"You are full of fancies, Alice," retorted Enistor in an acid tone. "And as Narvaez had fainted you might have remained to help me. However, it was just as well you retired to bed and slept for such a long time, as you were not quite yourself last night. Well," he added with an a.s.sumption of benevolence, "as Montrose was away from you, it was natural you should feel dismal. Ah, these young men, doctor: they steal the hearts of our children."
"And exhibit no shame in doing so," said Eberstein humorously. "Cupid was ever a robber, Mr. Enistor."
Then the gong thundered an invitation to luncheon, which proved to be a truly delightful meal. Alice, with her recovered strength, was filled with the joy of life, and Douglas, seeing her in such good spirits, was very merry in his turn. As to the doctor, he made himself so entertaining in talking of all that was going on in the great world that Enistor unbent considerably, and silently acknowledged that The Adversary was better company than Narvaez. By the end of the meal, both Squire and doctor were on the best of terms. Not for many a long day had such gaiety reigned at Tremore.
After luncheon Alice and Douglas stole away after the fashion of lovers who desire solitude to express their feelings freely. Enistor was left alone to entertain his guest, and conducted the doctor to the library, to show him certain black-letter folios which were of great antiquity and great value. Eberstein, charmed with the treasures of the library and with the s.p.a.cious room, revealed himself to be no mean judge of books and furniture and ancient ma.n.u.scripts. More than ever Enistor felt that this debonair gentleman was not to be feared and became uncommonly friendly with him.
"I wish you would come and stay here for a week, doctor," he said impulsively. "It is such a pleasure to meet any one so well read and well informed on all subjects as you are."
"You flatter me," responded the doctor cordially. "I should be delighted to accept your invitation, and may do at a later date. Meanwhile, I have business which detains me in Perchton for a short time. But you have the society of Senor Narvaez," he added, with a keen glance. "And I hear from Mr. Hardwick, whom I met yesterday, that he is most entertaining."
"Hardly the word to be used," said Enistor composedly, and wondering why the reference was made. "He is learned and serious."
"I don"t see why learning need necessarily involve seriousness.
Knowledge should make one happy, and happiness shows itself in gaiety."
Enistor, fidgeting with a parchment, frowned. "Do you think that knowledge should make one happy?"
"Why not, if the knowledge be rightly applied?"
"In what way?"
"To help others less learned."
"Why should it be?" demanded Enistor defiantly.
"Why should it not be?" countered the doctor swiftly. "What is the use of hiding one"s light under a bushel?"
"That is a strange sentiment from you, doctor. It implies vanity, as if you wished others to see and envy your light. Well, I suppose that would be a source of gratification to any one."
"It is but a narrow mind that finds gratification in possessing what another person lacks. You will find the explanation of my real meaning in saying what surprises you in the text: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." It is the Father who does the works, and the Father therefore should surely receive the praise."
"Who is the Father?"
"In the greater sense G.o.d, in the minor degree The Ego, which is a part of G.o.d. Through the minor power the greater power works, and to Him be the glory, Mr. Enistor. I daresay you know something of these things."
"I know a great deal," said the Squire in a proud tone, "but I do not interpret them as you do. If I do anything I take the praise to myself.
It is I who do it, not this Father, big or little, you talk about."
Eberstein quoted solemnly: "Thou couldst have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above."
"That is from the Bible, I take it," said Enistor scornfully. "Well, you see, I don"t believe in the Bible. It is a series of old doc.u.ments filled with contradictions and mistakes and impossibilities."
"Ah, you think so because you read the letter and do not understand the spirit. If you were not so limited you would comprehend the true meaning of the contradictions and mistakes which puzzle you."
"They don"t puzzle me," retorted the other resentfully. "Such rubbish is not worth puzzling about. And I am not limited in any way."
"Ah. Then your knowledge is as wide as that of--shall we say Narvaez?"
"No. But then he is an older man and has had more time to study. But I am learning swiftly."
