YS T I C S .

su d denly bec o m e a danger som e thi n g as

erce and men a c ing as an unco n tro lled el e ment .

She realized a n d understood this rapidly ,

a s o n ly the min d knows an d comp rehe n ds

i m oments of stress an d crisis ; an d b efore
n

her knowledge a ll i deas sa v e o n e fell away

,

like ch aff b efore the win d At all costs i . n

face f e ve ry obstacle she m ust w a r n an d

o

s av e the P roph e t !
With a start o f app rehension h gla n ced , s e

at the clock an d saw th at the h an d s m arked

te n m i n utes to se v en M o v ing to the . re

plac e she o n ce m ore p ressed the b e ll ; an d

,

as Norri s a n swered tur n ed to her heedl e ss

, ,

for p erh aps the rst ti m e i n her life of out

ward appearances .

Get me my lo n g b lack cloak N o rris , ,

she s a id A nd a b lack h at an d v eil I a m

.

.

going out .

N i face exp resse d no surp rise

o rr s s

.

Yo u w ill be ba c k to di nn er m a am she ,

i n qui red .

1
34
 TH E M YS T I C S

then she sank into the cor n er of the b an d ca

closed her eyes as she hea d her order

, r re

ea et d to the ca b man a nd felt the horse

p ,

swing fo rward i nto the stream of tra ffi c .

M ore th a n once she altere d her positio n as

th e dist a nce b etween K nightsbri dge and St .

G e orge s T errace lessened She was de v our

.

e d by i mp atience and yet p aralyzed b y dread .

Once as the cab h alte d i n a block of tra fc

, ,

she heard a clock strike se v en a n d at the ,

so u nd the b lood rushed to her face as she

thought of the n earness of her orde a l ; b ut
an instant l ater she d rew ou t her watch to
v erify the ti me and p al e d with s u d d en pp
, a re

h i
e n s on a s she realized th at the C lock was
slow .

So her mi n d oscillated u n til the b dr ew ca

up besi de the curb ; and with a n erv ou s start

,

sh e h ea rd the cab ma n ope n the trap door -

.

W h at n um b er lady ? he asked
,

.

She answered almost guiltily No n um !

b er ! J ust st o p here ! Put me d own here !

1
3 6
 TH E M YS T I C S

have do n e the spi rit of action an d vigilanc e

,

reigning i n the House .

Whi le the th ou ght ashed th rough her

mind Noro y surveyed her from his gr e at
,

h e ight .

Y ou are i n good time my c hild ; the ,

Gath e ring is fo r e ight o c loc k

.

S h e l ook ed p at hi m u .

Ye s h sai d qui ck ly I kn o w it i s
,

s e , .

fo r e ight o c lo c k b u t I h av e c om e early I

,
.

h ave co m e b ec a u se I w is h Her courage

faltered b efor e the int e nt sear c hing gaze o f ,

his bl ue ey e s .

I h av e com e h added with gathere d , s e ,

res o luti o n b ec a u s e I de si re private A ud i e nce

,

wi th the Prophet because there i s something

on my Soul o f wh ic h I m ust unburden m y
self.

The A h My ti looked at her a n d his eyes

rc ~
s c

seemed co l d as ste e l .

Th e Prophet holds p ri v ate A udie n ce only
i n the m orni n g he replied i n a n e v e n v oic e
,

,
.

1
38
 TH E M YS T I C S

Eni d u s h e d .

I k n ow t hat B ut there a re e x c epti o ns

.

to the r u le
T he Arc h Mys t i c sh ook h is h e a d .

T he P o p het ho lds p rivat e A u dienc e o nly
r

in th e m o rn i ng .

Bu t th e Pr o p h et i g e n e rou s Fiv e min

s .

u t e s al o ne w i t h h im wi l l sa t is fy m e th ree

mi nutes tw o minu te s H e r t o n e q uick
e ned as her anxi e ty i ncr e as ed .

S t ill N
o ro v sbl ue e yes m e t h e rs w uns e rv

i n gl y
Th e Prophet hol d s p rivate A udience o nly
i n th e m o rning .

A t t he s e c o n d repeti t ion her app re h e nsion

ro se t o fea r ; an d i n h er alarme d tre pi d a t i o n
sh e co n ce iv ed a n ew id e a Wit h a rapid .

searc hing glance h e r ey e s t rav e lle d o v e r t he

Ar c h M ys t i c s p owe r fu l gur e wh i l e she
-

,

men t ally m e asur ed h i p h ysical s t r e n gt h w i t h

s

t h at of th e Pro p h e t H e r s u rv e y w as sh o rt
.

and c o mp re h e nsive ; an d h e r d e c isi o n came

l 39
 TH E M YS T I C S

with eq u al spee d With a subtle change of

.

m anner a n d vo ice she m ade a fresh appeal .

T u rning to him w ith a gesture o f deference ,

she spoke again i n a so ft an d co n cili atory

voi c e .

Of c ourse you are right in wh at y
, ou

say she m urm ured

,
. B ut I am goi n g to

make an appeal I f I m ay not see the

.

Prop h et in p rivate A ud i e nce then let me see

,

hi m in yo u r p resen c e ! I h a v e o nly a dozen

wor d s to say ; a nd i f necessa y I w ill s a y
, r ,

the m in your p resence Y ou ca n . it is se e

urg e nt when I am willing t o h umili ate my

,

self I t i o nly for h er S o ul th at a wom a n

. s

will co n quer her p ri d e Y ou won t d eny

.

p e ace to my Soul Her v oice d ropped her ,

wh o le exp ression pleaded .

For a m o ment for j ust o n e m oment ir

seemed to her d esperate gaz e th at his h ard
bl ue e y e s soft e ned ; the n e xt thei r cold
, , un

yi e l d ing glan c e disill u sioned her f hope o .

I t is useless t o app e al t o me he sai d ; ,

1 40
 THE . M YS T I C S

Permission is gr a nted ! he said

.

For a m ome n t lo n ger she stood burning ,

with apprehensi v e dread On one han d was .

the Prophet trapped an d unawar e o f his

peril ; on the o t h er was Bale C ph i m -
or eW

placable enraged unrelaxing in his pursuit

, , .

She waited i rres o l u te until the cold i nqui r

, ,

ing gaze of t h e Arc h M ys t ic m a de action

c o mp ulsory ; t h en scarc e ly c ons c io u s of t h e
,

m o v ement s h e inclin ed h er h e a d in m h i
,
ec an

cal ackn owledgm e nt f h i courtesy an d o s , ,

turni n g a w a y p assed d o wn the l o fty som b re

, ,

h all .

