\"Mywifehadremainedhereduringmyabsence，inanxiousexpectationofmyreturnwithsometidingsofhersister。Ihadnonetocommunicate。Foratime，Iwasbreathlesswithmyspeed:This，andthetremorsthatshookmyframe，andthewildnessofmylooks，alarmedher。Sheimmediatelysuspectedsomedisastertohavehappenedtoherfriend，andherownspeechwasasmuchoverpoweredbyemotionasmine。
\"Shewassilent，butherlooksmanifestedherimpatiencetohearwhatIhadtocommunicate。Ispoke，butwithsomuchprecipitationasscarcelytobeunderstood；catchingher，atthesametime，bythearm，andforciblypullingherfromherseat。
\"Comealongwithme:fly:wastenotamoment:timewillbelost，andthedeedwillbeomitted。Tarrynot；questionnot；
butflywithme!
\"Thisdeportmentaddedafreshtoheralarms。Hereyespursuedmine，andshesaid，\"Whatisthematter？ForGod\'ssakewhatisthematter？Wherewouldyouhavemego？\"
\"Myeyeswerefixeduponhercountenancewhileshespoke。I
thoughtuponhervirtues；Iviewedherasthemotherofmybabes:asmywife:IrecalledthepurposeforwhichIthusurgedherattendance。Myheartfaltered，andIsawthatImustrousetothisworkallmyfaculties。Thedangeroftheleastdelaywasimminent。
\"Ilookedawayfromher，andagainexertingmyforce，drewhertowardsthedoor——\'Youmustgowithme——indeedyoumust。\'
\"Inherfrightshehalf-resistedmyefforts，andagainexclaimed，\'Goodheaven!whatisityoumean？Wherego？Whathashappened？HaveyoufoundClara？\"
\"Followme，andyouwillsee，\"Ianswered，stillurgingherreluctantstepsforward。
\"Whatphrenzyhasseizedyou？Somethingmustneedshavehappened。Isshesick？Haveyoufoundher？\"
\"Comeandsee。Followme，andknowforyourself。\"
\"Stillsheexpostulatedandbesoughtmetoexplainthismysteriousbehaviour。Icouldnottrustmyselftoanswerher；
tolookather；butgraspingherarm，Idrewherafterme。Shehesitated，ratherthroughconfusionofmindthanfromunwillingnesstoaccompanyme。Thisconfusiongraduallyabated，andshemovedforward，butwithirresolutefootsteps，andcontinualexclamationsofwonderandterror。HerinterrogationsOf\"whatwasthematter？\"and\"whitherwasIgoing？\"wereceaselessandvehement。
\"Itwasthescopeofmyeffortsnottothink；tokeepupaconflictanduproarinmymindinwhichallorderanddistinctnessshouldbelost；toescapefromthesensationsproducedbyhervoice。Iwas，therefore，silent。Istrovetoabridgethisintervalbymyhaste，andtowasteallmyattentioninfuriousgesticulations。
\"Inthisstateofmindwereachedmysister\'sdoor。Shelookedatthewindowsandsawthatallwasdesolate——\"Whycomewehere？Thereisnobodyhere。Iwillnotgoin。\"
\"StillIwasdumb；butopeningthedoor，Idrewherintotheentry。Thiswastheallottedscene:hereshewastofall。I
letgoherhand，andpressingmypalmsagainstmyforehead，madeonemightyefforttoworkupmysoultothedeed。
\"Invain；itwouldnotbe；mycouragewasappalled；myarmsnerveless:Imutteredprayersthatmystrengthmightbeaidedfromabove。Theyavailednothing。
\"Horrordiffuseditselfoverme。Thisconvictionofmycowardice，myrebellion，fasteneduponme，andIstoodrigidandcoldasmarble。FromthisstateIwassomewhatrelievedbymywife\'svoice，whorenewedhersupplicationstobetoldwhywecamehither，andwhatwasthefateofmysister。
\"WhatcouldIanswer？Mywordswerebrokenandinarticulate。
Herfearsnaturallyacquiredforcefromtheobservationofthesesymptoms；butthesefearsweremisplaced。Theonlyinferenceshededucedfrommyconductwas，thatsometerriblemishaphadbefallenClara。
\"Shewrungherhands，andexclaimedinanagony，\"Otellme，whereisshe？Whathasbecomeofher？Isshesick？Dead？Issheinherchamber？Oletmegothitherandknowtheworst!\"
