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Delve into the shocking world of Arthur Machen's "The Novel of the White Powder," a key story from his masterwork, The Three Impostors. This chilling tale is a cornerstone of early weird fiction and proto-cosmic horror, exploring the horrifying consequences of forbidden knowledge and medical experimentation gone wrong. Join us for a detailed analysis of this classic gothic horror story.
"The Novel of the White Powder" tells the unsettling story of a young, reclusive law student named Francis Leicester, whose health begins to fail under the pressure of his studies. His concerned sister convinces him to take a new "white powder" medicine prescribed by a doctor. What follows is not a cure, but a grotesque and terrifying transformation—a descent into a state that is both physically and psychologically monstrous. Machen uses this narrative to explore fin-de-siècle themes of decadence, the corruption of the body, and the hidden, pagan darkness lurking beneath the surface of Victorian society. The story's unforgettable climax and shocking revelation make it a must-read for any fan of supernatural horror.
"The Novel of the White Powder" tells the unsettling story of a young, reclusive law student named Francis Leicester, whose health begins to fail under the pressure of his studies. His concerned sister convinces him to take a new "white powder" medicine prescribed by a doctor. What follows is not a cure, but a grotesque and terrifying transformation—a descent into a state that is both physically and psychologically monstrous. Machen uses this narrative to explore fin-de-siècle themes of decadence, the corruption of the body, and the hidden, pagan darkness lurking beneath the surface of Victorian society. The story's unforgettable climax and shocking revelation make it a must-read for any fan of supernatural horror.
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00:00Gates of Imagination presents
00:02The Novel of the White Powder by Arthur Machen
00:06Read by Arthur Lane
00:08My name is Lester.
00:12My father, Major General Wynne Lester,
00:15a distinguished officer of artillery,
00:17succumbed five years ago to a complicated liver complaint
00:21acquired in the deadly climate of India.
00:24A year later, my only brother Francis came home
00:27after an exceptionally brilliant career at the university
00:30and settled down with the resolution of a hermit
00:33to master what has been well called
00:35the great legend of the law.
00:38He was a man who seemed to live in utter indifference
00:41to everything that is called pleasure,
00:43and though he was handsomer than most men
00:46and could talk as merrily and wittily
00:48as if he were a mere vagabond,
00:50he avoided society
00:52and shut himself up in a large room at the top of the house
00:55to make himself a lawyer.
00:58Ten hours a day of hard reading
01:00was at first his allotted portion.
01:03From the first light in the east
01:05to the late afternoon,
01:07he remained shut up with his books,
01:09taking a hasty half-hour's lunch with me
01:11as if he grudged the wasting of the moments
01:14and going out for a short walk
01:16when it began to grow dusk.
01:18I thought that such relentless application
01:21must be injurious
01:22and tried to cajole him from the crabbed textbooks,
01:25but his ardour seemed to grow rather than diminish,
01:29and his daily tale of hours increased.
01:32I spoke to him seriously,
01:34suggesting some occasional relaxation,
01:36if it were but an idle afternoon
01:38with a harmless novel.
01:39But he laughed
01:40and said that he read about feudal tenures
01:43when he felt in need of amusement
01:44and scoffed at the notions of theatres
01:47or a month's fresh air.
01:48I confess that he looked well
01:51and seemed not to suffer from his labours.
01:55But I knew that such unnatural toil
01:57would take revenge at last,
02:00and I was not mistaken.
02:02A look of anxiety began to lurk about his eyes,
02:06and he seemed languid,
02:07and at last he avowed
02:09that he was no longer in perfect health.
02:11He was troubled, he said,
02:13with a sensation of dizziness,
02:15and awoke now and then of nights
02:17from fearful dreams,
02:19terrified and cold with icy sweats.
02:21I am taking care of myself, he said,
02:24so you must not trouble.
02:26I passed the whole of yesterday afternoon
02:28in idleness,
02:29leaning back in that comfortable chair
02:31you gave me
02:31and scribbling nonsense on a sheet of paper.
02:34No, no,
02:35I will not overdo my work.
02:37I shall be well enough
02:38in a week or two, depend upon it.
02:40Yet in spite of his assurances,
02:42I could see that he grew no better,
02:44but rather worse.
02:45He would enter the drawing-room
02:47with a face all miserably wrinkled
02:49and despondent,
02:50and endeavour to look gaily
02:51when my eyes fell on him,
02:53and I thought such symptoms
02:54of evil omen,
02:55and was frightened sometimes
02:56at the nervous irritation
02:57of his movements
02:58and at glances
02:59which I could not decipher.
03:02Much against his will,
03:03I prevailed on him
03:03to have medical advice,
03:05and with an ill grace,
03:07he called in our old doctor.
03:10Dr. Haberdon cheered me
03:11after examination of his patient.
03:12There is nothing really much amiss,
03:16he said to me.
03:17No doubt he reads too hard
03:18and eats hastily,
03:19and then goes back again
03:20to his books
03:21in too great a hurry.
03:23And the natural sequence
03:24is some digestive trouble
03:25and a little mischief
03:26in the nervous system.
03:28But I think,
03:29I do indeed, Miss Lester,
03:31that we shall be able
03:32to set this all right.
03:34I have written him a prescription
03:36which ought to do great things,
03:38so you have no cause for anxiety.
03:40My brother insisted
03:42on having the prescription
03:43made up by a chemist
03:45in the neighbourhood.
03:46It was an odd,
03:47old-fashioned shop,
03:49devoid of the studied coquetry
03:51and calculated glitter
03:52that make so gay a show
03:54on the counters and shelves
03:55of the modern apothecary.
03:57But Francis liked the old chemist
03:59and believed in the scrupulous purity
04:02of his drugs.
04:04The medicine was sent in due course,
04:06and I saw that my brother
04:07took it regularly
04:08after lunch and dinner.
04:10It was an innocent-looking
04:11white powder,
04:12of which a little was dissolved
04:14in a glass of cold water.
04:16I stirred it in,
04:17and it seemed to disappear,
04:19leaving the water clear
04:20and colourless.
04:22At first,
04:23Francis seemed to benefit greatly.
04:26The weariness vanished
04:27from his face,
04:28and he became more cheerful
04:29than he had ever been
04:31since the time
04:31when he left school.
04:32He talked gaily
04:34of reforming himself
04:35and avowed to me
04:37that he had wasted his time.
04:39I have given too many hours
04:41to law,
04:41he said, laughing.
04:43I think you have saved me
04:44in the nick of time.
04:46Come,
04:47I shall be Lord Chancellor yet,
04:49but I must not forget life.
04:51You and I will have a holiday
04:52together before long.
04:54We will go to Paris
04:55and enjoy ourselves,
04:57and keep away from
04:58the Bibliothèque Nationale.
05:01I confessed myself
05:02delighted with the prospect.
05:04When shall we go,
05:05I said.
05:06I can start the day
05:07after tomorrow,
05:08if you like.
05:09Ah,
05:10that is perhaps
05:11a little too soon.
05:13After all,
05:13I do not know London yet,
05:15and I suppose a man
05:16ought to give the pleasures
05:17of his own country
05:18the first choice.
05:19But we will go off together
05:20in a week or two,
05:21so try and furbish up
05:22your French.
