"You,--God's work,--endowed as every conscious atom of His creation is endowed,--with the infinite germ of immortality;--you, absorbed in the gathering together of such perishable trash as you conceive good for yourself on this planet,--you dare, in the puny reach of your mortal intelligence to dispute and question the everlasting things invisible! You, by the Creator's will, are permitted to see the Natural Universe,--but in mercy to you, the veil is drawn across the Super-natural! For such things as exist there, would break your puny earth-brain as a frail shell is broken by a passing wheel,--and because you cannot see, you doubt! You doubt not only the surpassing Love and Wisdom that keeps you in ignorance till you shall be strong enough to bear full knowledge, but you doubt the very fact of such another universe itself. Arrogant fool!--your hours are counted by Super-natural time!--your days are compassed by Super-natural law!--your every thought, word, deed and look must go to make up the essence and shape of your being in Super-natural life hereafter!--and what you _have been_ in your Soul _here_, must and shall be the aspect of your Soul _there_! That law knows no changing!" The light about his face deepened,--he went on in clear accents that vibrated with the strangest music. "Men make their own choice and form their own futures," he said--"And never let them dare to say they are not _free_ to choose! From the uttermost reaches of high Heaven the Spirit of God descended to them as Man,--from the uttermost depths of lowest Hell, I, the Spirit of Rebellion, come,--equally as Man! But the God-in-Man was rejected and slain,--I, the Devil-in-Man live on, forever accepted and adored! Man's choice this is--not God's or mine! Were this self-seeking human race once to reject me utterly, I should exist no more as I am,--nor would they exist who are with me. Listen, while I trace your career!--it is a copy of the lives of many men;--and judge how little the powers of Heaven can have to do with you!--how much the powers of Hell!" I shuddered involuntarily;--dimly I began to realize the awful nature of this unearthly interview.