Introductory remarks—Real crime of sorcerers—Some deplorable condemnations—The case of Louis Gaufridi—The case of Urbain Grandier—The nuns of Louviers and some other processes—Interpretation of certain phenomena—Story of an apparition 360 CHAPTER VII THE MAGICAL ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY Its appearance in Europe—Its allegorical and real end—The Legend of Hiram—Its meaning—Mission of the Rites of Masonry—Its profanations 382 BOOK VI _MAGIC AND THE REVOLUTION_ CHAPTER I REMARKABLE AUTHORS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY Important discoveries in China—The _Y-Kim_ of Fo-hi—Legend of its origin—Connection with the Zohar—An example of absolute philosophy—Opinion of Leibnitz—Emmanuel Swedenborg—His system and its Kabalistic derivation—The discovery of Mesmer—Its theory and its great importance—A comparison between Voltaire and Mesmer 391 CHAPTER II THAUMATURGIC PERSONALITIES OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY The Comte de Saint-Germain—Unpublished particulars of his life—The report of Madame de Genlis—The Order of Saint Jakin—A pretended initiation—Further concerning the Rosicrucians—An appreciation of Saint-Germain—His alleged identity with the mysterious Althotas—The alchemist Lascaris—Count Cagliostro—An agent of the Templars—A successor of Mesmer—Explanation of his seal and Kabalistic name—His secret of physical regeneration—His trial by the Inquisition—He is said to be still alive 400 CHAPTER III PROPHECIES OF CAZOTTE The school of Martinists—The supper of Cazotte—The romance of _Le Diable Amoureux_—Its interpretation according to the Kabalah—Lilith and Nehamah—Initiation of Cazotte—The Mystic Mountain—Cazotte and the Revolutionary Tribunal 416 CHAPTER IV THE FRENCH REVOLUTION The reveries of Rousseau and their fatal consequences—The tomb of Jacques de Molay—The Lodge in Rue Platrière—The doom of Louis XVI—A genius of massacre—Mademoiselle de Sombreuil—Madame Elizabeth—The Church of the Jacobins—Vengeance of the Templars—Further concerning the Apocalypse of St. Methodius—The prophecies of Abbé Joachim 422 CHAPTER V PHENOMENA OF MEDIOMANIA An obscure sect of Johannite mystics—Visions of Loiseaut—Dom Gerle and Catherine Théot—A visit from Robespierre—The prophecy of Catherine—Her fate and that of Dom Gerle—The Saviours of Louis XVII—Martin de Gallardon—Eugène Vintras—Naündorff 427 CHAPTER VI