05:23I only know law French myself,
05:25and I am afraid
05:26that wouldn't do.
05:27We were just finishing dinner,
05:31and he quaffed off
05:32his medicine
05:32with a parade of carousel,
05:34as if it had been wine
05:35from some choicest bin.
05:38Has it any particular taste?
05:39I said.
05:41No.
05:42I should not know
05:43I was not drinking water.
05:45And he got up from his chair
05:46and began to pace
05:47up and down the room
05:48as if he were undecided
05:49as to what he should do next.
05:52Shall we have coffee
05:53in the drawing room?
05:54I said.
05:55Or would you like to smoke?
05:58No.
05:59I think I will take a turn.
06:00It seems a pleasant evening.
06:02Look at the afterglow.
06:04Why,
06:04it is as if a great city
06:06were burning in flames,
06:07and down there
06:08between the dark houses
06:09it is raining blood fast.
06:12Yes,
06:12I will go out.
06:13I may be in soon,
06:14but I shall take my key.
06:16So good night, dear,
06:17if I don't see you again.
06:19The door slammed behind him,
06:22and I saw him walk
06:23lightly down the street,
06:24swinging his Malacca cane,
06:26and I felt grateful
06:27to Dr. Haberdon
06:28for such an improvement.
06:30I believe my brother
06:31came home very late
06:32that night,
06:33but he was in a merry mood
06:35the next morning.
06:37I walked on without thinking
06:38where I was going,
06:39he said,
06:40enjoying the freshness
06:42of the air,
06:43enlivened by the crowds
06:44as I reached
06:45more frequented quarters.
06:47And then I met
06:48an old college friend,
06:49Orford,
06:50in the press of the pavement,
06:51and then,
06:53well,
06:54we enjoyed ourselves.
06:56I have felt what it is
06:57to be young and a man.
06:59I find I have blood
07:00in my veins
07:00as other men have.
07:02I made an appointment
07:03with Orford for tonight.
07:05There will be a little party
07:06of us at the restaurant.
07:08Yes,
07:08I shall enjoy myself
07:09for a week or two,
07:11and hear the chimes
07:11at midnight,
07:13and then we will go
07:14for our little trip together.
07:16Such was the transmutation
07:17of my brother's character
07:18that in a few days
07:20he became a lover
07:21of pleasure,
07:22a careless and merry idler
07:24of western pavements,
07:25a hunter out of snug restaurants,
07:27and a fine critic
07:28of fantastic dancing.
07:30He grew fat
07:32before my eyes
07:33and said no more
07:34of Paris,
07:35for he had clearly
07:36found his paradise
07:37in London.
07:38I rejoiced,
07:40and yet wondered a little.
07:42For there was,
07:43I thought,
07:44something in his gaiety
07:45that indefinitely
07:46displeased me,
07:47though I could not
07:48have defined my feeling.
07:49But by degrees
07:50there came a change.
07:52He returned still
07:53in the cold hours
07:54of the morning,
07:55but I heard no more
07:56about his pleasures.
07:58And one morning
07:59as we sat at breakfast
08:00together,
08:00I looked suddenly
08:01into his eyes
08:02and saw a stranger
08:04before me.
08:05Oh, Francis,
08:06I cried,
08:07Oh, Francis,
08:08Francis,
08:08what have you done?
08:10And rending sobs
08:11cut the words short.
08:13I went weeping
08:14out of the room,
08:15for though I knew nothing,
08:17yet I knew all,
08:19and by some odd
08:20play of thought
08:20I remembered the evening
08:22when he first went abroad,
08:24and the picture
08:24of the sunset sky
08:26glowed before me,
08:27the clouds like a city
08:29in burning flames,
08:30and the rain of blood.
08:33Yet I did battle
08:34with such thoughts,
08:35resolving that perhaps,
08:37after all,
08:38no great harm
08:39had been done,
08:40and in the evening
08:41at dinner
08:42I resolved to press him
08:43to fix a day
08:44for our holiday in Paris.
08:46We had talked easily enough,
08:48and my brother
08:49had just taken his medicine,
08:51which he continued
08:51all the while.
08:53I was about to begin
08:54my topic
08:55when the words
08:56forming in my mind
08:57vanished,
08:58and I wondered for a second
08:59what icy and intolerable
09:01weight oppressed
09:01my heart
09:02and suffocated me
09:03as with the unutterable
09:04horror of the coffin lid
09:06nailed down
09:07on the living.
09:08We had dined
09:08without candles,
09:10the room had slowly
09:11grown from twilight
09:12to gloom,
09:13and the walls
09:14and corners
09:14were indistinct
09:15in the shadow.
09:17But from where I sat
09:18I looked out
09:18into the street,
09:20and as I thought
09:20of what I would say
09:21to Francis,
09:22the sky began
09:23to flush and shine,
09:25as it had done
09:26on a well-remembered evening.
09:28And in the gap
09:29between two dark masses
09:30that were houses
09:31an awful pageantry
09:32of flame appeared,
09:34lurid whirls
09:35of writhed cloud
09:36and utter depths burning,
09:38grey masses
09:38like the fume
09:39blown from a smoking city,
09:41and an evil glory
09:42blazing far above
09:44shot with tongues
09:45of more ardent fire
09:46and below
09:47as if there were
09:48a deep pool of blood.
09:50I looked down
09:51to where my brother
09:52sat facing me,
09:53and the words
09:54were shaped
09:55on my lips
09:56when I saw his hand
09:58resting on the table.
10:00Between the thumb
10:01and forefinger
10:02of the closed hand
10:03there was a mark,
10:04a small patch
10:05about the size
10:06of a sixpence
10:07and somewhat
10:08of the colour
10:08of a bad bruise.
10:09Yet by some sense
10:12I cannot define
10:12I knew that
10:14what I saw
10:14was no bruise at all.
10:16Oh, if human flesh
10:17could burn with flame,
10:19and if flame
10:19could be black as pitch,
10:21such was that
10:22before me.
10:23Without thought
10:24or fashioning
10:25of words,
10:26grey horror
10:27shaped within me
10:28at the sight,
10:29and in an inner cell
10:30it was known
10:31to be a brand.
10:33For the moment
10:33the stained sky
10:34became dark
10:35as midnight,
10:36and when the light
10:37returned to me
10:37I was alone
10:38in the silent room,
10:40and soon after
10:41I heard my brother
10:42go out.
10:45Late as it was,
10:46I put on my hat
10:47and went to
10:48Dr. Haberdon,
10:49and in his great
10:50consulting room,
10:51ill-lighted by a candle
10:53which the doctor
10:53brought in with him,
10:55with stammering lips,
10:56and a voice
10:57that would break
10:57in spite of my resolve,
10:59I told him all,
11:02from the day
11:02on which my brother
11:03began to take
11:04the medicine down
11:05to the dreadful thing
11:06I had seen
11:07scarcely half an hour
11:08before.
11:10When I had done,
11:11the doctor
11:12looked at me
11:12for a minute
11:13with an expression
11:14of great pity
11:15on his face.
11:17My dear Miss Lester,
11:18he said,
11:19you have evidently
11:20been anxious
11:21about your brother.
11:22You have been
11:23worrying over him,
11:24I am sure.
11:25Come now,
11:26is it not so?
11:28I have certainly
11:29been anxious,
11:30I said.
11:31For the last week
11:32or two
11:32I have not felt
11:33at ease.
11:34Quite so.
11:36You know,
11:36of course,
11:37what a queer thing
11:39the brain is.
11:40I understand
11:41what you mean,
11:42but I was not deceived.
11:44I saw what I have told you
11:46with my own eyes.
11:48Yes,
11:49yes,
11:49of course,
11:50but your eyes
11:51had been staring
11:51at that very curious
11:52sunset we had tonight.
11:54That is the only explanation.
11:57You will see it
11:58in the proper light
11:58tomorrow,
11:59I am sure.
12:00But remember,
12:01I am always ready
12:02to give any help
12:03that is in my power.
12:04Do not scruple
12:06to come to me
12:06or to send for me
12:08if you are in any distress.
12:10I went away,
12:11but little comforted,
12:13all confusion
12:13and terror
12:14and sorrow,
12:15not knowing
12:16where to turn.
12:18When my brother
12:19and I met
12:19the next day,
12:20I looked quickly
12:21at him
12:22and noticed,
12:23with a sickening
12:24at heart,
12:25that the right hand,
12:26the hand on which
12:27I had clearly seen
12:27the patch
12:28as of a black fire,
12:30was wrapped up
12:30with a handkerchief.
12:32What is the matter
12:33with your hand,
12:34Francis?
12:35I said in a steady voice.
12:38Nothing of consequence.
12:39I cut a finger
12:40last night
12:41and it bled
12:41rather awkwardly,
12:43so I did it up
12:44roughly to the best
12:45of my ability.
12:47I will do it neatly
12:48for you,
12:48if you like.
12:50No, thank you, dear.
12:51This will answer
12:52very well.
12:54Suppose we have breakfast.
12:55I am quite hungry.
12:57We sat down
12:58and I watched him.
12:59He scarcely ate
13:01or drank at all
13:02but tossed his meat
13:03to the dog
13:03when he thought
13:04my eyes were turned away.
13:06There was a look
13:07in his eyes
13:07that I had never yet seen
13:08and the thought
13:09flashed across my mind
13:11that it was a look
13:12that was scarcely human.
13:14I was firmly convinced
13:16that awful
13:16and incredible
13:17as was the thing
13:18I had seen
13:19the night before.
13:21Yet it was no illusion,
13:22no glamour
13:23of bewildered sense
13:24and in the course
13:26of the evening
13:26I went again
13:27to the doctor's house.
13:29He shook his head
13:30with an air
13:31puzzled and incredulous
13:32and seemed to reflect
13:34for a few minutes.
13:36And you say
13:36he still keeps up
13:37the medicine.
13:38But why?
13:40As I understand,
13:41all the symptoms
13:41he complained of
13:42have disappeared
13:43long ago.
13:44Why should he go on
13:45taking the stuff
13:46when he is quite well?
13:47And by the by,
13:49where did he get it made up?
13:50At Sacy's.
13:51I never send anyone there.
13:53The old man
13:54is getting careless.
13:56Suppose you come with me
13:56to the chemist's.
13:58I should like to have
13:58some talk with him.
14:00We walked together
14:01to the shop.
14:02Old Sace knew
14:03Dr. Haberdon
14:04and was quite ready
14:05to give any information.
14:07You have been sending
14:08that in to Mr. Lester
14:09for some weeks,
14:10I think,
14:10on my prescription,
14:11said the doctor,
14:12giving the old man
14:13a penciled scrap of paper.
14:16The chemist put on
14:17his great spectacles
14:18with trembling uncertainty
14:19and held up the paper
14:20with a shaking hand.
14:22Oh, yes,
14:23he said.
14:24I have very little
14:25of it left.
14:26It is rather
14:27an uncommon drug
14:28and I have had it
14:29in stock some time.
14:31I must get in some more
14:32if Mr. Lester
14:34goes on with it.
14:36Kindly let me
14:37have a look at the stuff,
14:38said Haberdon,
14:39and the chemist
14:40gave him a glass bottle.
14:42He took out the stopper
14:43and smelt the contents
14:44and looked strangely
14:45at the old man.
14:47Where did you get this,
14:48he said?
14:49And what is it?
14:51For one thing,
14:52Mr. Sace,
14:53it is not what I prescribed.
14:56Yes, yes,
14:56I see the label
14:57is right enough,
14:58but I tell you
14:59this is not the drug.
15:01I have had it
15:02a long time,
15:03said the old man
15:03in feeble terror.
15:05I got it from Burbage's
15:06in the usual way.
15:08It is not prescribed often
15:09and I have had it
15:10on the shelf
15:11for some years.
15:13You see,
15:13there is very little left.
15:15You had better
15:16give it to me,
15:17said Haberdon.
15:17I am afraid
15:19something wrong
15:19has happened.
15:21We went out
15:22of the shop
15:22in silence,
15:24the doctor
15:24carrying the bottle
15:25neatly wrapped in paper
15:26under his arm.
15:28Dr. Haberdon,
15:29I said,
15:30when we had walked
15:31a little way.
15:32Dr. Haberdon.
15:34Yes,
15:35he said,
15:36looking at me
15:37gloomily enough.
15:38I should like you
15:39to tell me
15:40what my brother
15:40has been taking
15:41twice a day
15:41for the last month
15:42or so.
15:44Frankly,
15:44Miss Lester,
15:45I don't know.
15:46We will speak
15:47of this
15:47when we get
15:48to my house.
15:50We walked on
15:50quickly without
15:51another word
15:52till we reached
15:53Dr. Haberdon's.
15:55He asked me
15:55to sit down
15:56and began pacing
15:57up and down
15:58the room,
15:59his face clouded
16:00over as I could see,
16:01with no common fears.
16:05Well,
16:06he said at length,
16:07this is all
16:08very strange.
16:09It is only natural
16:10that you should feel
16:11alarmed,
16:11and I must confess
16:12that my mind
16:13is far from easy.
16:15We will put aside,
16:16if you please,
16:17what you told me
16:18last night
16:18and this morning.
16:20But the fact remains
16:21that for the last few weeks
16:22Mr. Lester
16:23has been impregnating
16:24his system
16:25with a drug
16:26which is completely
16:27unknown to me.
16:28I tell you,
16:29it is not what I ordered
16:30and what the stuff
16:32in the bottle
16:32really is
16:33remains to be seen.
16:35He undid the wrapper
16:36and cautiously tilted
16:38a few grains
16:39of the white powder
16:39onto a piece of paper
16:41and peered
16:42curiously at it.
16:44Yes,
16:45he said,
16:46it is like
16:47the sulphate of quinine,
16:48as you say.
16:49It is flaky,
16:50but smell it.
16:52He held the bottle
16:53to me
16:53and I bent over it.
16:56It was a strange,
16:57sickly smell,
16:58vaporous
16:59and overpowering,
17:00like some strong
17:01anaesthetic.
17:03I shall have it
17:04analysed,
17:05said Haberdin.
17:06I have a friend
17:07who has devoted
17:08his whole life
17:09to chemistry
17:10as a science.
17:11Then we shall have
17:12something to go upon.
17:14No,
17:14no,
17:15say no more
17:16about that other matter.
17:17I cannot listen to that
17:18and take my advice
17:20and think no more
17:20about it yourself.
17:22That evening
17:23my brother did not
17:24go out as usual
17:24after dinner.
17:26I have had my fling,
17:27he said with a queer laugh,
17:29and I must go back
17:30to my old ways.
17:32A little law
17:32will be quite a relaxation
17:34after so sharp
17:35a dose of pleasure.
17:36And he grinned
17:37to himself
17:38and soon after
17:39went up to his room.
17:41His hand was still
17:42all bandaged.
17:45Dr. Haberdin
17:45called a few days later.
17:47I have no special news
17:48to give you,
17:49he said.
17:51Chambers is out of town
17:52so I know
17:52no more about that stuff
17:54than you do,
17:55but I should like to see
17:56Mr. Lester
17:56if he is in.
17:58He is in his room,
17:59I said.
18:00I will tell him
18:01you are here.
18:02No,
18:03no,
18:03I will go up to him.
18:04We will have
18:04a little quiet
18:05talk together.
18:07I dare say
18:08that we have made
18:08a good deal of fuss
18:09about a very little,
18:11for after all,
18:12whatever the powder
18:12may be,
18:13it seems to have
18:14done him good.
18:15The doctor went upstairs,
18:18and standing in the hall,
18:19I heard his knock
18:20and the opening
18:21and shutting
18:22of the door.
18:23And then I waited
18:24in the silent house
18:25for an hour,
18:26and the stillness
18:27grew more and more
18:28intense
18:29as the hands
18:30of the clock
18:31crept round.
18:31Then there sounded
18:33from above
18:34the noise of a door
18:35shut sharply,
18:36and the doctor
18:37was coming down
18:37the stairs.
18:39His footsteps
18:40crossed the hall,
18:41and there was
18:42a pause at the door.
18:44I drew a long,
18:45sick breath
18:45with difficulty,
18:47and saw my face
18:48white in a little mirror,
18:50and he came in
18:51and stood at the door.
18:52There was an unutterable
18:54horror shining
18:54in his eyes.
18:56He steadied himself
18:57by holding the back
18:58of a chair
18:58with one hand.
19:00His lower lip
19:01trembled like a horse's,
19:03and he gulped
19:03and stammered
19:04unintelligible sounds
19:05before he spoke.
19:08I have seen that man,
19:10he began in a dry whisper.
19:12I have been sitting
19:13in his presence
19:14for the last hour.
19:16My God,
19:17and I am alive
19:18and in my senses.
19:20I,
19:20who have dealt
19:21with death
19:21all my life
19:22and have dabbled
19:23with the melting ruins
19:24of the earthly tabernacle,
19:27but not this,
19:27oh,
19:28not this,
19:29and he covered
19:29his face
19:30with his hands,
19:31as if to shut out
19:32the sight of something
19:33before him.
19:34Do not send for me again,
19:36Miss Lester,
19:37he said with more composure.
19:39I can do nothing
19:40in this house.
19:41Goodbye.
19:43As I watched him
19:43totter down the steps
19:44and along the pavement
19:45towards his house,
19:47it seemed to me
19:47that he had aged
19:48by ten years
19:49since the morning.
19:52My brother remained
19:53in his room.
19:54He called out to me
19:55in a voice
19:55I hardly recognised
19:57that he was very busy
19:58and would like his meals
19:59brought to his door
20:00and left there
20:01and I gave the order
20:02to the servants.
20:04From that day
20:05it seemed as if
20:05the arbitrary conception
20:07we called time
20:07had been annihilated
20:08for me.
20:10I lived in an ever-present
20:11sense of horror,
20:13going through the routine
20:14of the house mechanically
20:15and only speaking
20:17a few necessary words
20:18to the servants.
20:20Now and then
20:21I went out
20:22and paced the streets
20:23for an hour or two
20:23and came home again
20:25but whether I were
20:26without or within
20:27my spirit delayed
20:28before the closed door
20:29of the upper room
20:30and shuddering
20:31waited for it to open.
20:34I have said
20:35that I scarcely
20:36reckoned time
20:36but I suppose
20:38it must have been
20:39a fortnight
20:39after Dr. Haberdon's visit
20:41that I came home
20:42from my stroll
20:43a little refreshed
20:44and lightened.
20:46The air was sweet
20:47and pleasant
20:48and the hazy form
20:49of green leaves
20:50floating cloud-like
20:52in the square
20:53and the smell
20:54of blossoms
20:54had charmed
20:56my senses
20:56and I felt happier
20:58and walked
20:59more briskly.
21:01As I delayed
21:02a moment
21:03at the verge
21:03of the pavement
21:04waiting for a van
21:05to pass by
21:06before crossing
21:07over to the house
21:08I happened to look
21:09up at the windows
21:10and instantly
21:11there was the rush
21:12and swirl
21:13of deep cold waters
21:14in my ears.
21:15My heart leapt up
21:17and fell down
21:18down as into
21:19a deep hollow
21:20and I was amazed
21:22with a dread
21:22and terror
21:23without form
21:24or shape.
21:25I stretched out
21:26a hand blindly
21:27through the folds
21:28of thick darkness
21:29from the black
21:30and shadowy valley
21:30and held myself
21:32from falling
21:32while the stones
21:34beneath my feet
21:35rocked and swayed
21:36and tilted
21:36and the sense
21:38of solid things
21:39seemed to sink
21:40away from under me.
21:42I had glanced up
21:43at the window
21:44of my brother's study
21:45and at that moment
21:47the blind
21:47was drawn aside
21:48and something
21:50that had life
21:51stared out
21:51into the world.
21:54Nay, I cannot say
21:54I saw a face
21:55or any human likeness
21:57a living thing
21:58two eyes
21:59of burning flame
22:00glared at me
22:01and they were
22:02in the midst
22:03of something
22:03as formless
22:04as my fear
22:05the symbol
22:06and presence
22:07of all evil
22:08and all hideous
22:09corruption.
22:10I stood shuddering
22:12and quaking
22:12as with the grip
22:13of ague
22:14sick with
22:15unspeakable
22:16agonies
22:16of fear
22:17and loathing
22:17and for five minutes
22:19I could not
22:20summon force
22:21or motion
22:21to my limbs.
22:23When I was
22:24within the door
22:24I ran up the stairs
22:26to my brother's room
22:27and knocked.
22:28Francis,
22:29Francis,
22:29I cried
22:30for heaven's sake
22:31answer me
22:31what is the horrible
22:33thing in your room?
22:35Cast it out,
22:35Francis
22:36cast it from you.
22:38I heard a noise
22:39as of feet
22:40shuffling slowly
22:41and awkwardly
22:41and a choking
22:42gurgling sound
22:43as if someone
22:44was struggling
22:45to find utterance
22:46and then the noise
22:47of a voice
22:48broken and stifled
22:49and words
22:50that I could
22:51scarcely understand.
22:53There is nothing here,
22:54the voice said.
22:56Pray do not disturb me.
22:57I am not very well today.
23:00I turned away,
23:01horrified
23:02and yet helpless.
23:04I could do nothing
23:05and I wondered
23:06why Francis
23:07had lied to me
23:08for I had seen
23:09the appearance
23:10beyond the glass
23:10too plainly
23:11to be deceived
23:12though it was
23:13but the sight
23:14of a moment
23:14and I sat still
23:16conscious that
23:18there had been
23:18something else.
23:20Something I had seen
23:21in the first flash
23:22of terror
23:23before those burning
23:24eyes had looked at me.
23:26Suddenly I remembered.
23:28As I lifted my face
23:29the blind was being
23:30drawn back
23:31and I had had
23:32an instant's glance
23:33of the thing
23:33that was moving it
23:34and in my recollection
23:36I knew that a hideous
23:37image was engraved
23:38forever on my brain.
23:40It was not a hand.
23:43There were no fingers
23:43that held the blind
23:44but a black stump
23:46pushed it aside.
23:48The mouldering outline
23:49and the clumsy movement
23:50as of a beast's paw
23:52had glowed
23:53into my senses
23:54before the darkling
23:55waves of terror
23:56had overwhelmed me
23:57as I went down
23:58quick into the pit.
24:01My mind was aghast
24:02at the thought of this
24:03and of the awful presence
24:05that dwelt with my brother
24:06in his room.
24:07I went to his door
24:09and cried to him again
24:10but no answer came.
24:13That night
24:14one of the servants
24:16came up to me
24:16and told me in a whisper
24:17that for three days
24:19food had been regularly
24:20placed at the door
24:21and left untouched.
24:23The maid had knocked
24:24but had received no answer.
24:26She had heard the noise
24:27of shuffling feet
24:28that I had noticed.
24:30Day after day went by
24:31and still my brother's meals
24:33were brought to his door
24:34and left untouched.
24:35And though I knocked
24:37and called again
24:38and again
24:38I could get no answer.
24:41The servants began
24:42to talk to me.
24:43It appeared
24:44they were as alarmed
24:45as I.
24:46The cook said
24:47that when my brother
24:48first shut himself up
24:49in his room
24:49she used to hear him
24:51come out at night
24:52and go about the house
24:53and once
24:55she said
24:55the hall door
24:56had opened
24:56and closed again
24:57but for several nights
24:59she had heard
25:00no sound.
25:01The climax
25:02came at last.
25:03It was in the dusk
25:05of the evening
25:06and I was sitting
25:07in the darkening
25:08dreary room
25:09when a terrible shriek
25:11jarred and rang
25:12harshly out of the silence
25:14and I heard
25:15a frightened scurry
25:16of feet
25:16dashing down the stairs.
25:18I waited
25:19and the servant maid
25:21staggered into the room
25:22and faced me
25:22white and trembling.
25:26Oh Miss Helen
25:27she whispered
25:28oh for the Lord's sake
25:29Miss Helen
25:30what has happened
25:31look at my hand
25:32Miss
25:32look at that hand
25:33I drew her to the window
25:35and saw there was
25:36a black wet stain
25:37upon her hand
25:38I do not understand you
25:40I said
25:40will you explain to me
25:42I was doing your room
25:44just now
25:45she began
25:45I was turning down
25:47the bedclothes
25:48and all of a sudden
25:49there was something
25:50fell upon my hand
25:51wet
25:52and I looked up
25:53and the ceiling
25:54was black
25:55and dripping on me
25:56I looked hard at her
25:58and bit my lip
25:59come with me
26:01I said
26:02bring your candle
26:03with you
26:04the room I slept in
26:06was beneath my brothers
26:07and as I went in
26:09I felt I was trembling
26:10I looked up at the ceiling
26:12and saw a patch
26:13all black
26:14and wet
26:15and a dew of black
26:16drops upon it
26:17and a pool of horrible liquor
26:19soaking into the white bedclothes
26:21I ran upstairs
26:23and knocked loudly
26:24oh Francis
26:26Francis
26:26my dear brother
26:27I cried
26:28what has happened to you
26:30and I listened
26:31there was a sound of choking
26:34and a noise like water
26:36bubbling and regurgitating
26:37but nothing else
26:38and I called louder
26:40but no answer came
26:42in spite of what Dr. Haberdin
26:44had said
26:45I went to him
26:45with tears streaming down my cheeks
26:48I told him all that had happened
26:50and he listened to me
26:51with a face set hard and grim
26:53for your father's sake
26:55he said at last
26:56I will go with you
26:58though I can do nothing
27:00we went out together
27:02the streets were dark and silent
27:04and heavy with heat
27:06and a drought of many weeks
27:08I saw the doctor's face
27:10white under the gas lamps
27:11and when we reached the house
27:13his hand was shaking
27:14we did not hesitate
27:16but went upstairs directly
27:18I held the lamp
27:20and he called out
27:21in a loud
27:22determined voice
27:23Mr. Lester
27:24do you hear me
27:25I insist on seeing you
27:27answer me
27:28at once
27:29there was no answer
27:31but we both heard
27:32that choking noise
27:33I have mentioned
27:34Mr. Lester
27:36I am waiting for you
27:37open the door this instant
27:39or I shall break it down
27:40and he called a third time
27:42in a voice that rang
27:43and echoed from the walls
27:45Mr. Lester
27:46for the last time
27:47I order you to open the door
27:48ah
27:50he said
27:51after a pause of heavy silence
27:52we are wasting time here
27:54will you be so kind
27:56as to get me a poker
27:57or something of the kind
27:58I ran into a little room
28:01at the back
28:01where odd articles were kept
28:03and found a heavy
28:04ads-like tool
28:05that I thought might serve
28:07the doctor's purpose
28:08very good
28:10he said
28:10that will do
28:11I dare say
28:12I give you notice
28:14Mr. Lester
28:14he cried loudly
28:16at the keyhole
28:16that I am now about
28:18to break into your room
28:19then I heard
28:21the wrench of the ads
28:22and the woodwork
28:23split and cracked under it
28:24with a loud crash
28:26the door suddenly
28:26burst open
28:27and for a moment
28:28we started back aghast
28:30at a fearful
28:30screaming cry
28:32no human voice
28:33but as the roar
28:35of a monster
28:35that burst forth
28:37inarticulate
28:38and struck at us
28:38out of the darkness
28:39hold the lamp
28:41said the doctor
28:42and we went in
28:44and glanced quickly
28:45round the room
28:45there it is
28:47said Dr. Haberdon
28:48drawing a quick breath
28:50look
28:51in that corner
28:52I looked
28:53and a pang of horror
28:55seized my heart
28:56as with a white hot iron
28:58there upon the floor
29:00was a dark
29:01and putrid mass
29:03seething with corruption
29:05and hideous rottenness
29:06neither liquid
29:08nor solid
29:08but melting
29:10and changing
29:10before our eyes
29:11and bubbling
29:13with unctuous
29:14oily bubbles
29:14like boiling pitch
29:16and out of the midst
29:18of it shone
29:19two burning points
29:20like eyes
29:21and I saw
29:22a writhing
29:23and stirring
29:24as of limbs
29:24and something moved
29:26and lifted up
29:27what might have been
29:28an arm
29:28the doctor took
29:30a step forward
29:31raised the iron bar
29:33and struck
29:33at the burning points
29:34he drove
29:35in the weapon
29:36and struck again
29:37and again
29:38in the fury
29:38of loathing
29:39a week or two later
29:41when I had recovered
29:42to some extent
29:42from the terrible shock
29:43Dr. Haberdon
29:45came to see me
29:45I have sold my practice
29:47he began
29:48and tomorrow
29:49I am sailing
29:49on a long voyage
29:50I do not know
29:52whether I shall
29:52ever return to England
29:53in all probability
29:55I shall buy a little land
29:56in California
29:57and settle there
29:58for the remainder
29:58of my life
29:59I have brought you
30:01this packet
30:01which you may open
30:02and read
30:03when you feel able
30:03to do so
30:04it contains
30:05the report
30:06of Dr. Chambers
30:06on what I submitted
30:07to him
30:08goodbye Miss Lester
30:10goodbye
30:10when he was gone
30:12I opened the envelope
30:13I could not wait
30:15and proceeded
30:16to read the papers
30:17within
30:17here is the manuscript
30:19and if you will allow me
30:21I will read you
30:22the astounding story
30:23it contains
30:24my dear Haberdon
30:27the letter began
30:28I have delayed
30:30inexcusably
30:31in answering
30:32your questions
30:32as to the white
30:33substance
30:34you sent me
30:34to tell you
30:36the truth
30:36I have hesitated
30:38for some time
30:38as to what course
30:39I should adopt
30:40for there is a bigotry
30:42and orthodox standard
30:43in physical science
30:44as in theology
30:45and I knew
30:47that if I told you
30:47the truth
30:48I should offend
30:49rooted prejudices
30:50which I once held
30:51dear myself
30:52however
30:53I have determined
30:54to be plain with you
30:55and first
30:57I must enter
30:57into a short
30:58personal explanation
30:59you have known me
31:02Haberdon
31:02for many years
31:04as a scientific man
31:05you and I
31:06have often talked
31:07of our profession
31:08together
31:08and discussed
31:09the hopeless gulf
31:10that opens
31:11before the feet
31:11of those
31:12who think
31:12to attain
31:13to truth
31:13by any means
31:14whatsoever
31:15except the beaten
31:16way of experiment
31:17and observation
31:18in the sphere
31:19of material things
31:20I remember
31:22the scorn
31:22with which you
31:23have spoken to me
31:23of men of science
31:24who have dabbled
31:25a little in the unseen
31:27and have timidly hinted
31:28that perhaps the senses
31:29are not after all
31:30the eternal
31:32impenetrable bounds
31:33of all knowledge
31:34the everlasting walls
31:36beyond which
31:36no human being
31:37has ever passed
31:38we have laughed
31:40together heartily
31:41and I think justly
31:42at the occult follies
31:43of the day
31:44disguised under
31:45various names
31:46the mesmerisms
31:47spiritualisms
31:49materializations
31:50theosophies
31:51all the rabble
31:52rout of imposture
31:53with their machinery
31:54of poor tricks
31:55and feeble conjuring
31:56the true
31:57back parlour
31:58of shabby
31:59London streets
32:00yet
32:01in spite of
32:02what I have said
32:03I must confess
32:04to you
32:04that I am
32:05no materialist
32:06taking the word
32:07of course
32:07in its usual
32:08signification
32:09it is now
32:11many years
32:11since I have
32:12convinced myself
32:13convinced myself
32:14a skeptic
32:15remember
32:15that the old
32:17ironbound theory
32:17is utterly
32:18and entirely
32:19false
32:20perhaps this
32:21confession
32:22will not
32:22wound you
32:23so sharply
32:24as it would
32:24have done
32:25twenty years ago
32:26for I think
32:27you cannot
32:27have failed
32:28to notice
32:28that for
32:29some time
32:29hypotheses
32:30have been
32:31advanced
32:31by men
32:32of pure
32:32science
32:32which are
32:33nothing less
32:33than transcendental
32:34and I suspect
32:36that most
32:36modern chemists
32:37and biologists
32:38of repute
32:39would not
32:39hesitate
32:39to subscribe
32:40the dictum
32:41of the old
32:42schoolman
32:42omnia
32:43exiunt
32:44in mysterium
32:45which means
32:46I take it
32:46that every
32:47branch of
32:47human knowledge
32:48if traced up
32:49to its source
32:50and final
32:50principles
32:51vanishes
32:52into mystery
32:52I need
32:54not trouble
32:54you now
32:55with a
32:55detailed
32:56account
32:56of the
32:56painful
32:57steps
32:57which led
32:58me
32:58to my
32:58conclusions
32:59a few
33:00simple
33:00experiments
33:01suggested
33:02a doubt
33:02as to my
33:03then standpoint
33:03and a train
33:05of thought
33:05that rose
33:06from circumstances
33:07comparatively
33:08trifling
33:08brought me
33:09far
33:09my old
33:10conception
33:11of the
33:11universe
33:12has been
33:12swept away
33:13and I
33:14stand in
33:14a world
33:15that seems
33:15as strange
33:16and awful
33:17to me
33:17as the
33:17endless
33:18waves
33:18of the
33:18ocean
33:19seen
33:19for the
33:19first
33:19time
33:20shining
33:21from a
33:22peak
33:22in
33:22Darien
33:23now I
33:24know
33:25that the
33:25walls
33:25of
33:25sense
33:26that seemed
33:26so
33:27impenetrable
33:27that seemed
33:28to loom
33:29up above
33:29the heavens
33:30and to be
33:31founded
33:31below the
33:32depths
33:32and to
33:33shut us
33:33in
33:33for ever
33:34more
33:34are no
33:35such
33:35everlasting
33:36impassable
33:37barriers
33:37as we
33:37fancied
33:38but thinnest
33:39and most
33:40airy
33:40veils
33:41that melt
33:41away
33:41before the
33:42seeker
33:42and dissolve
33:43as the
33:44early
33:45mist of
33:45the morning
33:45about the
33:46brooks
33:46I know
33:48that you
33:49never adopted
33:49the extreme
33:50materialistic
33:51position
33:51you did
33:52not go
33:53about
33:53trying to
33:54prove a
33:54universal
33:54negative
33:55for your
33:56logical sense
33:57withheld you
33:57from that
33:58crowning
33:58absurdity
33:59but I am
34:00sure that you
34:01will find
34:01all that I
34:02am saying
34:02strange and
34:03repellent to
34:04your habits
34:04of thought
34:05yet
34:06Haberdon
34:07what I
34:08tell you
34:09is the
34:09truth
34:09nay
34:10to adopt
34:11our common
34:11language
34:12the soul
34:13and scientific
34:14truth
34:14verified by
34:16experience
34:17and the
34:18universe
34:18is verily
34:19more splendid
34:20and more
34:20awful than
34:21we used
34:21to dream
34:22the whole
34:24universe
34:24my friend
34:25is a
34:25tremendous
34:25sacrament
34:26a mystic
34:28ineffable
34:28force and
34:29energy
34:29veiled by
34:31an outward
34:31form of
34:32matter
34:32and man
34:33and the
34:34sun
34:34and the
34:35other
34:35stars
34:35and the
34:36flower
34:36of the
34:37grass
34:37and the
34:38crystal
34:38in the
34:39test
34:39tube
34:39are each
34:40and every
34:41one
34:41as
34:41spiritual
34:42as
34:42material
34:43and subject
34:44to an
34:44inner
34:44working
34:45you
34:47will
34:47perhaps
34:47wonder
34:48haberden
34:48whence
34:49all this
34:49tends
34:50but I
34:51think a
34:51little
34:51thought
34:52will
34:52make
34:52it
34:52clear
34:53you
34:54will
34:54understand
34:55that
34:55from such
34:56a
34:56standpoint
34:56the
34:57whole
34:57view
34:57of
34:57things
34:57is
34:57changed
34:58and
34:59what
34:59we
34:59thought
34:59incredible
35:00and
35:00absurd
35:01may be
35:01possible
35:02enough
35:02in
35:04short
35:04we
35:05must
35:05look
35:05at
35:05legend
35:05and
35:06belief
35:06with
35:07other
35:07eyes
35:08and
35:08be
35:09prepared
35:09to
35:09accept
35:09tales
35:10that
35:10had
35:10become
35:11mere
35:11fables
35:11indeed
35:13this
35:13is
35:13no
35:13such
35:14great
35:14demand
35:14after
35:15all
35:16modern
35:16science
35:17will
35:17concede
35:17as
35:17much
35:18in
35:18a
35:18hypocritical
35:19manner
35:19you
35:20must
35:21not
35:21it
35:21is
35:21true
35:21believe
35:22in
35:22witchcraft
35:23but
35:23you
35:23may
35:24credit
35:24hypnotism
35:25ghosts
35:26are
35:26out of
35:26date
35:27but there
35:28said
35:28for
35:28the
35:28theory
35:29of
35:29telepathy
35:29give
35:31superstition
35:31a
35:31greek
35:32name
35:32and
35:32believe
35:33in
35:33it
35:33should
35:34almost
35:34be
35:34a
35:34proverb
35:35so
35:36much
35:36for
35:37my
35:37personal
35:37explanation
35:38you
35:39sent
35:39me
35:39a
35:40file
35:40stoppered
35:41and
35:41sealed
35:42containing
35:43a
35:43small
35:43quantity
35:44of
35:44flaky
35:44white
35:45powder
35:45obtained
35:46from
35:46a
35:46chemist
35:47who's
35:47been
35:47dispensing
35:48it
35:48to
35:48one
35:48of
35:48your
35:48patients
35:49I'm
35:50not
35:51surprised
35:51to
35:51hear
35:51that
35:51this
35:52powder
35:52refused
35:52to
35:53yield
35:53any
35:53results
35:54to
35:54your
35:54analysis
35:54it
35:55is
35:55a
35:55substance
35:56which
35:56was
35:56known
35:57to
35:57a
35:57few
35:57many
35:58hundred
35:58years
35:58ago
35:59but
35:59which
35:59I
36:00never
36:00expected
36:00to
36:00have
36:01submitted
36:01to
36:01me
36:01from
36:02the
36:02shop
36:02of
36:02a
36:02modern
36:02apothecary
36:03there
36:05seems
36:06no
36:06reason
36:06to
36:06doubt
36:07the
36:07truth
36:07of
36:07the
36:07man's
36:08tale
36:08he
36:08no
36:09doubt
36:09got
36:09as
36:09he
36:10says
36:10the
36:10rather
36:11uncommon
36:11salt
36:12you
36:12prescribed
36:12from
36:13the
36:13wholesale
36:13chemists
36:14and
36:14it
36:15has
36:15probably
36:15remained
36:15on
36:16his
36:16shelf
36:16for
36:16twenty
36:16years
36:17or
36:17perhaps
36:18longer
36:18here
36:20what
36:20we
36:20call
36:20chance
36:21and
36:21coincidence
36:21begin
36:22to
36:22work
36:22during
36:23all
36:23these
36:24years
36:24the
36:25salt
36:25in
36:25the
36:25bottle
36:26was
36:26exposed
36:26to
36:26certain
36:27recurring
36:27variations
36:28of
36:28temperature
36:29variations
36:30probably
36:31ranging
36:31from
36:31forty
36:32degrees
36:32to
36:32eighty
36:32degrees
36:33and
36:34as
36:34it
36:34happens
36:35such
36:35changes
36:36recurring
36:37year
36:37after
36:37year
36:38at
36:38irregular
36:38intervals
36:39and
36:39with
36:40varying
36:40degrees
36:40of
36:41intensity
36:41and
36:41duration
36:42have
36:43constituted
36:43a
36:43process
36:44and
36:45a
36:45process
36:45so
36:46complicated
36:46and
36:47so
36:47delicate
36:47that
36:48I
36:48question
36:49whether
36:49modern
36:49scientific
36:50apparatus
36:50directed
36:51with
36:52the
36:52utmost
36:52precision
36:53could
36:54produce
36:54the
36:54same
36:54result
36:55the
36:56white
36:56powder
36:57you
36:57sent
36:57me
36:57is
36:58something
36:58very
36:58different
36:59from
36:59the
36:59drug
36:59you
36:59prescribed
37:00it
37:01is
37:01the
37:01powder
37:02from
37:02which
37:02the
37:02wine
37:03of
37:03the
37:03sabbath
37:03the
37:04venum
37:04sabbatai
37:05was
37:05prepared
37:06no
37:07doubt
37:08you
37:08have
37:08read
37:08of
37:08the
37:08witch's
37:09sabbath
37:09and
37:10have
37:10laughed
37:10at
37:10the
37:10tales
37:11which
37:11terrified
37:12our
37:12ancestors
37:12the
37:13black
37:14cats
37:14and
37:15the
37:15broomsticks
37:15and
37:16dooms
37:17pronounced
37:17against
37:18some
37:18old
37:18woman's
37:19cow
37:19since
37:20I
37:20have
37:20known
37:20the
37:21truth
37:21I
37:21have
37:21often
37:22reflected
37:22that
37:23it
37:23is
37:23on
37:23the
37:23whole
37:24a
37:24happy
37:24thing
37:24that
37:25such
37:25burlesque
37:26as
37:26this
37:26is
37:26believed
37:27for
37:28it
37:28serves
37:28to
37:28conceal
37:29much
37:29that
37:30it
37:30is
37:30better
37:30should
37:31not
37:31be
37:31known
37:31generally
37:32however
37:33if
37:34you
37:34care
37:34to
37:34read
37:34the
37:34appendix
37:35to
37:35Payne
37:35Knight's
37:36monograph
37:36you
37:37will
37:37find
37:38that
37:38the
37:38true
37:38sabbath
37:39was
37:39something
37:40very
37:40different
37:40though
37:41the
37:42writer
37:42has
37:42very
37:42nicely
37:43refrained
37:43from
37:43printing
37:44all
37:44he
37:44knew
37:45the
37:46secrets
37:46of
37:46the
37:46true
37:47sabbath
37:47were
37:47the
37:47secrets
37:48of
37:48remote
37:48times
37:49surviving
37:50into
37:50the
37:50middle
37:50ages
37:51secrets
37:52of
37:52an
37:52evil
37:52science
37:53which
37:53existed
37:54long
37:54before
37:54Aryan
37:55man
37:55entered
37:55Europe
37:56men
37:57and
37:57women
37:57seduced
37:58from
37:58their
37:59homes
37:59on
37:59specious
38:00pretenses
38:00were
38:01met
38:01by
38:02beings
38:02well
38:02qualified
38:03to
38:03assume
38:04as
38:04they
38:04did
38:04assume
38:05the
38:06part
38:08their
38:08guides
38:09to
38:09some
38:09desolate
38:10and
38:10lonely
38:11place
38:11known
38:12to
38:12the
38:12initiate
38:13by
38:13long
38:13tradition
38:14and
38:15unknown
38:15to
38:15all
38:16else
38:16perhaps
38:17it
38:18was
38:18a
38:18cave
38:18in
38:18some
38:19bare
38:19and
38:19windswept
38:20hill
38:20perhaps
38:21some
38:22inmost
38:22recess
38:23of a
38:23great
38:23forest
38:24and
38:25there
38:25the
38:25sabbath
38:25was
38:26held
38:26there
38:28in
38:28the
38:28blackest
38:29hour
38:29of
38:29night
38:30the
38:31venum
38:31sabbathai
38:32was
38:32prepared
38:32and
38:33this
38:33evil
38:34gruel
38:34was
38:34poured
38:35forth
38:35and
38:35offered
38:35to
38:36the
38:36neophytes
38:36and
38:38of
38:38an
38:39infernal
38:39sacrament
38:40as
38:44an
38:44old
38:44author
38:44well
38:45expresses
38:45it
38:45and
38:46suddenly
38:47each
38:48one
38:48that
38:48had
38:48drunk
38:49found
38:49himself
38:50attended
38:50by
38:50a
38:50companion
38:51a
38:52share
38:52of
38:52glamour
38:53and
38:53unearthly
38:54allurement
38:54beckoning
38:55him
38:55apart
38:56to
38:57share
38:57in
38:57joys
38:58more
38:58exquisite
38:59more
38:59piercing
39:00than
39:00the
39:00thrill
39:00of
39:01any
39:01dream
39:01to
39:02the
39:02consummation
39:03of
39:03the
39:03marriage
39:04of
39:04the
39:04sabbath
39:05it
39:06is
39:06hard
39:06to
39:07write
39:07of
39:07such
39:07things
39:08as
39:08these
39:08and
39:09chiefly
39:09because
39:10that
39:10shape
39:11that
39:11allured
39:12with
39:12loveliness
39:13was
39:13no
39:13hallucination
39:14but
39:15awful
39:15as it
39:16is
39:16to
39:16express
39:17the
39:17man
39:18himself
39:18by
39:19by
39:20by
39:20the
39:20power
39:20of
39:20that
39:20sabbath
39:21wine
39:21a
39:22few
39:22grains
39:23of
39:23white
39:23powder
39:24thrown
39:24into
39:25a
39:25glass
39:25of
39:25water
39:26the
39:27house
39:27of
39:27life
39:27was
39:28riven
39:28asunder
39:28and
39:29the
39:29human
39:29trinity
39:30dissolved
39:30and
39:31the
39:31worm
39:32which
39:32never
39:32dies
39:33that
39:34which
39:34lies
39:34sleeping
39:35within
39:35us
39:35all
39:35was
39:36made
39:37tangible
39:37and
39:38an
39:38external
39:39thing
39:39and
39:40clothed
39:41with
39:41a
39:41garment
39:41of
39:42flesh
39:42and
39:44then
39:44in
39:44the
39:45hour
39:45of
39:45midnight
39:45the
39:46primal
39:47fall
39:47was
39:47repeated
39:47and
39:48represented
39:48and
39:49the
39:49awful
39:50thing
39:50veiled
39:51in
39:51the
39:51mythos
39:51of
39:51the
39:51tree
39:52in
39:52the
39:52garden
39:52was
39:53done
39:53anew
39:53such
39:55was
39:55the
39:55nuptiai
39:56sabbati
39:56I
39:58prefer
39:58to say
39:59no
39:59more
39:59you
40:00know
40:00as
40:01well
40:01as
40:01I
40:01do
40:01that
40:02the
40:02most
40:02trivial
40:02laws
40:03of
40:03life
40:03are
40:03not
40:04to
40:04be
40:04broken
40:04with
40:04impunity
40:05and
40:06for
40:06so
40:06terrible
40:07an
40:07act
40:07as
40:07this
40:07in
40:08which
40:09the
40:09very
40:09inmost
40:09place
40:10of
40:10the
40:10temple
40:10was
40:11broken
40:11open
40:11and
40:11defiled
40:12a
40:12terrible
40:13vengeance
40:13followed
40:14what
40:15began
40:15with
40:15corruption
40:16ended
40:16also
40:17with
40:17corruption
40:17underneath
40:19is
40:19the
40:19following
40:20in
40:20Dr.
40:20Haberdon's
40:21writing
40:21the
40:22whole
40:22of
40:22the
40:22above
40:23is
40:23unfortunately
40:24strictly
40:24and
40:25entirely
40:25true
40:26your
40:27brother
40:27confessed
40:28all
40:28to
40:28me
40:28on
40:29that
40:29morning
40:29when
40:29I
40:29saw
40:30him
40:30in
40:30his
40:30room
40:30my
40:32attention
40:32was
40:32first
40:33attracted
40:33to
40:33the
40:33bandaged
40:34hand
40:34and
40:35I
40:35forced
40:36him
40:36to
40:36show
40:36it
40:36to
40:36me
40:37what
40:38I
40:38saw
40:39made
40:39me
40:39a
40:40medical
40:40man
40:41of
40:41many
40:41years
40:41standing
40:42grow
40:43sick
40:43with
40:43loathing
40:44and
40:45the
40:45story
40:45I
40:45was
40:46forced
40:46to
40:46listen
40:46to
40:47was
40:47infinitely
40:48more
40:48frightful
40:49than
40:49I
40:49could
40:49have
40:49believed
40:49possible
40:50it
40:51has
40:52tempted
40:52me
40:52to
40:52doubt
40:52the
40:53eternal
40:53goodness
40:54which
40:54can
40:54permit
40:55nature
40:55to
40:55offer
40:55such
40:56hideous
40:56possibilities
40:57and
40:58if
40:58you
40:58had
40:58not
40:59with
40:59your
40:59own
40:59eyes
40:59seen
41:00the
41:00end
41:00I
41:01should
41:01have
41:01said
41:02to
41:02you
41:02disbelieve
41:03it
41:03all
41:04I
41:05have
41:05not
41:05I
41:06think
41:06many
41:06more
41:06weeks
41:07to
41:07live
41:07but
41:08you
41:08are
41:08young
41:09and
41:10may
41:10forget
41:10all
41:10this
41:11Joseph
41:12Haberdon
41:13medical
41:14doctor
41:14in
41:16the
41:16course
41:17of
41:17two
41:17or
41:17three
41:17months
41:18I
41:18heard
41:18that
41:19Dr
41:19Haberdon
41:19had
41:19died
41:20at
41:20sea
41:20shortly
41:21after
41:21the
41:21ship
41:21left
41:22England
41:22thank
41:27you
41:27for
41:27listening
41:28if
41:29you
41:29like
41:29our
41:29recordings
41:29consider
41:30liking
41:30this
41:30video
41:31and
41:31subscribing
41:31to
41:32our
41:32channel
41:32so
41:33you
41:33don't
41:33miss
41:33any
41:33more
41:33audiobooks
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