Thou see'st the man with only that much sight With which Romanus hath entrusted thee, Thou shouldst gaze on him with unbiased eye. He can so steep himself in spirit-life That he appears quite sundered from the earth. Then spirit forms his whole environment And Theodora liveth then for him. In speaking with him it appears as if She too were present. Many mystics can Express the spirit-message in such words As bring conviction after careful thought; But Strader's very speech hath this same power. One sees that he sets little store upon Mere inward spirit-life that is content With feelings only; the explorer's zeal Doth ever prove his guide in mystic life. And so his mystic aims do not destroy His sense for scientific schemes which seem Both practical and useful for this life. Try to perceive this faculty in him, And through him also learn another thing, How one's own personal judgment of one's friends Is of more value than another man's Such as Romanus hath acquired of him. MANAGER: In such a case as this, so far removed From all the vista of my usual thought, The judgment of Romanus seems to me Some solid ground to stand on. If, myself, I enter realms to mysticism near, I surely need such guidance as indeed A man can only give me who can win My confidence by so much of himself As I myself can fully comprehend. (Enter the Secretary.) You seem upset, my friend; what hath occurred? SECRETARY (hesitatingly): Good doctor Strader died a few hours since. MANAGER: Died?--Strader? HILARY'S WIFE: What. Not Strader dead?--Where now Is Hilary? SECRETARY: He is in his own room. He seemed quite stricken when the messenger First brought the news to him from Strader's house. (Exit Hilary's wife, followed by the Secretary.) MANAGER (alone): Dead--Strader!--Can this really be the truth? The spirit-sleep of which I heard so much Now toucheth me.--The fate which here doth guide The threads of life wears now a serious face. O little soul of mine, what mighty hand Hath now laid hold upon thy thread of fate, And given it a part within this knot. 'But that which must will surely come to pass!' Why is it that these words have never left My mind since Strader spake them long ago When talking with myself and Hilary?-- As if they reached him from another world So did they sound;--he spake as if entranced;-- What is to come to pass?--Right well I know The spirit-world laid hands upon me then. Within those words there sounds the spirit-speech-- Sounds earnest--; how can I its weaving learn? Curtain SCENE 15 The same. Doctor Strader's nurse is sitting there waiting. Enter the Secretary. SECRETARY: