ofthecorruptionswhichhaverushedinuponusevenlikeaflood。Thesoulsofourpurefounders，thespiritsofHughdePayenandGodfreydeSaintOmer，andoftheblessedSevenwhofirstjoinedindedicatingtheirlivestotheserviceoftheTemple，aredisturbedevenintheenjoymentofparadiseitself。Ihaveseenthem，Conrade，inthevisionsofthenight——theirsaintedeyesshedtearsforthesinsandfolliesoftheirbrethren，andforthefoulandshamefulluxuryinwhichtheywallow。Beaumanoir，theysay，thouslumberest——awake！ThereisastaininthefabricoftheTemple，deepandfoulasthatleftbythestreaksofleprosyonthewallsoftheinfectedhousesofold。*Thesoldiersofthe*Seethe13thchapterofLeviticus。
Cross，whoshouldshuntheglanceofawomanastheeyeofabasilisk，liveinopensin，notwiththefemalesoftheirownraceonly，butwiththedaughtersoftheaccursedheathen，andmoreaccursedJew。Beaumanoir，thousleepest；up，andavengeourcause！——Slaythesinners，maleandfemale！——
TaketotheethebrandofPhineas！——Thevisionfled，Conrade，butasIawakedIcouldstillheartheclankoftheirmail，andseethewavingoftheirwhitemantles——AndIwilldoaccordingtotheirword，I=will=purifythefabricoftheTemple！andtheuncleanstonesinwhichtheplagueis，Iwillremoveandcastoutofthebuilding。’’
``Yetbethinkthee，reverendfather，’’saidMont-Fitchet，``thestainhathbecomeengrainedbytimeandconsuetude；letthyreformationbecautious，asitisjustandwise。’’
``No，Mont-Fitchet，’’answeredthesternoldman——``itmustbesharpandsudden——theOrderisonthecrisisofitsfate。Thesobriety，self-devotion，andpietyofourpredecessors，madeuspowerfulfriends——ourpresumption，ourwealth，ourluxury，haveraisedupagainstusmightyenemies——Wemustcastawaytheseriches，whichareatemptationtoprinces——wemustlaydownthatpresumption，whichisanoffencetothem——wemustreformthatlicenseofmanners，whichisascandaltothewholeChristianworld！Or——markmywords——theOrderoftheTemplewillbeutterlydemolished——andthePlacethereofshallnomorebeknownamongthenations。’’