\"Thisproposalsetmythoughtsoncemoreinmotion。Perhapswhatmyrebelliousheartrefusedtoperformhere，Imightobtainstrengthenoughtoexecuteelsewhere。
\"Comethen，\"saidI，\"letusgo。\"
\"Iwill，butnotinthedark。Wemustfirstprocurealight。\"
\"Flythenandprocureit；butIchargeyou，lingernot。I
willawaitforyourreturn。
\"Whileshewasgone，Istrodealongtheentry。Thefellnessofagloomyhurricanebutfaintlyresembledthediscordthatreignedinmymind。Toomitthissacrificemustnotbe；yetmysinewshadrefusedtoperformit。Noalternativewasoffered。
Torebelagainstthemandatewasimpossible；butobediencewouldrendermetheexecutionerofmywife。Mywillwasstrong，butmylimbsrefusedtheiroffice。
\"Shereturnedwithalight；Iledthewaytothechamber；shelookedroundher；sheliftedthecurtainofthebed；shesawnothing。
\"Atlength，shefixedinquiringeyesuponme。Thelightnowenabledhertodiscoverinmyvisagewhatdarknesshadhithertoconcealed。Hercareswerenowtransferredfrommysistertomyself，andshesaidinatremulousvoice，\"Wieland!youarenotwell:Whatailsyou？CanIdonothingforyou？\"
\"Thataccentsandlookssowinningshoulddisarmmeofmyresolution，wastobeexpected。Mythoughtswerethrownanewintoanarchy。IspreadmyhandbeforemyeyesthatImightnotseeher，andansweredonlybygroans。Shetookmyotherhandbetweenher\'s，andpressingittoherheart，spokewiththatvoicewhichhadeverswayedmywill，andwaftedawaysorrow。
\"Myfriend!mysoul\'sfriend!tellmethycauseofgrief。DoInotmerittopartakewiththeeinthycares？AmInotthywife？\"
\"Thiswastoomuch。Ibrokefromherembrace，andretiredtoacorneroftheroom。Inthispause，couragewasoncemoreinfusedintome。Iresolvedtoexecutemyduty。Shefollowedme，andrenewedherpassionateentreatiestoknowthecauseofmydistress。
\"Iraisedmyheadandregardedherwithstedfastlooks。I
mutteredsomethingaboutdeath，andtheinjunctionsofmyduty。
Atthesewordssheshrunkback，andlookedatmewithanewexpressionofanguish。Afterapause，sheclaspedherhands，andexclaimed——
\"OWieland!Wieland!GodgrantthatIammistaken；butsurelysomethingiswrong。Iseeit:itistooplain:thouartundone——losttomeandtothyself。\"Atthesametimeshegazedonmyfeatureswithintensestanxiety，inhopethatdifferentsymptomswouldtakeplace。Irepliedtoherwithvehemence——
\"Undone!No；mydutyisknown，andIthankmyGodthatmycowardiceisnowvanquished，andIhavepowertofulfilit。
Catharine!Ipitytheweaknessofthynature:Ipitythee，butmustnotspare。Thylifeisclaimedfrommyhands:thoumustdie!\"
\"Fearwasnowaddedtohergrief。\'Whatmeanyou？Whytalkyouofdeath？Bethinkyourself，Wieland:bethinkyourself，andthisfitwillpass。OwhycameIhither!Whydidyoudragmehither？\'
\"Ibroughttheehithertofulfiladivinecommand。Iamappointedthydestroyer，anddestroytheeImust。\"SayingthisIseizedherwrists。Sheshriekedaloud，andendeavouredtofreeherselffrommygrasp；buthereffortswerevain。
\"Surely，surelyWieland，thoudostnotmeanit。AmInotthywife？andwouldstthoukillme？Thouwiltnot；andyet——I
see——thouartWielandnolonger!Afuryresistlessandhorriblepossessesthee——Spareme——spare——help——help——\"
\"Tillherbreathwasstoppedsheshriekedforhelp——formercy。Whenshecouldspeaknolonger，hergestures，herlooksappealedtomycompassion。Myaccursedhandwasirresoluteandtremulous。Imeantthydeathtobesudden，thystrugglestobebrief。Alas!myheartwasinfirm；myresolvesmutable。ThriceIslackenedmygrasp，andlifekeptitshold，thoughinthemidstofpangs。Hereye-ballsstartedfromtheirsockets。
Grimnessanddistortiontookplaceofallthatusedtobewitchmeintotransport，andsubduemeintoreverence。
\"Iwascommissionedtokillthee，butnottotormenttheewiththeforesightofthydeath；nottomultiplythyfears，andprolongthyagonies。Haggard，andpale，andlifeless，atlengththouceasedsttocontendwiththydestiny。
