As it was generally known that Father Philip was to visit Mrs. Sullivan the next day, in order to hear an account of the mystery which filled the parish with such fear, a very great number of the parishioners were a.s.sembled in and about Bartley"s long before he made his appearance. At length he was seen walking slowly down the road, with an open book in his hand, on the pages of which he looked from time to time. When he approached the house, those who were standing about it a.s.sembled in a body, and, with one consent, uncovered their heads, and asked his blessing. His appearance bespoke a mind ill at ease; his face was haggard, and his eyes bloodshot. On seeing the people kneel, he smiled with his usual bitterness, and, shaking his hand with an air of impatience over them, muttered some words, rather in mockery of the ceremony than otherwise. They then rose, and blessing themselves, put on their hats, rubbed the dust off their knees, and appeared to think themselves recruited by a peculiar accession of grace.
On entering the house the same form was repeated; and when it was over, the best chair was placed for him by Mary"s own hands, and the fire stirred up, and a line of respect drawn, within which none was to intrude, lest he might feel in any degree incommoded.
"My good neighbor," said he to Mrs. Sullivan, "what strange woman is this, who has thrown the parish into such a ferment? I"m told she paid you a visit? Pray sit down."
"I humbly thank your Reverence," said Mary, curtseying lowly, "but I"d rather not sit, sir, if you plase. I hope I know what respect manes, your Reverence. Barny Bradagh, I"ll thank you to stand up, if you plase, an" his Reverence to the fore, Barny."
"I ax your Reverence"s pardon, an" yours, too, Mrs. Sullivan: sure we didn"t mane the disrespect, any how, sir, plase your Reverence."
"About this woman, and the _Lianhan Shee?_" said the priest, without noticing Barny"s apology. "Pray what do you precisely understand by a _Lianhan Shee?_"
"Why, sir," replied Mary, "some sthrange bein" from the good people, or fairies, that sticks to some persons. There"s a bargain, sir, your Reverence, made atween thim; an" the divil, sir, that is, the ould boy--the saints about us!--has a hand in it. The _Lianhan Shee_, your Reverence, is never seen only by thim it keeps wid; but--hem!--it always, with the help of the ould boy, conthrives, sir, to make the person brake the agreement, an" thin it has thim in its power; but if they don"t brake the agreement, thin it"s in their power. If they can get any body to put in their place, they may get out o" the bargain; for they can, of a sartainty, give oceans o" money to people, but can"t take any themselves, plase your Reverence. But sure, where"s the use o" me to be tellin" your Reverence what you know betther nor myself?--an" why shouldn"t you, or any one that has the power you have?"
He smiled again at this in his own peculiar manner, and was proceeding to inquire more particularly into the nature of the interview between them, when the noise of feet, and sounds of general alarm, accompanied by a rush of people into the house, arrested his attention, and he hastily inquired into the cause of the commotion. Before he could receive a reply, however, the house was almost crowded; and it was not without considerable difficulty, that, by the exertions of Mrs. Sullivan and Bartley, sufficient order and quiet were obtained to hear distinctly what was said.
"Plase your Reverence," said several voices at once, "they"re comin", hot-foot, into the very house to us! Was ever the likes seen! an" they must know right well, sir, that you"re widin in it."
"Who are coming?" he inquired. "Why the woman, sir, an" her good pet, the _Lianhan Shee_, your Reverence."
"Well," said he, "but why should you all appear so blanched with terror?
Let her come in, and we shall see how far she is capable of injuring her fellow-creatures: some maniac," he muttered, in a low soliloquy, "whom the villany of the world has driven into derangement--some victim to a hand like m----. Well, they say there is a Providence, yet such things are permitted!"
"He"s sayin" a prayer now," observed one of them; "haven"t we a good right to be thankful that he"s in the place wid us while she"s in it, or dear knows what harm she might do us--maybe rise the wind!"* As the latter speaker concluded, there was a dead silence. The persons about the door crushed each other backwards, their feet set out before them, and their shoulders laid with violent pressure against those who stood behind, for each felt anxious to avoid all danger of contact with a being against whose power even a blessed priest found it necessary to guard himself by a prayer.
* It is generally supposed by the people, that persons who have entered into a compact with Satan can raise the wind by calling him up, and that it cannot be laid unless by the death of a black c.o.c.k, a black dog, or an unchristened child.
