"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。