[Illustration: chapter headpiece] CHAPTER VII. “Then star nor sun shall waken, Nor any change of light; Nor sound of waters shaken Nor any sound or sight. Nor wintry leaves or vernal Nor days nor things diurnal; Only the sleep eternal In an eternal night.” Ruth had fasted for three days. All she drank was a cup of warm milk twice a day—and drank this very slowly. The third night after saying her prayers she fell into a sound sleep. It was darkest midnight when Cresto, with many of his friends, came to protect Ruth. All were dressed in disguise—in long black robes. Ruth gradually felt her soul gently and silently carried away in space to the underworld. “Cresto, dear, were you ever in this awful, dismal, dark, place before?” “Yes, dear, all souls from earth are taken here at death and judged. I was here a few days until I was judged for every act I ever did. No soul can escape this court. Darling girl, when you are taken here, I will come with you. I beg you to live such a perfect Christian life that our dear judges will not keep you long. Some stay thousands of years in this one place, others, only a few days. Christ descended and remained here two days Himself. He was perfect. The third day Our Lord ascended up to Heaven. He rose in great power and glory. Dear Ruth, if you follow in His footsteps, you need not fear to go where He has been. Jesus has surveyed the narrow road that leads to the gates of Heaven. He is the one who will light the way for us. Here our Lord and His hosts of angels, judge the living and the dead. Christ and His own followers have been judged here, so that they may be just to the wicked. He obeys and keeps all laws that He commands us to keep. This is Divine justice to all. Praise His Holy name. He is most Divine! We are one universal family and every soul is treated alike. We all get our reward here, whether it is good or evil. Hades is surrounded on all sides by awful, grim, ghastly, rivers of woe. Millions upon millions of firm, silent boatmen carry the dead here to be judged. They row you safely and silently to the great wide gates of Sheol, these cold stone gates are broad and high. Justice alone holds the keys. Souls at death cannot fly—they gradually learn to later. Those living here are all earth-bound. Sin has weakened their souls to such an extent that they cannot fly, and have not life enough to try. Constant sin is slow death to the soul. Here life has death for a neighbor. The great gates of Purgatory are daily and nightly thronged with millions and millions of angel guests. Just as the earthly prison should be thronged to see that justice rules! It is our business to see that no innocent soul stays in prison on earth. No one should be cast into prison on circumstantial evidence; this is an awful crime.