Never in a fter life was she abl e to remem

-

b er with any de gre e of distin c tness her

, ,

th re a ding of the famili ar corri d ors leading

to the ch apel He r consci o usness of o ut e r
.

things was numb ed by mental s t rife R ea ch .

ing t he heavy c u rtain th at sh ut ff the sacred o

p re c in c t h th r u st it aside w i t h n e r v ous i m
, s e

etuo s i ty an d stood l o o k ing ar o und the d e

p
t d c h apel glancing from t h e r o ws of
se r e

1 42
 TH C M YS T I C S
M O MQ M B b EM A O o

s
e mp t y chairs to the S anctua ry w here th e ,

gre at g o lden Th ro ne s too d s h roud e d in a

w h ite c l oth and th e silver ce nse rs lay a w ait
,

i ng t h e am e .

At a rst glan ce i t s e em ed th at the ch apel

w as e nti rel y e mpty b ut as he r e y e s gr ew
,

ac c u st o med t o t h e m o d ulat ed l ig h t d i ff u s e d
by e ight la rg e tap e rs h sa w th a t th e S an c t
, s e

ua y w as oc c upi ed by o n e s o mb re fi g u r e that
r

i te d sil e n t ly b e t wee n th e l ec t e rn an d th e
r

Th r o n e F o r a n instan t he r he ar t l e ap e d
.
,

fo r th e man was o f the same h e ight an d b u ild

as the Pr ec u rs o r ; b u t a s e c o n d glan ce p u t he r
ho p e s to ight T h e M ysti c wi th i n the
.

S an c tua ry w the h u mbl e m e mber of t h e

as

co ngr e ga t i o n wh o se d u ty it w as t o wait up o n
t h e Pr o phet .

As h passe d sl ow ly and a u t o matically p

s e u

the aisl e th e ma n t u rn ed an d l oo ke d at her ;

,

b ut afte r a c u rs o ry gl anc e r etu rn ed t o his task

of s et ting th e San ctu a ry in o r de r .

T h e lo o k an d t h e e vi d ent unc o ncern chill e d

1 43
 TH C M YS TI C S
M H MQW QM EM A l O lB M

a nd daunte d her a ew W ith a move m ent

n

of desp ai r she p aused an d sa n k i n to o n e of

,

the empty ch ai rs .

For a space th at see m ed eternal sh e sat ,

h uddled i n her seat her h a n ds c lasped n e r

vo u sl y in her l p ; her ears alert to c atch the

a

slightest sou n d ; her eyes unconsciously fol

lowing the m o v e m ents of the man wit h in the
S anctuary ; then suddenly and abruptly
, ,

the tensio n s n appe d ; an d actio n action of

some description b ecame i mperative She

.

rose from her seat .

After she h ad risen she stood aimlessly ,

looki n g a b out her at the b lack an d white - -

walls a t the rows of ch ai rs at the glea m ing

, ,

oct a go n al sym b ol th at h ung from the roo f;

then as if m agnetically attracted her gl a n ce
, ,

tra v elled ba ck to the man i n si de the S an t c

uary rail .

T here was n othing rem ark a b le in the s pa e r

gure m o v ing reverently from one sacred

,

o b ject to an other ; b ut as her eyes rested o n

1 44
 TH E . M YS T l C S

had sought her p urse b ut w as s h e scanned

, no ,

the ascetic fa ce of this unworl d l y servant her ,

ngers in v oluntarily loosened an d the p urse

slipped ba c k into her po ck et W ith a new .

resol v e she looked hi m straight i n the eyes

, .

You ca n do me a great service v ery a

great ser v ice she s a i d q uietly in her so ft

, , , ,

clear v oice .

T h e man looked at her in slo w i nqui ry .

Oh I k now you are surprise d she a dded
, ,

q ui c kly . I k now this seems un usu a l

She p a u se d i n mom e ntary hesitation .

The M ystic appeared d istr e ssed .

M y m y d uty he br o ke i n u n e a sily

.
,

M y d u ty is to
B ut h c hecked hi m sudde n ly
s e .

C harity is greater th an d uty ! she s a id

,

in a l w imp ressi v e tone By the sa m e

o ,
.

feminine intuition th at h ad m ade her d is

card h er p urse she saw th a t by a se m i
,

mys t ical appeal and by that alone coul d

sh h o pe to suc c eed
e Laying her hands upo n
.

1 46
 TH E . M YS T I C S
M
glan c e turned h alf fear fully from th e intent ,

appealing face to the lecter n o n wh ich rested

the w hite bound S i ym
-
c ts .

With a sudde n a ccess of e n th usi a s m E n i d ,

spoke ag a i n .

There is so m ethi n g trou b ling m y Soul

,

h sai d Something th at I m ust confess

s e .

to the Prophet to night M y whole h appi - .

ness all my peace depen ds upon co n fessing

it I cannot speak with hi m before the Gath
.

ering assembles ; b ut I ca n write my f con e s

sion W ill you sa v e m y Soul ? Will you

.

carry my confe ssion to h im

Until the words were actually spoken she ,

di d not realize how i mmensely she h ad staked

up o n her ch an c es o f success I n a fe v er of .

anxiety sh e waited watching the m an s gaz e

,

as it w av ered undeci dedly o v er th e S i ym c ts ,

then returned as if m agnetized to her fac e

, ,
.

I n t w enty minutes the Gathering will be

a ssem b led he m urm u red

,

.

I k n ow I know B u t there is still ti m e

,
. .

1 48
 TH E M YS T I C S

l t is a m a tte r of o f fai th o f peac e o f

min d .

T h e ma n sh u ffl e d his fe et .

I r i t i s imp o ssibl e h e sai d

-
.
,

W h y i mp o ssible
B e ca us e t he P rop h et i exal t ed to nig h t
s -
.

T he Arch M ysti c s t h e ms e lv e s a r e g u a r d ing

-

t he T h re s ho l d The Pr o phet is e xal t e d ; he

.

m us t n o t be d isturbed .

B ut i f i t is n e cessa ry t o d is t ur b hi m ? I f
t h e re is a S ou l in d ang e r 9

Th e Pr o phet m u st n ot be d isturbed .

Wh at a re we th at we s hould t h rus t o ur
,

w ro ng d o ing o r our sorro w up o n th e M igh t y

-

One
At t h e wo r d s a rage of app re h e nsion s hoo k
Eni d S he l i fted he r he a d an d h e r fi ngers
.
,

c l o s ed fi e r cel y rou n d t h e i ro n ba r that topped

th e ra i l ing .

S i le n ce ! s he sa i d e x c i ted ly Yo u d

, . o

n o t k n ow wh a t y ou a r e saying ! T he Prophet
s e ts h i p eo pl e hig h ab o v e hims e l f T he
s .

1 49
 TH C M YS T I C S
M O M M B MS A d h tm
m e ssage o f a So u l in distress is of more valu e
i n his eyes th an a h undred mome n ts of ex
a l t ti
a on .Take care th at his wrath does no t
fall upon y o u !

I nvol u n tarily the m an paled .

Y es T a ke care ! she cried Take
.

.

c a re ! Y ou h av e the well being the whole -

future f o n e Soul in your han d s t o night

o -
.

How will you a n swer to the P rophet if you ,

fa il i n the trust ?

The M ystic cowered .

I f you fa il the wro n g c an n e v er be
, re

pai red A n d the doing of t he action will

.

cost you n othing T ake this n ote . W ith

agitated h aste she tore a leaf from a tiny
note book th a t h ung at her waist T a k e
- .

thi s n ote T ell no o ne Gi v e it into th e

. .

Prophet s own h a n ds

She d rew out a
pencil an d w r o te a fe w enigmatical words .

Gi v e it i nt o h is o w n han d s ; an d I can

p ro m is e y o u th at y o ur r ew ar d wi l l be gr e ate r
th a n you thi nk W ith a rapi d mo v ement
.
,

150
 C H AP T E R !

O R one i n st an t Eni d stood

spellb o und ; the n i nv oluntarily
she stepped b ackward crump ,

ling the slip of p aper i n her

h and .

A t the s am e mo v ement B ale C ph w d -

or e a

va n ced and p assing the M ystic i n d ic a ted

, ,

the S anctuary curtain .

Go ! he com mande d i n an u n ste a dy

,

vo ice And as the m an sl unk away he wheel

.
,

ed r o un d a n d confronted Enid .

So this is your a c tion ? he sa i d t m
, re u

lous ly .This i your conception o f honor ?

s

Truly wom an is the undoing of m an ! W ith

,

an exci t ed gesture he lift ed his h an d and ex

,

tended it t o wards the white S it ym lying c s

upon the lectern .

1
52
 TH E M YS T I C S

But Eni d met his a t tac k w ith the cour a ge

th at s o m e ti mes outli v e s h o pe .

A j ust man need fea r n o w oman ! h e x
s e

claimed I t is beca u s e y o u a r e u nj ust and

.

a c ow a rd th at y o u fe ar that y o u suspect

that y o u fi nd it n e c e ssa ry t o hi de and py s

.

T he c o l o r s u rged o v er his face .

I h ave been outraged ! he cried I

h av e b ee n o utrage d !

An d like an u nr e as o ning ani mal y o u turn
, ,

t o de v o ur t he thing that h as h u rt y o u ?

I de m and j us t i ce
.

S he t h r ew o ut h e r hands an d laug he d d su

d l y an d hysteri c ally
en .

And y o u call t h i s j ustice ? Yo u c all i t
j us t i ce t o trap o n e man and t a h un d red
se

ot h e rs l oo se u p o n hi m ?

B u t Bal e C ph w t u rn ed u p o n he r
-
or e .

And wh at is t h is m an to y o u ? he c ried
.

W h at sp e ll h as he cast u p o n y o u th a t y ou
c an fo rget h is ou trage an d his blasp he my ?

Eni d met the q uesti o n w ith h e r n ew fo rti

I S3
 TH C M YS T I C S .

M H tMPW QE l EM A l d l b

tud e ; searching B a le C ph w turb ulent or e

s

fac e she a n swered with a certai n high si m

,

l i ci t
p y .

I do kno w h sai d
not , Onc e I b e
s e .

l i
e ve d th at I a d mi r e d hi m th at I looked up

to hi m b ecause he w a s a Prophet ; s o mething

higher an d b ett e r th a n mys e lf No w I k n ow .

th at my b elief w s wro ng n d fals e ; th at it

a a

was becaus e he is a m an b eca u se b e fore

,

ev e rything else in the worl d h i s a m , e an

th a t I turn e d t o hi m th at I reli e d up o n h i m
, .

Bal e C ph w gav e a short cruel laugh

-
or e , .

So th at is it ? Th at is the secret ? H e
is a m an Well I will strip hi m of his man
,

h o od ! We h ave h ad o ur disillusioning ; yours

i s to co me He re on this sa c red spot where
.
,

he h as be en so e x alted h e will bite the d ust ,

.

H e p a used tri umph antly ; a n d i n the p ause

t h ere rose again t o Eni d s mind the picture of

o n e tall whi t e ro b ed gu e c on fronting a sea

,
-
r

o f faces all inc e nsed a ll p assio n ately v i n ,

d i ti l y u na nimous in desi re
c ve .

15 4
 TH C M YS TI C S

for hope was i rre v ocably p assed Eni d felt ,

depri v ed of the p owe to mo v e She sat r .

crouchi n g i n her seat e v ery sense alive d

, an

strained b ut with l i mb s th at were o v erpower

,

ed an d weighted a s i f b y tangible fetters .

T h rilling to th is n um b a n d impote n t se n se
of dread she he a rd th e de v otees enter the
,

ch ap e l o n e after an other an d p ass to thei r

, ,

chose n seats with soft gliding steps W ith

, .

a sicke n ing kn o wledge of approaching c a tas

tro
p h
e, she saw a n other o f the unco nv entional
b lack ro b ed ser v a n ts e m erge from b ehind the
-

S a n ctua y curtain a n d p r o ceed with m ad

r ,

deni n g deli b eratio n to light the si x tee n groups

of wa x tape s th at were set at inter v als along
r

the walls M ech a n ically her eyes followed

.

the m an s m o v eme n ts ; a n d it seemed th a t

each new taper th at spat flickered and shot , ,

u
p i nto a light was a symbol a portent of
,

the sce n e to c o me .

As the last ca n dle was lighted the sh uf ,

ing o f feet a n d the sti r of g a rments th a t ,

1
56
 TH C M YS T I C S

sin ce the e n t ry of the fi rst de v ot e e h a d , un

ce a s ni g l y fi ll ed t h e c h a p e l s udde nly b su

si ded and n e r v e d t o m o ti o n by t h e l u ll h
, , s e

tu rne d an d glanced b e h ind her .

T h e s ce ne fa mili a r th o ug h it w as i m
, ,

p r e ss e d h e r an ew I t w as a strang e e ff e ct
.

in black an d w hi te The blac k c l oth es o f

.

th e c o ngre gati o n s ee me d m ass ed to g ethe r i n

a s o m br e bl u r ; th e i r strained fanat ic al fa c es
,

l ooke d w hi t e an d ; w hil e the marbl e w alls

se t

s ho ne out sh arp an d p o lish ed i n th e same

, ,

c o ntrasting h ues Over th e wh o l e sc e ne t he

.

c o n c entrat ed light an d ac c ent u at ed s h a dow

t h r o wn by t h e gre at sc o n ce s g low ing w i t h
ta pers ma de a v ari ation o f tone alm o s t as
,

vivi d as th at s ee n on a mo o nlight nigh t .

Unconsci ou sly h re co gniz ed th e c uri o us

s e ,

t h e alm o s t barba ri c pictur e sq ue n e ss of l i g h t

an d gro up i ng ; b he r ey e s h a d ba r e ly s k i m
ut

m ed the sc e ne wh en the meaning f the h u sh o

t ha t lle d the pla ce w as b ro ug h t h o m e to

her m i n d .

1
57
 TH E M YS T I C S

Glan c ing to w ar d s the c u rtain th at hi d the

entrance h sa w t h e figure o f the Pro phet

, s e

m o ve sl owly i n to t h e c hapel a n d pass p the u

aisle attended by the Pr e curs o r an d the S i x

,

Ar ch M ysti c s
-
.

He mo v ed for war d with grave digni ed ,

steps an d wi t h a h ea d h e l d even hig h er

,

th an usual an d reac h ing the S a n ctua y gate

, r ,

p assed th roug h it without hesitation .

The action was s o c alm n atural

so so

li k e w h at she h ad witnesse d night a fter night

th at Eni d sat newly petri ed h er senses
,

stri v ing to associ at e thi s strong gure with

t h e m an w h o o nly a fe w hours before h a d
, ,

h umili ated himsel f i n h e r p r e s e nce For a .

moment her min d re fus ed th e c onn e cti o n o f

i deas ; b ut the next a full reali z ation of the
position swept o v er h er galvani z ing her me n
,

tal l y an d p h ysically h turn ed i n her s e at

, as s e

an d glance d at th e se v e n who w ere follo w ing

i n the w a k e .

First behin d his m aster came the P re

15 8
 TH C M YS TI C S

c u rs o r And t o Eni d s sea rch ing gaze it

.

s ee med that h is fac e w as set into u nfamilia r

an d anxi o us lines ; b u n de r h is black p
ut ca

an d r ed h ai r his skin lo oked col o rl e ss a n d

,

d ra w n B u t after t h e fi rst glan ce her eyes

.
,

w er e n o t fo r h i m ; w i t h s wi ft app r e hensio n
th ey passe d t o th e six Arc h M ystics who -
,

w al k ing two an d tw o fo rm ed the p , r o ce s

si o n
.

Ani mat ed by the spee d of act u al fe a r her ,

gaz e passe d fr o m th e a bn o m ally agi t at ed r

fac e of o l d Ari an th e blin d Arc h Cou n c illor

, ,

t o t h e d a r k turbul e nt fa c e o f Bale C ph w
,
-
or e ,

w h o b r ou ght p th e r e a r T h e surv e y was

u .

ra pi d an d c o mpreh e nsiv e ; an d t o h e r un

e asy min d th e th ou g h t c am w it h unerring e

ce rtainty th a t o n all the six fa c es di ff e ring

,

so marke dl y i n p h ysi c al c ha rac t eristics

there w a c o mm o n l ook o f supp ressed
as

e x c it e m e nt of s u pp r e ss ed r e s o lv e
, .

As t h e y pass ed h e r s e at N o roy turn ed an d

,

shot a gl anc e of co l d c uri o si t y i n h e r di rection ;

I S9
 TH E M YS T I C S

b ut ot h erwise t h e whole group seeme d un

a w are of her p resence Still inert she sat .

, ,

watchi n g e v ery mo v eme n t i n th e scen e b efore

her as one might watch a d rama t h at wou ld
a t a gi v en mom e nt cease to b e entertai nm ent
,

an d become real life .

Very quietly the Prophet a dv ance d to the

S i t ym and follo w i n g t h e custom ary rou
c s ,

tine opened it an d b egan to read

, .

The words w e re a strange j argon of m ys

tical counsel i nterspersed with th e rel a tio n
of mystical v isions a n d ecstasies On ordi .

n ary lips the long d isjointed senten c es and

, ,

discon n ected ph rases w ou l d h a v e soun de d

v ague and incompreh e nsi ble ; but from the ,

rst it h a d b een o n e of the P rophet s speci al

,

gifts th a t his deep gra v e v oice could lend

,

W eight and m ning t o the fantastic utter

ea

a n ce s . An d t o night it seemed t h at h e i
-
n

tended to p u t fo rth all h i p ow ers ; for scarc es

l y h ad he o pened the b ook a n d b egun to

re a d th an a sti r of interest p a ssed o v er the
,

1 60
 TH E M YS T EC S
M O M M MMSA l t <

the arms of the great gold ch a i r looked out ,

o n ce m ore upo n the ma ssed faces T his .

,

a ccording to custo m w a s the sig na l for a ,

ge n eral mo v eme n t T he co n g egatio n sway

. r

ed fo w a rd p rostr a ting the m sel v es upon the

r ,

grou n d while the A rch M ystics gathered

,
-

thei r wide b lack ro b e a b out the m an d as

, s

sumed a ttitudes of rapt contemplatio n .

I n o b edie n ce to usage Eni d also d roppe d ,

upon her knees a n d co v ered her face with

her h ands B ut though her p ose was
. con

ve n ti
on a l ,there was little p l a ce i n her
thoughts for either p rayer or m editatio n .

One i dea a n d one only a b sor b ed her
b ei n g H ow an d at wh at m ome n t m ust
.
, ,

she gather strength to act ? She crouched

up on the grou n d her h a n ds p ressed tightly
,

o v er her eyes I t seemed to her th at l l the

. a

to ture all the s s p e n se an d a p prehe n sion

r , u

of the uni v erse were g a thered i n to th at h al f

,

hour of a p palli n g silence O n ce sh e v ent .

u re d to u n lace her fi ngers a nd gla n ce

162
 TH E . M YS T I C S

th ro ugh them fearfully ; but at sight o f the

P r o phet calm i mpassiv e unconscious of
, , ,

his th reat e ned d ang e r sight of th e si x ar

s o mb r e sh ro u ded fi gure s th at sat insi de t he

S an c tua ry railing h e r bl o od tur n ed c o ld and
,

her c ou rag e quailed .

Wh e n t he sign t h at e n d e d the ev e ning s

m e ditati o n was giv e n h r o s e wi t h the rest, s e

and san k w ea k ly int o h e r seat Then i n .

,

d u m b strick e n h e lpl e ssn e ss su c h as en v el

,

ops us in a terrible dr e am she saw the ,

P ro ph e t rise ve ry sl ow ly an d stan d o n the

steps o f the Th ro ne lo o king s o lemnly d own
,

up o n th e p eo pl e .