\"Thiswasamomentoftriumph。ThushadIsuccessfullysubduedthestubbornnessofhumanpassions:thevictimwhichhadbeendemandedwasgiven:thedeedwasdonepastrecal。
\"Iliftedthecorpseinmyarmsandlaiditonthebed。I
gazeduponitwithdelight。Suchwastheelationofmythoughts，thatIevenbrokeintolaughter。Iclappedmyhandsandexclaimed，\'Itisdone!Mysacreddutyisfulfilled!TothatIhavesacrificed，OmyGod!thylastandbestgift，mywife!\'
\"ForawhileIthussoaredabovefrailty。IimaginedIhadsetmyselfforeverbeyondthereachofselfishness；butmyimaginationswerefalse。Thisrapturequicklysubsided。I
lookedagainatmywife。Myjoyousebullitionsvanished，andI
askedmyselfwhoitwaswhomIsaw？MethoughtitcouldnotbeCatharine。Itcouldnotbethewomanwhohadlodgedforyearsinmyheart；whohadslept，nightly，inmybosom；whohadborneinherwomb，whohadfosteredatherbreast，thebeingswhocalledmefather；whomIhadwatchedwithdelight，andcherishedwithafondnessevernewandperpetuallygrowing:itcouldnotbethesame。
\"Wherewasherbloom!Thesedeadlyandblood-suffusedorbsbutillresembletheazureandexstatictendernessofhereyes。
Thelucidstreamthatmeanderedoverthatbosom，theglowoflovethatwaswonttosituponthatcheek，aremuchunliketheselividstainsandthishideousdeformity。Alas!thesewerethetracesofagony；thegripeoftheassassinhadbeenhere!
\"Iwillnotdwelluponmylapseintodesperateandoutrageoussorrow。ThebreathofheaventhatsustainedmewaswithdrawnandIsunkintoMEREMAN。Ileapedfromthefloor:I
dashedmyheadagainstthewall:Iutteredscreamsofhorror:
Ipantedaftertormentandpain。Eternalfire，andthebickeringsofhell，comparedwithwhatIfelt，weremusicandabedofroses。
\"IthankmyGodthatthisdegeneracywastransient，thathedeignedoncemoretoraisemealoft。IthoughtuponwhatIhaddoneasasacrificetoduty，andWASCALM。Mywifewasdead；butIreflected，thatthoughthissourceofhumanconsolationwasclosed，yetotherswerestillopen。Ifthetransportsofanhusbandwerenomore，thefeelingsofafatherhadstillscopeforexercise。Whenremembranceoftheirmothershouldexcitetookeenapang，Iwouldlookuponthem，andBE
COMFORTED。
\"WhileIrevolvedtheseideas，newwarmthflowedinuponmyheart——Iwaswrong。Thesefeelingswerethegrowthofselfishness。OfthisIwasnotaware，andtodispelthemistthatobscuredmyperceptions，aneweffulgenceandanewmandatewerenecessary。
\"FromthesethoughtsIwasrecalledbyaraythatwasshotintotheroom。AvoicespakelikethatwhichIhadbeforeheard——\'Thouhastdonewell；butallisnotdone——thesacrificeisincomplete——thychildrenmustbeoffered——theymustperishwiththeirmother!——\'
ChapterXX
WillyouwonderthatIreadnofarther？WillyounotratherbeastonishedthatIreadthusfar？WhatpowersupportedmethroughsuchataskIknownot。PerhapsthedoubtfromwhichI
couldnotdisengagemymind，thatthesceneheredepictedwasadream，contributedtomyperseverance。Invainthesolemnintroductionofmyuncle，hisappealstomyfortitude，andallusionstosomethingmonstrousintheeventshewasabouttodisclose；invainthedistressfulperplexity，themysterioussilenceandambiguousanswersofmyattendants，especiallywhentheconditionofmybrotherwasthethemeofmyinquiries，wereremembered。IrecalledtheinterviewwithWielandinmychamber，hispreternaturaltranquillitysucceededbyburstsofpassionandmenacingactions。Allthesecoincidedwiththetenorofthispaper。
Catharineandherchildren，andLouisaweredead。Theactthatdestroyedthemwas，inthehighestdegree，inhuman。Itwasworthyofsavagestrainedtomurder，andexultinginagonies。
Whowastheperformerofthedeed？Wieland!Mybrother!