At length a low murmur ran among the people--"Father O"Rourke!--here"s Father O"Rourke!--he has turned the corner after her, an" they"re both comin" in." Immediately they entered, but it was quite evident from the manner of the worthy priest that he was unacquainted with the person of this singular being. When they crossed the threshold, the priest advanced, and expressed his surprise at the throng of people a.s.sembled.
"Plase your Reverence," said Bartley, "that"s the woman," nodding significantly towards her as he spoke, but without looking at her person, lest the evil eye he dreaded so much might meet his, and give him "the blast."
The dreaded female, on seeing the house in such a crowded state, started, paused, and glanced with some terror at the persons a.s.sembled.
Her dress was not altered since her last visit; but her countenance, though more meagre and emaciated, expressed but little of the unsettled energy which then flashed from her eyes, and distorted her features by the depth of that mysterious excitement by which she had been agitated.
Her countenance was still m.u.f.fled as before, the awful protuberance rose from her shoulders, and the same band which Mrs. Sullivan had alluded to during their interview, was bound about the upper part of her forehead.
She had already stood upwards of two minutes, during which the fall of a feather might be heard, yet none bade G.o.d bless her--no kind hand was extended to greet her--no heart warmed in affection towards her; on the contrary, every eye glanced at her, as a being marked with enmity towards G.o.d. Blanched faces and knit brows, the signs of fear and hatred, were turned upon her; her breath was considered pestilential, and her touch paralysis. There she stood, proscribed, avoided, and hunted like a tigress, all fearing to encounter, yet wishing to exterminate her! Who could she be?--or what had she done, that the finger of the Almighty marked her out for such a fearful weight of vengeance?
Father Philip rose and advanced a few steps, until he stood confronting her. His person was tall, his features dark, severe, and solemn: and when the nature of the investigation about to take place is considered, it need not be wondered at, that the moment was, to those present, one of deep and impressive interest--such as a visible conflict between a supposed champion of G.o.d and a supernatural being was calculated to excite.
"Woman," said he, in his deep stern voice, "tell me who and what you are, and why you a.s.sume a character of such a repulsive and mysterious nature, when it can entail only misery, shame, and persecution on yourself? I conjure you, in the name of Him after whose image you are created, to speak truly?"
He paused, and the tall figure stood mute before him. The silence was dead as death--every breath was hushed and the persons a.s.sembled stood immovable as statues! Still she spoke not; but the violent heaving of her breast evinced the internal working of some dreadful struggle. Her face before was pale--it was now ghastly; her lips became blue, and her eyes vacant.
"Speak!" said he, "I conjure you in the name of the power by whom we live!"
It is probable that the agitation under which she labored was produced by the severe effort made to sustain the unexpected trial she had to undergo.
For some minutes her struggle continued; but having begun at its highest pitch, it gradually subsided until it settled in a calmness which appeared fixed and awful as the resolution of despair. With breathless composure she turned round, and put back that part of her dress which concealed her face, except the band on her forehead, which she did not remove; having done this she turned again, and walked calmly towards Father Philip, with a deadly smile upon her thin lips. When within a step of where he stood, she paused, and riveting her eyes upon him exclaimed--
"Who and what am I? The victim of infidelity and you, the bearer of a cursed existence, the scoff and scorn of the world, the monument of a broken vow and a guilty life, a being scourged by the scorpion lash of conscience, blasted by periodical insanity, pelted by the winter"s storm, scorched by the summer"s heat, withered by starvation, hated by man, and touched into my inmost spirit by the antic.i.p.ated tortures of future misery. I have no rest for the sole of my foot, no repose for a head distracted by the contemplation of a guilty life; I am the unclean spirit which walketh to seek rest and findeth none; I am--_what you have made me!_ Behold," she added, holding up the bottle, "this failed, and I live to accuse you. But no, you are my husband--though our union was but a guilty form, and I will bury that in silence. You thought me dead, and you flew to avoid punishment--did you avoid it? No; the finger of G.o.d has written pain and punishment upon your brow. I have been in all characters, in all shapes, have spoken with the tongue of a peasant, moved in my natural sphere; but my knees were smitten, my brain stricken, and the wild malady which banishes me from society has been upon me for years. Such I am, and such, I say, have you made me. As for you, kind-hearted woman, there was nothing in this bottle but pure water. The interval of reason returned this day, and having remembered glimpses of our conversation, I came to apologize to you, and to explain the nature of my unhappy distemper, and to beg a little bread, which I have not tasted for two days. I at times conceive myself attended by an evil spirit shaped out by a guilty conscience, and this is the only familiar which attends me, and by it I have been dogged into madness through every turning of life. Whilst it lasts I am subject to spasms and convulsive starts which are exceedingly painful. The lump on my back is the robe I wore when innocent in my peaceful convent."
The intensity of general interest was now transferred to Father Philip; every face was turned towards him, but he cared not. A solemn stillness yet prevailed among all present. From the moment she spoke, her eye drew his with the power of a basilisk. His pale face became like marble, not a muscle moved; and when she ceased speaking, his blood-shot eyes were still fixed upon her countenance with a gloomy calmness like that which precedes a tempest. They stood before each other, dreadful counterparts in guilt, for truly his spirit was as dark as hers.
At length he glanced angrily around him;--"Well," said he, "what is it now, ye poor infatuated wretches, to trust in the sanct.i.ty of man.
Learn from me to place the same confidence in G.o.d which you place in his guilty creatures, and you will not lean on a broken reed. Father O"Rourke, you, too, witness my disgrace, but not my punishment. It is pleasant, no doubt, to have a topic for conversation at your Conferences; enjoy it. As for you, Margaret, if society lessen misery, we may be less miserable. But the band of your order, and the remembrance of your vow is on your forehead, like the mark of Cain--tear it off, and let it not blast a man who is the victim of prejudice still,--nay of superst.i.tion, as well as of guilt; tear it from my sight." His eyes kindled fearfully, as he attempted to pull it away by force.
She calmly took it off, and he immediately tore it into pieces, and stamped upon the fragments as he flung them on the ground.
"Come," said the despairing man--"come--there is a shelter for you, but no peace!--food, and drink, and raiment, but no peace!--no peace!" As he uttered these words, in a voice that sank to its deepest pitch, he took her hand, and they both departed to his own residence.
The amazement and horror of those who were a.s.sembled in Bartley"s house cannot be described. Our readers may be a.s.sured that they deepened in character as they spread through the parish. An undefined, fear of this mysterious pair seized upon the people, for their images were a.s.sociated in their minds with darkness and crime, and supernatural communion. The departing words of Father Philip rang in their ears: they trembled, and devoutly crossed themselves, as fancy again repeated the awful exclamation of the priest--"No peace! no peace!"
When Father Philip and his unhappy a.s.sociate went home, he instantly made her a surrender of his small property; but with difficulty did he command sufficient calmness to accomplish even this. He was distracted--his blood seemed to have been turned to fire--he clenched his hands, and he gnashed his teeth, and exhibited the wildest symptoms of madness. About ten o"clock he desired fuel for a large fire to be brought into the kitchen, and got a strong cord, which he coiled and threw carelessly on the table. The family were then ordered to bed.
About eleven they were all asleep; and at the solemn hour of twelve he heaped additional fuel upon the living turf, until the blaze shone with scorching light upon everything around. Dark and desolating was the tempest within him, as he paced, with agitated steps, before the crackling fire.
"She is risen!" he exclaimed--"the spectre of all my crimes is risen to haunt me through life! I am a murderer--yet she lives, and my guilt is not the less! The stamp of eternal infamy is upon me--the finger of scorn will mark me out--the tongue of reproach will sting me like that of a serpent--the deadly touch of shame will cover me like a leper--the laws of society will crush the murderer, not the less that his wickedness in blood has miscarried: after that comes the black and terrible tribunal of the Almighty"s vengeance--of his fiery indignation!
Hush!--What sounds are those? They deepen--they deepen! Is it thunder?
It cannot be the crackling of the blaze! It is thunder!--but it speaks only to my ear! Hush!--Great G.o.d, there is a change in my voice! It is hollow and supernatural! Could a change have come over me? Am I living?
Could I have----Hah!--Could I have departed? and am I now at length given over to the worm that never dies? If it be at my heart, I may feel it. G.o.d!--I am d.a.m.ned! Here is a viper twined about my limbs trying to dart its fangs into my heart! Hah!--there are feet pacing in the room, too, and I hear voices! I am surrounded by evil spirits! Who"s there?--What are you?--Speak!--They are silent!--There is no answer!
Again comes the thunder! But perchance this is not my place of punishment, and I will try to leave these horrible spirits!"
[Ill.u.s.tration: PAGE 975-- Who"s there?--What are you?--Speak!]
He opened the door, and pa.s.sed out into a small green field that lay behind the house. The night was calm, and the silence profound as death.
Not a cloud obscured the heavens; the light of the moon fell upon the stillness of the scene around him, with all the touching beauty of a moonlit midnight in summer. Here he paused a moment, felt his brow, then his heart, the palpitations of which fell audibly upon his ear. He became somewhat cooler; the images of madness which had swept through his stormy brain disappeared, and were succeeded by a lethargic vacancy of thought, which almost deprived him of the consciousness of his own ident.i.ty. From the green field he descended mechanically to a little glen which opened beside it. It was one of those delightful spots to which the heart clingeth. Its sloping sides were clothed with patches of wood, on the leaves of which the moonlight glanced with a soft l.u.s.tre, rendered more beautiful by their stillness. That side on which the light could not fall, lay in deep shadow, which occasionally gave to the rocks and small projecting precipices an appearance of monstrous and unnatural life. Having pa.s.sed through the tangled mazes of the glen, he at length reached its bottom, along which ran a brook, such as in the description of the poet,--
----In the leafy month of June, Unto the sleeping woods all night, Singeth a quiet tune."
Here he stood, and looked upon the green winding margin of the streamlet--but its song he heard not. With the workings of a guilty conscience, the beautiful in nature can have no a.s.sociation. He looked up the glen, but its picturesque windings, soft vistas, and wild underwood mingling with gray rocks and taller trees, all mellowed by the moonbeams, had no charms for him. He maintained a profound silence--but it was not the silence of peace or reflection. He endeavored to recall the scenes of the past day, but could not bring them back to his memory.
Even the fiery tide of thought, which, like burning lava, seared his brain a few moments before, was now cold and hardened.
He could remember nothing. The convulsion of his mind was over, and his faculties were impotent and collapsed.
In this state he unconsciously retraced his steps, and had again reached the paddock adjoining his house, where, as he thought, the figure of his paramour stood before him. In a moment his former paroxysm returned, and with it the gloomy images of a guilty mind, charged with the extravagant horrors of brain-stricken madness.
"What!" he exclaimed, "the band still on your forehead! Tear it off!"
He caught at the form as he spoke, but there was no resistance to his grasp. On looking again towards the spot it had ceased to be visible.
The storm within him arose once more; he rushed into the kitchen, where the fire blazed out with fiercer heat; again he imagined that the thunder came to his ears, but the thunderings which he heard were only the voice of conscience. Again his own footsteps and his voice sounded in his fancy as the footsteps and voices of fiends, with which his imagination peopled the room. His state and his existence seemed to him a confused and troubled dream; he tore his hair--threw it on the table--and immediately started back with a hollow groan; for his locks, which but a few hours before had been as black as a raven"s wing, were now white as snow!
On discovering this, he gave a low but frantic laugh. "Ha, ha, ha!" he exclaimed; "here is another mark--here is food for despair. Silently, but surely, did the hand of G.o.d work this, as proof that I am hopeless!
But I will bear it; I will bear the sight! I now feel myself a man blasted by the eye of G.o.d Himself! Ha, ha, ha! Food for despair! Food for despair!"
Immediately he pa.s.sed into his own room, and approaching the looking-gla.s.s beheld a sight calculated to move a statue. His hair had become literally white, but the shades of his dark complexion, now distorted by terror and madness, flitted, as his features worked under the influence of his tremendous pa.s.sions, into an expression so frightful, that deep fear came over himself. He s.n.a.t.c.hed one of his razors, and fled from the gla.s.s to the kitchen. He looked upon the fire, and saw the white ashes lying around its edge.
"Ha!" said he, "the light is come! I see the sign. I am directed, and I will follow it. There is yet one hope. The immolation! I shall be saved, yet so as by fire. It is for this my hair has become white;--the sublime warning for my self-sacrifice! The color of ashes!--white--white! It is so! I will sacrifice my body in material fire, to save my soul from that which is eternal! But I had antic.i.p.ated the sign. The self-sacrifice is accepted!"*
* As the reader may be disposed to consider the nature of the priest"s death an unjustifiable stretch of fiction, I have only to say in reply, that it is no fiction at all. It is not, I believe, more than forty, or perhaps fifty, years since a priest committed his body to the flames, for the purpose of saving his soul by an incrematory sacrifice. The object of the suicide being founded on the superst.i.tious belief, that a priest guilty of great crimes possesses the privilege of securing salvation by self-sacrifice. We have heard two or three legends among the people in which this principle predominated. The outline of one of these, called "The Young Priest and Brian Braar," was as follows:--