D u ring his c hang e of p o si t i o n h sat , s e

vacilla ti ng piti ably The k owled g e th at in

. n

a singl e m o m e nt h e woul d h av e b e gun to

sp e ak sp u rred her t o a fe ve r o f ala rm w hile ,

a terri b le n e rv o us incapa c i t y c h aine d h e r

lim bs an d p ralyz ed he r to ngu e
a .

Ba le C ph w wo r d s r o s e t o h e r min d
-
or e

s .

H e will foo l he has foole d us b

us as e~

1 63
 TH E . M YS T I C S
MO H MPJ M B M S MW O E JN
'

fore I n the apprehensio n aroused b y the

.

m e m ory she h alf rose i n her ch a i her

, r,

ha n ds graspi n g the b ack of the se a t i n fro n t

of her ; b ut suddenly the ch ap el the lights , ,

the co n gregatio n see m ed to fade from her

V isio n an d she sank ba ck i n to her place
, .

T he P rophet h ad b egun to speak .

M y P eopl e he sai d v ery c almly a n d

, ,

distinctly heretofore I h a v e spok e n t o you

,

as a t e a c her To n ight I will speak to you

.
-

a s one of y o urselves .

Something in the t on e so m ethi n g in the

wor d s stru c k a n ote of s r p rise an d u un

easiness Again Bale C ph w shot a swift

.
- or e

gla n ce a t N an d old M ich a el A ri a n

o ro v ,

lifted his he a d an d str a i n ed his sightless eyes

tow a rds the Th ro n e while Eni d s h a n ds ,

tighte n ed sp a s m odic a lly o n the ba ck of the

chai r i n fro n t of her an d h li p s pa ted i , er r n

new fea r Wh at w a s he goi n g to s a y ?

.

Ho w m uch further was he goi n g to co m

p romise hi mself ? B ut the b ody of the con

1 64
 TH E M y S Ti C S

lose p a tie n ce ! M y story h as the merit of

truth .

There w a s n othing pleasant there was ,

nothing e a sy i n the c i rcumst an ces of this

,

boy s bi rth H is rst sight o f the world

.

was gained th rough the window of a tene

m e n t house a n d the picture he saw was
-
,

the picture of alley dark foul teeming an , ,

with life H i s fi rst k n owledge of e x isten c e

.

was the realization of po v erty n ot the fr ee ,

wholesome poverty o f the country b ut th e ,

grinding s o rdid c o ntin uous poverty of the

, ,

to w n th at no to n gue
, adequately de can

scri b e .

T hese w e re his di g this was
s u r ro u n n s n -

his en v i ro n ment ; and yet great are the so

mi racles th at l o ve ca n accomplish e v ery

day of th at b oy s life was ill umined a n d

glori ed b y one presence God i n his b ounty .

had gi v en hi m a mo t her !
I t was th e fi rst ti me i n any d iscourse th at
he h a d mentioned t h e sup reme N am e an d ,

1 66
 TH E M YS T I C S

as i f co n scious of the tre m or it a roused he ,

co n ti n ued his na rr a tive without p a use .

To s a y th a t a b oy s life i s m ade happier

by his m other s e x iste n ce s o unds to o tri t e

and o b v ious to b e a r a ny weight ; b i t i ut s

th r o ugh the ob v ious fa cts of li fe th at t he

worl d s machinery i s kept i n m o ti o n T h e

.

in e xpressi b l e un w ea rying tenderness of t his

,

m ot her for her the lo v e o f this boy fo r

so n ,

his moth e r grew with the passage o f ti me

,

grew int o s o mething so sig n i cant vi t al , so

an d s o deep t hat even the p o is o no u s

, at

m ph
os e re of th e a l l e y co ul d n ot thw a rt it s
gr owth .

T h i s fee ling grew i n t h e b o y s he a r t ; an d

w i th i b y a n ece ssa ry la w of na tu re
t an

o t he r fe e l i ng to ok ro o t an d gr ew als o Fi red .

by st o ries of a pas t in w h ic h we alth and

,

pos i ti o n h a d b ee n w by h i s fo r e fa t h e rs
on ,

he co n ce iv ed the i de a of b eco m i ng i n his

ow n p e rs o n a he ro k n i g ht e rrant An da -
.

in the gri my co mm o n all e y ; in th e p oo r

, ,

16
7
 TH E M YS T I C S
M O lbcl QB l SM A l d h M
b are sitting roo m where his m other sewed
unendingly ; i n the d a k closet u n der the r

slates where at night he dreamed his child s

d reams he b uilt castles such n e v er stood

, as

upon the hills of Spain !

T he germ of his ambitio n fell into hi s
soul like a seed of fi r e ; an d like a seed of ,

re sp rang into a ame At wh ate v er p rice

,
.

r wh ate v er sacri fi ce there m ust b e a

a

golde n future i n which the mother he adored

,

would sit i high places ; i n which the wor n

n

hands would ne v er p ly a nee d le except for

p astime the frail f gure grow straight an d
,
i

strong the p ale face warm a n d b righte n

,

with the colors of health !

I t was a v ery h umble a v ery young m , a

b i tion , b ut it sp ra n g from the true clea n ,

source of u n tai n ted lo v e like which t h ere i s

,

nothing else i n all the world H e paused ;

.

and from his gra v e v oice i t seemed that a

wa v e of emotio n p asse d across t he chapel .

T he co n gregati o n too fascinated b y his wo ds

,
r

168
 TH E M YS T I C S

of the world B ut fo r the unj ust d i i h i

. s n er

ta n ce of his father he wo ul d h a v e bee n hei r

,

to a v ast p roperty ; an d th rough all his youth ,

this had b ee n the g o lden mi rage th at h a d

o ated befo re his visi o n th is h ad bee n the
fabl e d country from wh i c h his castle r o s e .

Stea d ily un fal te ringly o n e i d e a h ad e x pan d

, ,

ed i h i mind By som e brave a c ti o n

n s .

b y s o me dee d of h e r o ism h w as to w in e

b a c k th e l o st inh e ritan c e .

Ti m e p ass e d An d w it h its passag e the
.

w h ee l o f fate rev o lve d By o n e o f thos e .

strange ch an ce s fo r w hi c h no man c an ac

co un t th e o pportunity th at th e boy l o ng e d
,

for fell acr o ss hi s path .

I t c ame B ut it c ame env e l o pe d i n no
.

cloud o f gl o ry T h e p ath to t h e lost i

. n

h e ritance w as st ee p an d rugged an d d ark .

He w as calle d upon to lea v e his mo t h e r ; to

l e ave the pla c e th at ho w ever sor d i d h owe ver
, ,

m e an, w y e t hi s home ; an d to enter u p o n a

as

period o f servitu d e with an unk no wn m aster

1 70
 TH E M YS T I C S
M H E M B M E A h d l h
man rela ted t o hi m by bl ood w h o m
a , te

p o r t d e scri be d as e ccen t r i c miser

an a a

m a d man .

