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decision can only consist in the enlightenment of souls to see the
truth； and therefore has to do with individuals only。 There is no
triumph for the Truth but that。 She knows no glorying over the
vanquished； for in her victory the vanquished is already of the
vanquishers。 Till then； the Right must be content to be called the
Wrong； andwhich is far harderto seem the Wrong。 There is no
spiritual victory gained by a verbal conquest； or by any kind of
torture； even should the rack employed be that of the purest logic。
Nay more： so long as the wicked themselves remain impenitent； there
is mourning in heaven； and when there is no longer any hope over one
last remaining sinner； heaven itself must confess its defeat； heap
upon that sinner what plagues you will。〃
Hugh pondered； and continued pondering till they reached Falconer's
chambers。 At the door Hugh paused。
〃Will you not come in？〃
〃I fear I shall become troublesome。〃
〃No fear of that。 I promise to get rid of you as soon as I find you
so。〃
〃Thank you。 Just let me know when you have had enough of me。〃
They entered。 Mrs。 Ashton； who； unlike her class； was never missing
when wanted； got them some bread and cheese； and Falconer's
Fortunatus…purse of a cellarthe bottom of his cupboardsupplied
its usual bottle of port； to which fare the friends sat down。
The conversation； like a bird descending in spirals； settled at last
upon the subject which had more or less occupied Hugh's thoughts
ever since his unsatisfactory conversation with Funkelstein； at
their first meeting； and still more since he had learned that this
man himself exercised an unlawful influence over Euphra。 He begged
Falconer； if he had any theory comprehending such things； to let him
know what kind of a relation it was； in which Miss Cameron stood to
Funkelstein； or Count von Halkar。
〃I have had occasion to think a good deal about those things；〃 said
Falconer。 〃The first thing evident is； that Miss Cameron is
peculiarly constituted； belonging to a class which is； however；
larger than is commonly supposed； circumstances rarely combining to
bring out its peculiarities。 In those who constitute this class；
the nervous element； either from preponderating； or from not being
in healthy and harmonious combination with the more material
element； manifests itself beyond its ordinary sphere of operation；
and so occasions results unlike the usual phenomena of life； though；
of course； in accordance with natural laws。 To use a simile： it is；
in such cases； as if all the nerves of the human body came crowding
to the surface； and there exposed themselves to a thousand
influences； from which they would otherwise be preserved。 Of course
I am not attempting to explain； only to suggest a conceivable
hypothesis。 Upon such constitutions； it would not be surprising
that certain other constitutions； similar； yet differing； should
exercise a peculiar influence。 You are； I dare say； more or less
familiar with the main features of mesmerism and its allies； among
which is what is called biology。 I presume it is on such
constitutions as I have supposed； that those powers are chiefly
operative。 Miss Cameron has； at some time or other in her history；
submitted herself to the influences of this Count Halkar； and he has
thus gained a most dangerous authority over her； which he has
exercised for his own ends。〃
〃She more than implied as much in the last conversation I had with
her。〃
〃So his will became her law。 There is in the world of mind a
something corresponding to physical force in the material world。I
cannot avoid just touching upon a higher analogy。 The kingdom of
heaven is not come； even when God's will is our law： it is come when
God's will is our will。 While God's will is our law； we are but a
kind of noble slaves； when his will is our will； we are free
children。 Nothing in nature is free enough to be a symbol for the
state of those who act immediately from the essence of their hidden
life； and the recognition of God's will as that essence。 But； as I
said； this belongs to a far higher region。 I only wanted to touch
on the relation of the freedomsphysical； mental； and spiritual。
To return to the point in hand： I recognise in the story a clear
evidence of strife and partial victory in the affair of the ring。
The countwe will call him by the name he gives himselfhad
evidently been anxious for years to possess himself of this ring：
the probable reasons we have already talked of。 He had laid his
injunctions on his slave to find it for him； and she； perhaps at
first nothing loath； perhaps loving the man as well as submitting to
him； had for a long time attempted to find it； but had failed。 The
count； probably doubting her sincerity； and hoping； at all events；
to urge her search； followed her to Arnstead； where it is very
likely he had been before； although he had avoided Mr。 Arnold。
Judging it advantageous to get into the house； in order to make
observations； he employed his chance meeting with you to that
result。 But； before this； he had watched Miss Cameron's familiarity
with youwas jealous and tyrannical。 Hence the variations of her
conduct to you； for when his power was upon her； she could not do as
she pleased。 But she must have had a real regard for you； for she
evidently refused to get you into trouble by taking the ring from
your custody。 But my surprise is that the fellow limited himself to
that one jewel。〃
〃You may soon be relieved from that surprise；〃 answered Hugh： 〃he
took a valuable diamond of mine as well。〃
〃The rascal！ We may catch him； but you are not likely to find your
diamond again。 Still； there is some possibility。〃
〃How do you know she was not willing to take it from me？〃
〃Because； by her own account； he had to destroy her power of
volition entirely； before he could make her do it。 He threw her
into a mesmeric sleep。〃
〃I should like to understand his power over her a little better。 In
such cases of biologyhow they came to abuse the word； I should
like to know〃
〃Just as they call table…rapping； &c。； spiritualism。〃
〃I suppose his relation to her must be classed amongst phenomena of
that sort？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Well； tell me； does the influence outlast the mesmeric condition？〃
〃If by mesmeric condition you mean any state evidently approaching
to that of sleepundoubtedly。 It is； in many cases； quite
independent of such a condition。 Perhaps the degree of willing
submission at first； may have something to do with it。 But mesmeric
influence； whatever it may mean； is entirely independent of sleep。
That is an accident accompanying it； perhaps sometimes indicating
its culmination。〃
〃Does the person so influenced act with or against his will？〃
〃That is a most difficult question； involving others equally
difficult。 My own impression is； that the patientfor patient in a
very serious sense he isacts with his inclination； and often with
his will； but in many cases with his inclination against his will。
This is a very important distinction in morals； but often
overlooked。 When a man is acting with his inclination； his will is
in abeyance。 In our present imp