The Life Everlasting: A Reality of Romance

m the incredulity with which the narration of such incidents is received, the mere idea that any one human creature should be fortunate enough to secure some part

prehend; therefore, as it is impossible that an outsider should enter at once into a clear understanding of the mystic Spiritual-Nature world around him, it follows that t

reless telegraphy' and 'light-rays' are accepted facts, though these very things were familiar to the Egyptian priests and to that particular sect known as the 'Hermetic Brethren,' many of whom used the 'violet ray' for chemical and other purposes ages before the coming of Christ. Wireless telegraphy was also an ordinary method of communication between them, and they had their 'stations' for it in high towers on certain points of land as we have now. But if they had made their scientific attainments known to the multitude of their day t

ontinuous denial of the 'superhuman' (which denial is absurdly incongruous seeing that all his religions are built up on a 'superhuman' basis), it is generally necessary for students of psychic mysteries to guard the treasures of their wisdom from profane and vulgar scorn,-a scorn which amounts in their eyes to blasphemy. For centuries it has been their custom to conceal the tenets of their creed from the common knowledge for the sake of conventions; because they would, or might, be shut out from such consolations as human social intercourse can give if their spiritual attainments were found to be, as they often are, beyond the ordinary. Thus they mo

or 'the letter killeth,-the spirit giveth life.' So far as a 'form' may make a way for truth to become manifest, I am with it,-but when it is a mere Sham or Show, and when human souls are lost rather than saved by it, I am opposed to it. And with all my deficiencies I am conscious that I may risk the chance of a lower world's

as far from fiction as the sayings of the prophets of old,-sayings that we know have been realised by the science of to-day. Every great truth has at first been no m

undry as 'Poor Miss Catherine.' Morton Harland, her father, was in a certain sense notorious for having written and published a bitter, cold and pitiless attack on religion, which was the favourite reading of many scholars and literary men, and this notable performance, together with the well accredited reports of his almost fabulous wealth, secured for him two social sets,-the one composed of such human sharks as are accustomed to swim round the plutocrat,-the other of the cynical, listless, semi-bored portion of a so-called cultured class who, having grown utterly tired of themselves, presumed that it was clever to be equally tired of God. I was surprised that

arrowly with his small hard brown eyes-"Y

mil

suppose,"-I answered-"But to put it

f his mouth

could. I have done it. But now it's done I'm tired! I'm sick of my destiny,-the thing I carved

d to irritate him, and he gave

anded-"If you do, I don'

r destiny, as you have made it, is that of a rich man. An

ghed h

UN-natural. If a man has plenty of money he ought to be perfectly happy and satisfied,-he can get everything he wants,-he can move the whole world of commerce a

the apples

an! You would say the f

y be right. Catherine s

ing, always querulous

ed to say-"I h

few fancies nowadays,-none that wealth can gratify. Her life has been

talent as he possessed he squandered in attacking nobler ideals than he had ever been able to attain. He was not agreeable to look at either; his pale, close-shaven face was deeply marked by lines of avarice and cunning,-h

esture-"I've had an unexpected blow just lately. The doctors tell me that I have a mortal disease for which there is no remedy. I may live on for several years, or I may die suddenly; it's all a matter of care-or chance. I want to forget the sad

a magnificent steam yacht, replete with every comfort and luxury, was surely

ay be mistaken. They are not always infallible. Many of their doomed patients have recovered

htened, and for a mom

e may-she has got into an unfortunate habit of talking about her aches and pains, and if her acquaintances have no aches and pains to discuss with her she is at a loss for conversation. However, we sha

mly in its usual cruel line. My subconscious dislike of him gave me a

and for a change,"-I

u can meet us there. I propose a cruise among the Western isles-the

in soft climbing mists of amethyst and rose,-the lovely purple light that dances on the mountain lochs at the sinking of the sun,-the exquis

!" I said, with real f

going to keep t

m not sure that it is always advisable. I have found the Mediterranean tiresome very often." He broke off and seemed to lose himsel

ure from home I had plenty to do, and I heard no more of the Harlands, except that I received a littl

-she wrote, kindly-"But not so d

. Having resolved to go, I equally resolved to enjoy the trip to the utmost limit of my capacity for enjoyment, which-fortunately for myself-is very great. Before my departure from home I had to listen, of course, to the usual croaking chorus of acquaintances in the neig

t we're sure to have a break soon,"-said

t heavy rains are threatenin

had never been on a yacht in her life-"The people o

a yachting cruise appears to be the last possible form of physical suffering that can b

e in getting a holiday under the most luxurious circumstances without its costing me a penny. This was the onl