A h e sai d t h e s e wo r d s a c u ri o us t h i ng
s

o cc u rr ed A w av e of colo r fl u s hed old

.

Arian s sig h t l e ss fa ce ; an ina r t i c u la te s ou n d

escap ed h im and h e ma de a t re m ul o us
,
at

t e mpt t o rise B ut t h e m o v e m e nt w as i
. n

sta n t l y checked by Bale C ph w w h o b e nt -

or e ,

c l o s e to h i m an d wh isp e r ed q u i ck ly i n h i s

ear .

Neith e r g e s tu r e n o r w hisper w n oted by as

the Pro p he t Hi ow n fac e h a d pal ed i f

. s as

w i th s o m e dee p e m ot i o n ; an d l owe r i ng h i s

rais ed h an d h e sp o k e agai n wit h a n ew p

, , su

p r e ss ed i n te ns it y .

T he n b e gan the vi t al p e ri od of tha t b o y
s

c a ree r H e l eft ho m e h l eft t he m othe r

. h i s e

he l o ve d h we n t in to v o l u n t a ry e xil e ani
e ,

m at ed by o n e p u rp o s e R e m e mb e r tha t .
,

my P eo p le ! H e we n t i n to the s e rv ice of t his

m an ani ma ted by o n e p u rp o s e t h e de t e r
17 1
 TH E M y S T l CS
M H MQN MB M MSA h d h l
min ati o n to w in back his right ful fortune !
An d fo r seven weary years he contin ue d his
p ursuit For the seven m o st v ital years of
.

his youth he supp ressed e v ery insti n ct th at

animat e s a b oy !
H e w ork e d m o r e laboriously th an th e l a b or
er i th e fi el d s fo r mental s e rvitude i more
n ,
s

galling t o th e y o ung th an a n y physical strain .

B u t h e never fal te red ; and at last h e h a d the

p ri de of knowing th at his end was gai n ed
h e had the p ri d e of knowing th at he h a d
be c ome i n d ispensabl e t o the m ast e r wh om
he served ! Agai n he p aus e d b ut this time

,

the pause was of imp ressiv e weight Um .

co n s c io u sly and with o ut analyzing the feel

,

ing e v ery mem b er o f the co ngregation felt

,

th at some anno u ncement was pen d ing th at

some e x traordin ary revelati o n was about to
be made .

Enid sat rigi d holdi n g her b reath in a n

,

agony of susp e nse fas c i n ate d and appalled

,

b y the incomp r e hensible discourse Behi n d

.

1 72
 THE . M YS T I C S

I t was the most gl o rious moment of his

life that m o ment in which he st ood with
-

u n sh ake n faith loo k ing t o war d s th e future

, .

B ut t h e dar k er si de of e xisten c e w as h is
portion ; he ha d b e en bor n to th e d ar ke r
si d e Within one hour o f his mast e r s de at h
.

his d reams were d ispelle d He l e arne d th at .

,

in the eyes o f t he m an he h ad serve d he h a d ,

ne ve r p ass ed bey o n d th e position of th e o ut

cast the depen d ent who se s e r v i c es are li ber

,

a l l y reward ed by th e gi ft f a few h u n d re d o

p o un d s T he fortune the i nheritanc e the

.

g ol d en m i rag e was n o l o nger existent sa v e

, ,

as something that d i d no t concern hi m By .

t h e d isp o siti o n o f his m aster s w ill it ha d

,

p ass ed int o t he coff e rs of a religious body a

fantasti c u n k n o wn sect to which the old

,

m a n h ad b elong ed !

The ann o u n ce ment fell with strange e ff e c t .

Eni d inspi re d by sudden terror ro se t o her

, ,

fee t ; Bale C ph w -
or gripping the arm of
e sat

his c h ai r his face cont o rted h i m o uth

, ,
s

1
74
 TH E M YS TI E S

working wh il e a rus t l e an a u d ibl e m ur

, ,

m ur of e x c i t em e nt passe d over the wh o le

chap e l and t h e Pre curs o r w h o all al o ng
, ,

h a d b ee n cro u c hing a t t h e foo t o f t h e t h ro n e ,

turned q uickly an d anxiously to w ar d s h is

m as t er .

But the Prophet re assured h im by a g e s

ture I t se e m ed th at h e w as e xalted by
some em o ti o n li ft e d abov e his surr o und
,

ings by s o me invisi ble p o wer .

P ut y ou rs e lv e s in t his b o y s place ! he

cri ed . W

the r e e v e r a p o si t i o n s o i
as n

te ns e ly h u man ? T h e t hing he h a d s t riv e n

for the th ing h e n e e ded in o r d ina tel y h a d
b ee n w r e n ched fro m hi m by a ban d o f peo
ple who in h is ey e s wer e e ith e r foo ls or
, ,

k nav e s W h at wou l d y o u h ave do n e in hi s

.

p o si t i o n ? Wh a t wou l d h av e b ee n y o u r i m
puls e ? W h a t y o ur ins t i n t ? I f I k n ow any
c

th i ng f h u man na t u re i t wo u l d h av e b een
o ,

t he sam e as h i pr ec is e ly a c curat e ly t h e
s ,

sa m e as his !
1 75
 TH E M Y5 TI C S
M H MQM QB M fN A h O W M

H e h a d known for years of this sect to
which his m aster belo n ged ; and for years he
h a d held it i n co n tempt I n his n orm al
.
,

youthful eyes the i dea of a creed th a t denied

,

the high si mple theory of Ch risti anity a nd

, ,

a w a ited the coming of a mythical Prophet

was a subj ect for healthy scor n A n d n o w.

sudde n ly it was forced upon his u n d e rsta n d

ing th at this a n e m ic sect this m ystical
a ,

a nticip ated Prophet wer e his rivals the

despoilers of his p ri va te i n tim ate hopes .

S uch a knowledge h as power to work a
mi racle ; an d in o n e single night it ch anged
this boy i n to a man Embitter e d hopeless
.
, ,

stra n ded i n spi r a tio n came to hi m He

, . co n

i d the tre m e n dous i dea of enteri n g upo n

ce ve

a new fi ght secon d quest of the great i

a n

herit an c e H e concei ved the i dea ; and st a n d

.

ing as it were upon a di ff ere n t pla n e of life

, , ,

he saw
But the Prophet got no further With a .

gesture of v iole n t e x citeme n t B a le C ph w

,
-
or e

1 76
 TH E M YS T GC S

Bale C ph w face became p urple

-
or e

s .

P eo p le ! hear me ! he e x claimed This

.

m a n is no Prophet H e is a n i mpostor ! A .

fra ud ! I h a v e p r o of I give you p roof !

. can

Of the extra o r d inary effect of t he s e words

Eni d crou ch ing helpl e ssly i n her seat saw

n othing All her senses were ri v eted upo n
.

one obj e c t t h e tall c alm figur e up o n the

,

steps of the Th ron e By th e power o f intui .

tion rather t h an by p h ysical observatio n

, ,

s h saw th e l oo k of int e ns e surprise o f i

e , n

c r ed uli ty m e rging to dismay that cr o ssed ,

t h e Pr o ph e t s f ace at the Arch M ysti c s

-

wo rds And at t he sight the real meaning

.

of h is incomp r e hensible disc ou rs e p ass e d

o ver h e r mind in a wa v e o f incr ed u lo u s d a

m i ti
ra on . B e li e v i n g h i ms e l f s e c u r e in his
position h e h a d v o l u ntarily cho s e n to de
,

no u nce hi ms elf .

That w h e r first tho u ght as the m atter

as

became c lear t o h e r ; b u t a chill i ng se co nd

t h ought follo wed s h arp u p o n it W h at wo u ld .

1
78
 TH E M YS TI C S

be t h e Proph et s r e a d ing o f Bale C ph w

-
or e

s

kn ow ledge ? W o ul d n o t o ne s o l u ti on and

o n e o nly p resent i t self t o h is min d ? Th e
i de a t h at sh e h a d b e tray ed his co n d e n ce .

W ith t h e h o rro r of th e s u gg e s t i o n an un

g o v e rna bl e i mp u ls e l l ed h e r i mp u ls e to
an

ris e t o go to h im s wee p t he do ubt fro m h is
min d B ut an ins t ant la te r th e merely
.

e g ot is t ica l thou gh t w as o b l it e ra te d by the

gr e a te r i ss ue s t h a t l l ed th e m o m e nt .

A fte r Bal e C ph w h ad sp o k e n an p
-
or e u

ro a r a c lam o r had su dde nly lled the

ch ap e l ; an d n ow the rapt c o n cou rse of peo
pl e h a d b eco me as a t u rb u l e nt sea Th e .

Prec u rs o r pale with int e nse n e rv o us e xci te

,

m e n t s tood vainly s t riving to ma ke his v o i ce

,

he a r d ; w hil e Bal e C ph w c l o s e ly
-
or e , su r

ro un ded by h i fe ll owM ys tic s g e s t i c ula ted

s ,

v i o l e n t ly
.

A t las t th e Pro p het ra i s ed h i h an d ; an d s

by h a bi t an d t raining t h e p eo pl e subsi ded

,

into silen c e .

l
79
 TH E M YS T I C S
l 0 h h l
l A l d l ' l
I nstantly Bale C ph w v oice ra n g out
-
or e

s .

Liste n ! he cried ; liste n !

But agai n the Pre c ursor i n terrupted .

People he deman ded will you refuse

,

,

t h e Prophet the right of speech ? Will you

re fu se to h e ar the P rophet s words ?

This is sacrileg e ! Sacrileg e ! N
o ro v

su d d e nly rais e d his v o ic e Listen to your

.

C ounc illor !

Listen to th e P ph ! T h e V o ice of the
rO et

Pro phet calls u p o n y o u Will y o u deny it ?

.

Th e Pr e cursor s voice shook with e xcite

m e nt .

This is t he truth ! I tell you th e tru t h !
Bale C ph w app e aled to the people with
-
or e

o ut stret c h e d arms
-
.

Bu t the tum u lt br oke fo r t h again .

M ystics ! M ystics ! Old Ari an s sh rill

alarmed ton e s rose for an instant only to b e ,

d ro w ned in th e clamor .

Th e n o u t o f the c on fused b a b el of sou n d

o n e y b ec am e d istinguish able
cr .

1 80
 TH E M YS T I C S
M H l c9> <ll h dl iN A 3l d ll Ml
M ystics B u t so it is On a w il d dar k
. .
,

night ten years ago I learn e d th at t he money

w hi c h sh o ul d h ave b een mine the money

w hich shoul d h ave be e n th e recomp e ns e for

my mother s h ard li fe h a d b een giv e n to

you Given fo r the

. o f a Prophet in u se

whose coming you b e li e v e d !

M y fe e lings on th at nig h t w e r e the
crimin al feelings that u n de rlie all c iviliza
ti o n I h a d only one de si r e to destr o y to
.

b e aveng ed M y u n c l e An d rew H e n d er
.
,

so n , w as Arch M ysti c of your sect ; a n d

an -

on the night h e died yo u r sacre d S i t ym , c s

w as in his h o us e !
The co ngr e gation th rill ed an d t h e blind ,

Arch C ou ncill o r t u rn ed an d cl utche d Bale

-

C ph w
or arm
e

s .

M y rst i mp u lse w as t o de stro y t h at
b ook Look at it loo k at it ! H e p o inte d ,

to the lect e rn Ten years ago I kn e lt b

.

,
e

fore r e w i th its pages in my h an d and

a ,

black thoughts of re v eng e in my heart But .

1 82
 TH E M YS T I C S
M H MSE S M B ME Q A E O E E E

t he d e vil of t emp t a t i o n l u r k s in stra n g e

plac e s I n t he v e ry t of des t ructi o n an
. ac ,

inspi ra t i o n cam e t o me A man w as e x .

pe c te d ! A Pr o ph et w as e xp e ct ed ! An d in
the pag e s of t he S i ym we r e c o n t ain ed the
c ts

a tt ri b ute s the s ec ret signs t h e mani fo l d w ays

, ,

in wh ic h he w as to ma ke g ood h i c lai m s .

I co m e of an o bs t ina te s to c k f a s tock o

th a t i n the pas t h o v e rco m e many o bs t a c l e s

as .

T h a t nig h t I c o pi ed t t h e whole of y o ur
ou

S i t y m an d a fte rw a r d s as s oo n as I r e as o n
c s , ,

ably c o u ld I l eft S cot land

,
.

I we n t r o n ce to my m oth er ; I t ol d h er
a

th a t ac co r d i ng to the di sp o si t i o n of my
,

u n c l e s w i l l I w as to in he ri t h i fo rt u ne in

,
s

te n y e ars t im e an d th a t i n t he in t erval I

w as to t mys elf fo r we a lth by profou n d

s t ud y It w as the rs t t i m e in all my li fe
.

t h at I h a d l ied to he r !
B ut to co m e to the e n d y o ur Prop h e t ,

w as to b e a s t ude n t of E as te rn lo re W i th
th i s k n owled g e i n my mi n d I s t a r ted w ith ,

18
3
 TH E M Y5 T l CS

my mot h er fo r the East W h at has h ap .

pen e d sinc e th e n is imm ateri al M y second .

p robatio n h as be e n as h ard as my rst B ut .