Thehusbandandthefather!Thatmanofgentlevirtuesandinvinciblebenignity!placableandmild——anidolatorofpeace!
Surely，saidI，itisadream。FormanydayshaveIbeenvexedwithfrenzy。Itsdominionisstillfelt；butnewformsarecalleduptodiversifyandaugmentmytorments。
Thepaperdroppedfrommyhand，andmyeyesfollowedit。I
shrunkback，asiftoavoidsomepetrifyinginfluencethatapproachedme。Mytonguewasmute；allthefunctionsofnaturewereatastand，andIsunkuponthefloorlifeless。
Thenoiseofmyfall，asIafterwardsheard，alarmedmyuncle，whowasinalowerapartment，andwhoseapprehensionshaddetainedhim。Hehastenedtomychamber，andadministeredtheassistancewhichmyconditionrequired。WhenIopenedmyeyesIbeheldhimbeforeme。Hisskillasareasoneraswellasaphysician，wasexertedtoobviatetheinjuriouseffectsofthisdisclosure；buthehadwronglyestimatedthestrengthofmybodyorofmymind。Thisnewshockbroughtmeoncemoretothebrinkofthegrave，andmymaladywasmuchmoredifficulttosubduethanatfirst。
Iwillnotdwelluponthelongtrainofdrearysensations，andthehideousconfusionofmyunderstanding。Timeslowlyrestoreditscustomaryfirmnesstomyframe，andordertomythoughts。Theimagesimpresseduponmymindbythisfatalpaperweresomewhateffacedbymymalady。Theywereobscureanddisjointedlikethepartsofadream。Iwasdesirousoffreeingmyimaginationfromthischaos。ForthisendIquestionedmyuncle，whowasmyconstantcompanion。Hewasintimidatedbytheissueofhisfirstexperiment，andtookpainstoeludeordiscouragemyinquiry。Myimpetuositysometimescompelledhimtohaveresorttomisrepresentationsanduntruths。
Timeeffectedthatend，perhaps，inamorebeneficialmanner。
Inthecourseofmymeditationstherecollectionsofthepastgraduallybecamemoredistinct。Irevolvedthem，however，insilence，andbeingnolongeraccompaniedwithsurprize，theydidnotexerciseadeath-dealingpower。Ihaddiscontinuedtheperusalofthepaperinthemidstofthenarrative；butwhatI
read，combinedwithinformationelsewhereobtained，threw，perhaps，asufficientlightuponthesedetestabletransactions；
yetmycuriositywasnotinactive。Idesiredtoperusetheremainder。
Myeagernesstoknowtheparticularsofthistalewasmingledandabatedbymyantipathytothescenewhichwouldbedisclosed。HenceIemployednomeanstoeffectmypurpose。I
desiredknowledge，and，atthesametime，shrunkbackfromreceivingtheboon。