ound-waves of the air. It was one of those supreme moments when I almost thought I had made some marked progress towards the attainment of my highest aims,-when the time I had spent and the patience I had exercised in cultivating and training what may be called the INWARD powers of sight and hearing were about to be rewarded by a full opening to my striving spirit of the gates which had till now been only set ajar. I knew,-for I had studied and proved the truth,-that every bodily sense we possess is simply an imperfect outcome of its original and existent faculty in the Soul,-that our bodily ears are only the material expressions of that spiritual hearing which is fine and keen enough to catch the lightest angel whisper,-that our eyes are but the outward semblance of those brilliant inner orbs of vision which are made to look upon the supernal glories of Heaven itself without fear or flinching,-and that our very sense of touch is but a rough and uncertain handling of perishable things as compared with that sure and delicate contact of the Soul's personal being with the etheric substances pertaining to itself. Despite my eager expectation, however, nothing more was granted to me then but just that exquisite sensation of pure joy, which like a rain of light bathed every fibre of my being. It was enough, I told myself-surely enough!-and yet it seemed to me there should be something more. It was a promise with the fulfilment close at hand, yet undeclared,-like a snow-white cloud with the sun b

whom life is always pleasant because of the pleasantness in their own natures; she had taken a house for the season in Inverness-shire, and I had arranged to join her there when my tr

t be restful to you,-it will tire you out. Morton Harland himself may be really ill, as he says-I shouldn't

e bad enou

th a bright smile of wholesome conviction-"

ay of using their brain and muscle, and gun-cases cumbered the ground in every corner. It wanted yet several days to the famous Twelfth of August, but the weather was so exceptionally fine and brilliant that the exodus from town had begun earlier than was actually necessary for the purposes of slaughter. Francesca and I studied the fac

eation we were all beasts and birds of prey, eating each other up

rely?" I querie

t quite make you out sometimes,-I wish I could! But-apart from you and me-look at a few of these men! One has just passed our window who has the exact physiognomy of a hawk,-cruel eyes and sharp nose like

aug

evere critic

stance,"-here she laid a hand tentatively on mine-"you, in your mysterious ideas of religion, actually believe that persons who l

hat certainly"-

here are people in this world whom I see IN THE V

ich no outside advice can be of any avail because they will not take it even if it is offered. It is a life-and-death matter for their own wills to determine,-and no power, human or divine, can alter the course they elect to adopt. As well expect that God would revert His law of gravitation to save the silly suicide who leaps to destruction from tower o

gled up what should be the straightness of many a life's career, and as we

here we put up for the night. The 'best' hotel was a sorry affair, but we were too tired to mind either a bad dinner or uncomfortable rooms, and went to bed glad of any place wherein to sleep. Next morning we woke up

sel bathed in all his golden rays is to destroy it. What unscrupulous villains men are! Why cannot nations resolve on peace and amity, and if differe

people's pockets for the purpose of increasing armaments, after the German fashion. Let us be ready with adequate defe

ts are for ever combating each other. In the very channels of our own blood the poisonous and non-poisonous germs are constantly striving for the mastery, and how can we escape the general ordain

s no end

me almost co

ou im

mil

I KN

ad become familiar. She was a most lovable and intelligent creature, b

rmish, I suppose!" she said, laughingly,-"

God ever gets

startled,-t

all the living things in all the millions of worlds trying to get what they ought not to have, an

an end of all! Should the Creator be weary of His work, the

r arm roun

se with the Harland people. They will bring you down from the spheres with a run! They will, I'm sure! You'll hear no conversation that does not turn

by beasts and birds as equally as by man, and has no more to do with real 'sense' or pure mentality than the ticking of a watch has to do with the enormous forces of the sun. What we call actual 'Sense' is the perception of the Soul,-a perception which cannot be limited to things which are merely

ion was the very vessel for which I was bound, the 'Diana,' one of the most magnificent yachts ever built to gratify the whim of a millionaire. Tourists on board our steamer at once too

me an affectionate adieu-"Now take care of yourself, and don't fly away to the moon on what y

the yacht. I was on my way across the sparkling bay before the 'Columba' started out again from the pier, and Francesca, standing on the steamer's deck, waved to me a smiling farewell as I went. In about ten minutes I was on board the 'Diana,'

in tones of plaintive amiabili

as if I ought somehow to apologise for a hea

led furniture ornamented with hand-wrought silver. The bed had no resemblance whatever to a ship's berth, but was an elaborate full-sized affair, canopied in white silk embroidered with roses; the carpet was of a thick softness into which my feet sank as though it were moss, and a tall silver and crystal vase, full of gorgeous roses, was placed at the foot of a standing

her with eagerness-"It's quite a little fair

or curtains in Miss Harland's rooms. She thinks them very unhealthy. She has only a bit of matting on the floor, and an iron

surroundings for the moment to consider how u

d these room

ke them as pretty as he could,"-said the maid

laration the 'Diana' being loosed from her moorings. Steam was up, and in a very short time her bowsprit swung round and pointed outward from the bay. Quivering like an eager race-horse ready to start, she sprang forward; and then, with a stately sweeping curve, glided across the water, catting it into bright wavelets with her sword-like keel and churning a path behind her of opalescent foam. We we