"The parson prayed, and, in the name of One above, commanded all evil to depart; but for a long time no ease came. Then there was a noise outside--three raps against the window, as though a bird had flown up against it. The moment after the light in the room changed. "'Do you forgive everyone?' said the vicar. "'No,' said my father, 'I can never forgive the man who stole from me the woman I loved.' "'But,' said the vicar. 'Trewinion's curse cannot be removed while unforgiveness is in your heart.' "My father looked at the blue light on the table, and then said, 'I'll try and say the Lord's Prayer.' He went steadily until he came to the words, 'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.'" "'I can't say the words,' he groaned. "'Say them with all your heart and the curse will be taken away,' said the vicar. "My father tried again and succeeded, and no sooner had he done so than the light changed and a holy calm rested upon us all. "'It's gone,' said my father. 'May God bless you, Roger, and do you never forget the Trewinion's warning.' "By this he meant the lines we have been reading. "'I will never forget, father,' I said, and soon after he died happily." My father left me then, placing in my hands the old nurse's lines. For a long time I mused over what he had said, and wondered about my grandfather's death-bed scene. Was it as my father had said? Was it Trewinion's curse that rested upon him? I began to think of what the vicar, my schoolmaster, had told us only the day before--that every sin brought a curse, brought misery, brought remorse, and while sin or unforgiveness was cherished in our hearts we could not realise happiness or forgiveness. Was this the case with my grandfather, or was my father's belief right? The interview made a deep impression upon me, however, and a great awe rested on me for days. I felt that as the heir of the Trewinions I was surrounded by terrible powers, and I did not know whether they were good or evil. So my young mind was fed, and so my imagination was stimulated. What was to be my future? What had the powers which took such an interest in my race in store for me? Looking back over the years that are gone I ask, Were the things told me superstitious fancies, or is the Trewinion curse a reality? Remembering what has happened between then and now, I dare not answer the question. CHAPTER II THE WITCH'S WARNING _Ban._ The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, and these are of them. Whither are they vanished? _Macbeth._ Into the air; and what seemed corporal, melted, As a breath of wind. Would they had stayed! _Ban._ Were there such things here as we do speak about? Or have we eaten up the root That makes the reason prisoner? _Macbeth_, Act. I, Scene 3.