Onemorning，beingleftalone，Irosefrommybed，andwenttoadrawerwheremyfinerclothingusedtobekept。Iopenedit，andthisfatalpapersalutedmysight。Isnatcheditinvoluntarily，andwithdrewtoachair。Idebated，forafewminutes，whetherIshouldopenandread。Nowthatmyfortitudewasputtotrial，itfailed。Ifeltmyselfincapableofdeliberatelysurveyingasceneofsomuchhorror。Iwaspromptedtoreturnittoitsplace，butthisresolutiongaveway，andIdeterminedtoperusesomepartofit。IturnedovertheleavestillIcameneartheconclusion。Thenarrativeofthecriminalwasfinished。TheverdictofGUILTYreluctantlypronouncedbythejury，andtheaccusedinterrogatedwhysentenceofdeathshouldnotpass。Theanswerwasbrief，solemn，andemphatical。
\"No。Ihavenothingtosay。Mytalehasbeentold。Mymotiveshavebeentrulystated。Ifmyjudgesareunabletodiscernthepurityofmyintentions，ortocreditthestatementofthem，whichIhavejustmade；iftheyseenotthatmydeedwasenjoinedbyheaven；thatobediencewasthetestofperfectvirtue，andtheextinctionofselfishnessanderror，theymustpronouncemeamurderer。
\"Theyrefusetocreditmytale；theyimputemyactstotheinfluenceofdaemons；theyaccountmeanexampleofthehighestwickednessofwhichhumannatureiscapable；theydoommetodeathandinfamy。HaveIpowertoescapethisevil？IfIhave，besureIwillexertit。Iwillnotacceptevilattheirhand，whenIamentitledtogood；IwillsufferonlywhenIcannoteludesuffering。
\"YousaythatIamguilty。Impiousandrash!thustousurptheprerogativesofyourMaker!tosetupyourboundedviewsandhaltingreason，asthemeasureoftruth!
\"Thou，OmnipotentandHoly!Thouknowestthatmyactionswereconformabletothywill。Iknownotwhatiscrime；whatactionsareevilintheirultimateandcomprehensivetendencyorwhataregood。Thyknowledge，asthypower，isunlimited。I
havetakentheeformyguide，andcannoterr。Tothearmsofthyprotection，Ientrustmysafety。Intheawardsofthyjustice，Iconfideformyrecompense。
\"Comedeathwhenitwill，Iamsafe。Letcalumnyandabhorrencepursuemeamongmen；Ishallnotbedefraudedofmydues。Thepeaceofvirtue，andthegloryofobedience，willbemyportionhereafter。\"
Hereendedthespeaker。Iwithdrewmyeyesfromthepage；
butbeforeIhadtimetoreflectonwhatIhadread，Mr。
Cambridgeenteredtheroom。HequicklyperceivedhowIhadbeenemployed，andbetrayedsomesolicituderespectingtheconditionofmymind。
Hisfears，however，weresuperfluous。WhatIhadread，threwmeintoastatenoteasilydescribed。Anguishandfury，however，hadnopartinit。Myfacultieswerechainedupinwonderandawe。Justthen，Iwasunabletospeak。Ilookedatmyfriendwithanairofinquisitiveness，andpointedattheroll。Hecomprehendedmyinquiry，andansweredmewithlooksofgloomyacquiescence。Aftersometime，mythoughtsfoundtheirwaytomylips。
Suchthenweretheactsofmybrother。Suchwerehiswords。
Forthishewascondemnedtodie:Todieuponthegallows!A
fate，cruelandunmerited!Andisitso？continuedI，strugglingforutterance，whichthisnewideamadedifficult；ishe——dead!
\"No。Heisalive。Therecouldbenodoubtastothecauseoftheseexcesses。Theyoriginatedinsuddenmadness；butthatmadnesscontinues。andheiscondemnedtoperpetualimprisonment。\"
\"Madness，sayyou？Areyousure？Werenotthesesights，andthesesounds，reallyseenandheard？\"
Myunclewassurprizedatmyquestion。Helookedatmewithapparentinquietude。\"Canyoudoubt，\"saidhe，\"thatthesewereillusions？Doesheaven，thinkyou，interfereforsuchends？\"
\"Ono；Ithinkitnot。Heavencannotstimulatetosuchunheard-ofoutrage。Theagentwasnotgood，butevil。\"
\"Nay，mydeargirl，\"saidmyfriend，\"layasidethesefancies。Neitherangelnordevilhadanypartinthisaffair。\"
\"Youmisunderstandme，\"Ianswered；\"Ibelievetheagencytobeexternalandreal，butnotsupernatural。\"
\"Indeed!\"saidhe，inanaccentofsurprize。\"Whomdoyouthensupposetobetheagent？\"
\"Iknownot。Alliswilderingconjecture。IcannotforgetCarwin。Icannotbanishthesuspicionthathewasthesetterofthesesnares。Buthowcanwesupposeittobemadness？Didinsanityeverbeforeassumethisform？\"
\"Frequently。Theillusion，inthiscase，wasmoredreadfulinitsconsequences，thananythathascometomyknowledge；
but，Irepeatthatsimilarillusionsarenotrare。Didyouneverhearofaninstancewhichoccurredinyourmother\'sfamily？\"
\"No。Ibeseechyourelateit。Mygrandfather\'sdeathIhaveunderstoodtohavebeenextraordinary，butIknownotinwhatrespect。Abrother，towhomhewasmuchattached，diedinhisyouth，andthis，asIhaveheard，influenced，insomeremarkableway，thefateofmygrandfather；butIamunacquaintedwithparticulars。\"
\"Onthedeathofthatbrother，\"resumedmyfriend，\"myfatherwasseizedwithdejection，whichwasfoundtoflowfromtwosources。Henotonlygrievedforthelossofafriend，butentertainedthebeliefthathisowndeathwouldbeinevitablyconsequentonthatofhisbrother。Hewaitedfromdaytodayinexpectationofthestrokewhichhepredictedwasspeedilytofalluponhim。Gradually，however，herecoveredhischeerfulnessandconfidence。Hemarried，andperformedhispartintheworldwithspiritandactivity。Attheendoftwenty-oneyearsithappenedthathespentthesummerwithhisfamilyatanhousewhichhepossessedontheseacoastinCornwall。Itwasatnogreatdistancefromacliffwhichoverhungtheocean，androseintotheairtoagreatheight。Thesummitwaslevelandsecure，andeasilyascendedonthelandside。Thecompanyfrequentlyrepairedhitherinclearweather，invitedbyitspureairsandextensiveprospects。OneeveninginJunemyfather，withhiswifeandsomefriends，chancedtobeonthisspot。
Everyonewashappy，andmyfather\'simaginationseemedparticularlyalivetothegrandeurofthescenery。
\"Suddenly，however，hislimbstrembledandhisfeaturesbetrayedalarm。Hethrewhimselfintotheattitudeofonelistening。Hegazedearnestlyinadirectioninwhichnothingwasvisibletohisfriends。Thislastedforaminute；thenturningtohiscompanions，hetoldthemthathisbrotherhadjustdeliveredtohimasummons，whichmustbeinstantlyobeyed。
Hethentookanhastyandsolemnleaveofeachperson，and，beforetheirsurprizewouldallowthemtounderstandthescene，herushedtotheedgeofthecliff，threwhimselfheadlong，andwasseennomore。
\"InthecourseofmypracticeintheGermanarmy，manycases，equallyremarkable，haveoccurred。Unquestionablytheillusionsweremaniacal，thoughthevulgarthoughtotherwise。Theyareallreducibletooneclass，*andarenotmoredifficultofexplicationandcurethanmostaffectionsofourframe。\"
Thisopinionmyuncleendeavoured，byvariousmeans，toimpressuponme。Ilistenedtohisreasoningsandillustrationswithsilentrespect。MyastonishmentwasgreatonfindingproofsofaninfluenceofwhichIhadsupposedtherewerenoexamples；butIwasfarfromaccountingforappearancesinmyuncle\'smanner。IdeasthrongedintomymindwhichIwasunabletodisjoinortoregulate。Ireflectedthatthismadness，ifmadnessitwere，hadaffectedPleyelandmyselfaswellasWieland。Pleyelhadheardamysteriousvoice。Ihadseenandheard。AformhadshoweditselftomeaswellastoWieland。