"And the personality you know as Squire Enistor of Tremore is taking all that learning to use for its own ends."
"Why not, when such personality is myself?"
"The lower self: all the self you know," corrected Eberstein serenely.
"What other self is there?"
"The Greater Self: that spark of G.o.d, which is you--the Eternal You.
Bring your learning to That, Enistor, and you will become One with the Great Father through Christ the Son by the influence of the Holy Ghost."
"Well, if I am that Greater Self, as you say, I work for myself, and therefore deserve praise for my work and the reward also."
"You work only for the limited self which you know. You are not aware of your Greater Self, because it is veiled from you. All you are doing at present is to thicken those veils instead of thinning them. Are you not aware that G.o.d is the One manifesting Himself in us, the Many? We are all striving to return to Him, the source of our Being. This being the case, through life after life we have to widen our limitations, so that instead of knowing ourselves as man--as you do--we come to know ourselves as G.o.ds, one with the Great G.o.d, yet individualised for His holy purpose. Why do you seek to limit your powers, to circ.u.mscribe your knowledge?"
"What rubbish you talk, doctor," cried the Squire, opening his eyes in genuine amazement. "Why, I am trying hard to increase my knowledge and gain power."
"Power for yourself," said Eberstein quickly, "and by so doing you are narrowing your circle of action. By giving, you widen out to the consciousness of the Deity: by taking, you build yourself a little hut in which you sit as a very shabby little G.o.d."
"But Narvaez has powers you do not dream of."
"I know more about Narvaez than you think, Mr. Enistor. He is doing in a much greater degree what you are striving to do in a smaller way under his misguided instruction. Was not the warning given last night in this very room enough to shake your faith in his powers?"
The Squire started back frowning. "You know what took place?"
"Of course I know, and you know that I know. Come, Enistor, let us talk freely, for I want to help you, and you need more help than you dream of. Narvaez calls me The Adversary, and so I am: not so much adverse to you and him, as to your doings. Your spirit is one with my spirit, as is that of Narvaez", and I wish to aid that other part of myself to fight against the animal self which is trying to overpower it. The spirit cannot be harmed overmuch truly; but the soul can be made a slave to the senses."
"Have you come here to measure your strength against mine?" demanded Enistor in a furious manner.
Eberstein smiled. "If I put forth my strength against Narvaez, much less against you, the result would surprise you. But I act under the Law of Love, which gives every man free-will, and does not allow domination."
"Narvaez was dominated last night," admitted the Squire reluctantly.
"Did you strike him down?"
"No. A Great Power struck him down in very mercy, as he was going too far, and it is hoped that the warning may turn him from his evil ways.
He is my brother as well as you are, Enistor, and I wish to help you both."
"I don"t want your help, unless you can make me rich and powerful."
"I could make you both, and you would use what I gave you to d.a.m.n yourself yet deeper. Narvaez is dragging you down to the abyss into which he is surely descending. In Atlantis he lured you into his nets by promising to gratify your desire for personal power over men; by giving you wealth to pander to your animal pa.s.sions. Life after life, as in Chaldea, he has made you more and more his slave by working through your senses."
"I am not a slave!" cried Enistor indignantly.
"Indeed you are. To Narvaez and to your own evil pa.s.sions. You, who are a G.o.d in the making, obey him. Like Judas Iscariot he is a son of perdition and wishes to make you one also, because your intellect is useful to him. Again and again, in many lives, you have been helped in order that you may break away from this bondage; but you will not, and until of your own free will you elect to break away, nothing can be done to save you."
"Where is the boasted power of Christ?" sneered Enistor contemptuously.
"Poor soul, why blaspheme? Christ stands at the door of your heart waiting until you open the door. He does not enter unless He is invited, so how can He use what you call His boasted power, unless you will accept His aid. Humble yourself, Enistor. Say as did the prodigal son: "Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Then you will learn how great is His mercy: how sweet His compa.s.sion."