I accomplished tw o t h ings I tted myself .

mentally and physically for the p art I was

going to play and I m a de one stan c h
, ,

wholly disinterest ed frien d ! With a g e sture

of gra v e a ff ection he in d i c ated the Pr e cursor

,
.

I n the opp o rt u nity th at the slight p ause

ga v e B al e C ph w sp rang fo rw ard and
,
- or e ,

r e sting his h ands upo n the Sa n ctuary rail

ing faced the c o ngregation
,
.

P eopl e ! h e c ri ed hoarsely be not

, ,

de c eiv e d ! T his m an pretends to tell y o u

wh at he is He is blin d ing you wea v ing a
.

b andage o f spe c ious w o r d s across y ou r eyes .

B ut I w ill u n dece iv e y ou I will tear the .

b andage He hesitate d st a mmered , ,

p aused .

Wit h a m ovement full of r e full of ,

a uthority the Pr o phet s te pp ed fro m the

,

T h ron e .

1 84
 TH E M YS T I C S

my right The fact t h at my int en ti o n fal

.

t
e re d at the last moment doe s not a ffe c t the
cas e I wish to m ke n o appeal M y d e
. a .

s re his v oice su dd enly q u i c kened my

i

d e sire is plainly and si mply to state my c as e .

M orally I h ave d o n e you no wrong M y .

teaching h as b een th e e xpounding of simpl e

truths th at my personal ac t ion coul d not d es e
,

crate I stan d b efore y o u to n ight e mpty

.
-

h a n ded as I came The o n e thing I clai m

.

fro m y o u is j udgm e nt !

J udge m e ! I a m i n your h ands I f y . ou

think I deserv e p unishment p u nish me ! I f ,

you think ci rcumstan c es h av e m ade me w h at

I a m then sta n d a si de ! Let me p ass out of
,

your lives !

T here was a great silence ; the n a wom

an s sh arp cry rang o u t a c ross the c h apel

,

a s with a sa v ag e movement t h ree o f the

, ,

Arch M ystics spra n g upon the Pr o p h et

-
.

S a crilege ! Sacrilege ! Bale C ph w

-
or e

s

v oice rose loud an d v i o le n t .

1 86
 TH E M YS T I C S
M O M M E M S Q ZAl d l fl
B ut h e ha d cal c u la ted w i t h o ut h i h o st s .

T he fanaticism o f a cr owd i s a d angero us

we a p o n with wh ich t o tamp e r an d the d e ,

thro n e m t of a k ing i
en n o t a cco mp l i sh ed
s

in a d ay W ith the sp eed of l igh t th e

.
,

ele m e n t h e h a d u nl oo s ed t u rn ed u p o n h i m
s elf .

Aga i n o n e wo r d d i s e ntang led i t s e l f fr o m

t h e m ed l ey of s o un d s .

T he Pro p het ! T h e Pr o phe t ! L ike an

ign ited fu s e ins ti n ct ha d b e en lig hted in the

,

p eo p le T he man who fo r m o n th s h a d b ee n
.

exa lted l d we ll n i g h wo rs h i pp ed
i o n o re -

was in i mm i n e n t p e ril ! T h a t o n e thoug h t

s u bm e rg ed an d de m o lishe d ev e y ot h e r r .

T he r e w as a fo rw a r d m o vem e nt r o a r a

a c ras h an d the h i g h g i l t ra i li ngs of t h e

,

S anc tu a ry we n t dow n b efo r e a s to rm

as .

T o E n i d who h a d b ee n b o rn e i rre s i s t ib l y
,

u p w a r d o n th e h u man ti de the r e w o n e , as

o v e rp owe r i n g m o m e n t of fe a r d cl am o r an ,

i n wh ic h the c ry of T h Pro p h et ! T h

e e

18 7
 TH E M YS T I C S

P ro p h et ! domin ated her consciousness ; then

,

to her the worl d becam e su d denly and merci

.

fully sightless soun d less and voi d

, , .

When at last her eyes opene d when at

l a st h e r senses falteringly return e d t o the
co n sciousness of pres e nt things h w as in s e

her ow n familiar room The atm o sphere

.

b reathed of repose an d peace ; th rough the

draw n curtains the h um o f Lo n don came
sub d ued and sooth ing ; in the room its e lf
the lights were m o d ulated and the re glow
ed soft an d mell o w w hile a fain t p ungen t
, ,

smell of rest o ratives lled the ai r B ut these.

det a ils came b ut vaguely to her app reci ation ,

fo r t h e rst o bj ect upon whi c h her glance

and her i deas rested wa s the gure of Jo h n
H e nderson k n eeling beside the co u ch on
,

whi c h h l ay
s e .

F o r a long silent sp ace h gaze d bewil

, s e

d e red into t he grave fac e bent o ver h e r ow n

stri v ing to fath o m wh e ther thi s w another as

1 88
 TH E M YS T I C S

An d a fte r to night

-
h sai d in a low s e , ,

u nst e a d y vo i ce .

F o r a m o ment h e d i d not ans w er an d i n ,

th e so ft l ig ht it s ee m ed t o he r th a t a sh adow
of pain pass ed o v e r h i fa ce s .

Again h p ut o ut h e r h an d an d to u ch ed
s e

h is .

W h a t ar e y ou goi ng t o do ? h as ked
s e

b e l ow h e r br e a th .

At l as t he rais ed h i h ea d an d lo ok e d fu lly
s

at h e r .

I am going bac k to th e East T h e hard

.

es t tas k of my l i fe i a w ai t ing m e t h e r e I t
s .

is a v ery b i tte r t h i ng t o d i si l l u sionize the

p e rs o n t o who m o n e i a he r o s .

S he l ooked at h i m q uick ly .

You ar e sp e a k ing of y ou r m o ther ? Y ou

ar e t h in k ing of y ou r m o t he r ?

He bent h i h ead s .

F o r a spa ce n e it h er sp ok e Vag ue ly an d .
,

in d istant a c c o mpanim e n t to th ei r tho ug h ts ,

e a ch w c o ns c i ou s of the h u m of t r fc and
as a

1 00
 TH E M y S Tl CS

of the s oftl y c ra ckl in g r e ; the n a t l as t En i d

s t i rr ed an d w i th a ge s tu r e fu l l of co m p r e
,

he ns on,i he r ng e rs c l o s ed r ou n d H e n de r
son s
.

L e t m e t el l he r t h e s to ry ! h sai d l

s e , a

m o s t i na udi bly Ta ke m e w i th y ou an d
.

l et m e te ll he r ! W e a r e b ot h wo m e n an d ,

H e r he a d d roo p ed s l i g htl y ; a n d he r fac e

fl ush e d An d we b oth l o v e y ou
. .

TH E