Thedisclosurehadbeenmadeinthesamespot。Theappearancewasequallycompleteandequallyprodigiousinbothinstances。
WhateversuppositionIshouldadopt，hadInotequalreasontotremble？Whatwasmysecurityagainstinfluencesequallyterrificandequallyirresistable？
Itwouldbevaintoattempttodescribethestateofmindwhichthisideaproduced。Iwonderedatthechangewhichamomenthadaffectedinmybrother\'scondition。NowwasI
stupifiedwithtenfoldwonderincontemplatingmyself。WasI
notlikewisetransformedfromrationalandhumanintoacreatureofnamelessandfearfulattributes？WasInottransportedtothebrinkofthesameabyss？Ereanewdayshouldcome，myhandsmightbeembruedinblood，andmyremaininglifebeconsignedtoadungeonandchains。
Withmoralsensibilitylikemine，nowonderthatthisnewdreadwasmoreinsupportablethantheanguishIhadlatelyendured。Griefcarriesitsownantidotealongwithit。Whenthoughtbecomesmerelyavehicleofpain，itsprogressmustbestopped。Deathisacurewhichnatureorourselvesmustadminister:TothiscureInowlookedforwardwithgloomysatisfaction。
Mysilencecouldnotconcealfrommyunclethestateofmythoughts。Hemadeunweariedeffortstodivertmyattentionfromviewssopregnantwithdanger。Hisefforts，aidedbytime，wereinsomemeasuresuccessful。Confidenceinthestrengthofmyresolution，andinthehealthfulstateofmyfaculties，wasoncemorerevived。Iwasabletodevotemythoughtstomybrother\'sstate，andthecausesofthisdisasterousproceeding。
Myopinionswerethesportofeternalchange。SometimesI
conceivedtheapparitiontobemorethanhuman。Ihadnogroundsonwhichtobuildadisbelief。Icouldnotdenyfaithtotheevidenceofmyreligion；thetestimonyofmenwasloudandunanimous:boththeseconcurredtopersuademethatevilspiritsexisted，andthattheirenergywasfrequentlyexertedinthesystemoftheworld。
TheseideasconnectedthemselveswiththeimageofCarwin。
Whereistheproof，saidI，thatdaemonsmaynotbesubjectedtothecontroulofmen？Thistruthmaybedistortedanddebasedinthemindsoftheignorant。Thedogmasofthevulgar，withregardtothissubject，areglaringlyabsurd；butthoughthesemayjustlybeneglectedbythewise，wearescarcelyjustifiedintotallyrejectingthepossibilitythatmenmayobtainsupernaturalaid。
Thedreamsofsuperstitionareworthyofcontempt。
Witchcraft，itsinstrumentsandmiracles，thecompactratifiedbyabloodysignature，theapparatusofsulpheroussmellsandthunderingexplosions，aremonstrousandchimerical。ThesehavenopartinthesceneoverwhichthegeniusofCarwinpresides。
Thatconsciousbeings，dissimilarfromhuman，butmoralandvoluntaryagentsasweare，somewhereexist，canscarcelybedenied。Thattheiraidmaybeemployedtobenignormalignantpurposes，cannotbedisproved。
Darknessrestsuponthedesignsofthisman。Theextentofhispowerisunknown；butistherenotevidencethatithasbeennowexerted？
Irecurredtomyownexperience。HereCarwinhadactuallyappeareduponthestage；butthiswasinahumancharacter。A
voiceandaformwerediscovered；butonewasapparentlyexerted，andtheotherdisclosed，nottobefriend，buttocounteractCarwin\'sdesigns。Thereweretokensofhostility，andnotofalliance，betweenthem。Carwinwasthemiscreantwhoseprojectswereresistedbyaministerofheaven。Howcanthisbereconciledtothestratagemwhichruinedmybrother？
Theretheagencywasatoncepreternaturalandmalignant。
Therecollectionofthisfactledmythoughtsintoanewchannel。Themalignityofthatinfluencewhichgovernedmybrotherhadhithertobeennosubjectofdoubt。Hiswifeandchildrenweredestroyed；theyhadexpiredinagonyandfear；yetwasitindisputablycertainthattheirmurdererwascriminal？
Hewasacquittedatthetribunalofhisownconscience；hisbehaviourathistrialandsince，wasfaithfullyreportedtome；
