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vain regret。 A man dies suddenly； or may be unconscious some
time before the end。 But they do occur。 The question is； How
much credit is it to be good when you can do no more harm？ The
time to resist evil and do that which is right is while the
temptation is on and in its strength。 While life lasts there is
hope； but the books are sealed by death。 The tree must fall to
one side or the other there is no middle groundand as the
tree falleth； so it lieth。
〃This； however； is a gloomy subject； and one that in your heart
of hearts you understand。 I would rather tell you more of the
beauties and splendours of spaceof the orange； red； and blue
stars； and of the tremendous cyclonic movements going on within
them； which are even more violent than the storms that rage in
the sun。 The clouds； as the spectroscope has already shown；
consist of iron； gold； and platinum in the form of vapour； while
the openings revealed by sun…spots； or rather star…spots； are so
tremendous that a comparatively small one would contain many
dozen such globes as the earth。 I could tell you also of the
mysteries of the great dark companions of some of the stars； and
of the stars that are themselves dark and cold； with naught but
the faraway constellations to cheer them； on which night reigns
eternally； and that far outnumber the stars you can see。 Also of
the multiplicity of sex and extraordinary forms of life that
exist there； though on none of them are there mortal men like
those on the earth。
〃Nature； in the process of evolution； has in all these cases gone
off on an entirely different course； the most intelligent and
highly developed species being in the form of marvellously
complex reptiles； winged serpents that sing most beautifully； but
whose blood is cold； being prevented from freezing in the upper
regions of the atmosphere by the presence of salt and chemicals；
and which are so intelligent that they have practically subdued
many of these dark stars to themselves。 On others； the most
highly developed species have hollow； bell…shaped tentacles； into
which they inject two or more opposing gases from opposite sides
of their bodies； which； in combination； produce a strong
explosion。 This provides them with an easy and rapid locomotion；
since the explosions find a sufficient resistance in the
surrounding air to propel the monsters much faster than birds。
These can at pleasure make their breath so poisonous that the
lungs of any creatures except themselves inhaling it are at once
turned to parchment。 Others can give their enemies or their prey
an electric shock； sending a bolt through the heart； or can
paralyze the mind physically by an effort of their wills； causing
the brain to decompose while the victim is still alive。 Others
have the same power that snakes have； though vastly intensified；
mesmerizing their victims from afar。
〃Still others have such delicate senses that in a way they
commune with spirits； though they have no souls themselves； for
in no part or corner of the universe except on earth are there
animals that have souls。 Yet they know the meaning of the word；
and often bewail their hard lot in that no part of them can live
when the heart has ceased to beat。
〃Ah； my friends； if we had no soulsif； like the aesthetic
reptilia； we knew that when our dust dissolved our existence
would be overwe should realize the preciousness of what we hold
so lightly now。 Man and the spirits and angels are the only
beings with souls； and in no place except on earth are new souls
being created。 This gives you the greatest and grandest idea of
the dignity of life and its inestimable value。 But it is as
difficult to describe the higher wonders of the stellar worlds to
you as to picture the glories of sunset to a blind man； for you
have experienced nothing with which to compare them。 Instead of
seeing all that really is； you see but a small part。〃
CHAPTER IX。
DOCTOR CORTLANDT SEES HIS GRAVE。
〃Is it not distasteful to you；〃 Cortlandt asked； 〃to live so near
these loathsome dragons？〃
〃Not in the least；〃 replied the spirit。 〃They affect us no more
than the smallest micro…organism； for we see both with equal
clearness。 Since we are not obliged to breathe； they cannot
injure us； and； besides； they serve to illustrate the working of
God's laws； and there is beauty in everything for those that have
the senses required for perceiving it。 A feature of the
spiritual world is； that it does not interfere with the natural；
and the natural； except through faith； is not aware of its
presence。〃
〃Then why；〃 asked Cortlandt； 〃was it necessary for the Almighty
to bring your souls to Saturn； since there would have been no
overcrowding if you had remained on the earth？〃
〃That；〃 replied the spirit； 〃was part of His wisdom； for the
spirit； being able at once to look back into the natural world；
if in it； would be troubled at the mistakes and tribulations of
his friends。 Now； as a rule； before a spirit can return to
earth； his or her relatives and friends have also died； or； if he
can return before that happens； he is so advanced that he sees
the ulterior purpose； and therefore the wisdom of God's ways； and
is not distressed thereby。 Lastly； as their expanding senses
grew； it would be painful for the blessed and condemned spirits
to be together。 Therefore we are brought here； where God reveals
Himself to us more and more； and the flight of the other
soulsthose unhappy onesdoes not cease till they reach
Cassandra。〃
〃Can the souls on Cassandra also leave it in time and roam at
will？〃 asked Cortlandt。
〃I have seen none of them myself in my journeys to other planets；
but as the sun shines upon the just and the unjust； and there is
no exception to Nature's laws； I can reply that in time they do；
and with equal powers their incentive to roam would be greater；
for we are drawn together by common sympathy and pure； requited
love； while they are mutually repelled。 Of course； some obtain a
measure of freedom before the rest； and these naturally roam the
farthest； and the more they see and the farther they go； the
stronger becomes their abhorrence for everything they meet。〃
〃Cannot you spirits help us； and the mortals now on earth； to
escape this fate？〃
〃The greatest hope for your bodies and souls lies in the
communion with those that have passed through death； for the
least of them can tell you more than the wisest man on earth； and
could you all come or send representatives to the multitudes here
who cannot as yet return to you； but few on earth would be so
quixotically sinful as to refuse our advice。 Since； however； the
greatest good comes to men from the learning that they make an
effort to secure； it is for you to strive to reach us； who can
act as go…betweens from God to you。〃
〃It seems to me；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that people are better now
than formerly。 The sin of idolatry； for instance； has
disappearedhas it not？〃
〃Men still set up idols of wealth； passion； or ambition in their
hearts。 These they worship as in days gone by； only the form has
changed。〃
〃Could the souls on Cassandra do us bodily or mental injury； if
we could ever reach their planet？〃 asked Bearwarden。
〃They might oppress and distress you； but your faith would
protect you wherever you might go。〃
〃Can you give us a taste of your sense of prescience？〃 asked
Bearwarden again； 〃for； since it is not clear in what degree the
condemned receive this； and neither is it by any means sure that
I shall be saved； I should like for once in my history to
experience this sense of divinity； before my entity ends in
stone。〃
〃I will transfer to you my sense of prescience；〃 replied the
spirit； 〃that you may foresee as prophets have。 In so doing； I
shall but anticipate； since you will yourselves in time obtain
this sense in a greater or less degree。 Is there any event in
the future you would like to see； in order that； when the vision
is fulfilled； it may tend to stablish your faith？〃
〃Since I am the oldest；〃 replied the doctor； 〃and shall probably
die before my friends； reveal to us； I pray you； the manner of my
death and the events immediately following。 This may prove an
object…lesson to them； and will greatly interest me。〃
〃Your death will be caused by blood…poisoning； brought on by an
accident；〃 began the spirit。 〃Some daybreak will find you weak；
after a troubled night； with your bodily resources at a low ebb。
Sunset will see you weaker； with your power of resistance almost
gone。 Midnight will find you weaker still； and but little
removed from the point of death。 A few hours later a kind hand
will close the lids of your half…shut eyes； which never again
will behold the light。 The coffin will inclose your body； and
the last earthly journey begin。 Now；〃 the spirit continued； 〃you
shall all use my sight instead of your own。〃
The walls of the cave seemed to expand； till they resembled those
of a great cathedral； while the stalactites appeared to be
metamorphosed into Gothic columns。 They found themselves among a
large