appearanceswereuniform；notforamomentdidhelayasidethemajestyofvirtue；herepelledallinvectivesbyappealingtothedeity，andtothetenorofhispastlife；surelytherewastruthinthisappeal:nonebutacommandfromheavencouldhaveswayedhiswill；andnothingbutunerringproofofdivineapprobationcouldsustainhismindinitspresentelevation。
*ManiaMutabilis。SeeDarwin\'sZoonomia，vol。ii。ClassIII。1。2。wheresimilarcasesarestated。
ChapterXXI
Such，forsometime，wasthecourseofmymeditations。Myweakness，andmyaversiontobepointedatasanobjectofsurprizeorcompassion，preventedmefromgoingintopublic。I
studiouslyavoidedthevisitsofthosewhocametoexpresstheirsympathy，orgratifytheircuriosity。Myunclewasmyprincipalcompanion。Nothingmorepowerfullytendedtoconsolemethanhisconversation。
WithregardtoPleyel，myfeelingsseemedtohaveundergoneatotalrevolution。Itoftenhappensthatonepassionsupplantsanother。Latedisastershadrentmyheart，andnowthatthewoundwasinsomedegreeclosed，thelovewhichIhadcherishedforthismanseemedlikewisetohavevanished。
Hitherto，indeed，Ihadhadnocausefordespair。Iwasinnocentofthatoffencewhichhadestrangedhimfrommypresence。Imightreasonablyexpectthatmyinnocencewouldatsometimebeirresistablydemonstrated，andhisaffectionformeberevivedwithhisesteem。Nowmyaversiontobethoughtculpablebyhimcontinued，butwasunattendedwiththesameimpatience。Idesiredtheremovalofhissuspicions，notforthesakeofregaininghislove，butbecauseIdelightedinthevenerationofsoexcellentaman，andbecausehehimselfwouldderivepleasurefromconvictionofmyintegrity。
MyunclehadearlyinformedmethatPleyelandhehadseeneachother，sincethereturnofthelatterfromEurope。Amidstthetopicsoftheirconversation，IdiscoveredthatPleyelhadcarefullyomittedthementionofthoseeventswhichhaddrawnuponmesomuchabhorrence。Icouldnotaccountforhissilenceonthissubject。Perhapstimeorsomenewdiscoveryhadalteredorshakenhisopinion。Perhapshewasunwilling，thoughIwereguilty，toinjuremeintheopinionofmyvenerablekinsman。I
understoodthathehadfrequentlyvisitedmeduringmydisease，hadwatchedmanysuccessivenightsbymybedside，andmanifestedtheutmostanxietyonmyaccount。
Thejourneywhichhewaspreparingtotake，attheterminationofourlastinterview，thecatastropheoftheensuingnightinducedhimtodelay。ThemotivesofthisjourneyIhad，tillnow，totallymistaken。Theywereexplainedtomebymyuncle，whosetaleexcitedmyastonishmentwithoutawakeningmyregret。Inadifferentstateofmind，itwouldhaveaddedunspeakablytomydistress，butnowitwasmoreasourceofpleasurethanpain。This，perhaps，isnottheleastextraordinaryofthefactscontainedinthisnarrative。ItwillexcitelesswonderwhenIadd，thatmyindifferencewastemporary，andthatthelapseofafewdaysshewedmethatmyfeelingsweredeadenedforatime，ratherthanfinallyextinguished。
TheresadeStolbergwasalive。ShehadconceivedtheresolutionofseekingherloverinAmerica。Toconcealherflight，shehadcausedthereportofherdeathtobepropagated。
SheputherselfundertheconductofBertrand，thefaithfulservantofPleyel。Thepacquetwhichthelatterreceivedfromthehandsofhisservant，containedthetidingsofhersafearrivalatBoston，andtomeethertherewasthepurposeofhisjourney。
Thisdiscoveryhadsetthisman\'scharacterinanewlight。
Ihadmistakentheheroismoffriendshipforthephrenzyoflove。Hewhohadgainedmyaffections，maybesupposedtohavepreviouslyentitledhimselftomyreverence；butthelevitywhichhadformerlycharacterizedthebehaviourofthisman，tendedtoobscurethegreatnessofhissentiments。Ididnotfailtoremark，thatsincethisladywasstillalive，thevoiceinthetemplewhichassertedherdeath，musteitherhavebeenintendedtodeceive，orhavebeenitselfdeceived。Thelattersuppositionwasinconsistentwiththenotionofaspiritual，andtheformerwiththatofabenevolentbeing。