Frederik had just spoken harshly to him. And that recalled harsh words Frederik had spoken to the woman in the picture. And thus, quite simply, his memory supplied the one needful link. What is remarkable in all the foregoing? In fact, Shakespeare's Horatio says:
"There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave, to tell us this!"
So much for Dr. McPherson's efforts to surround a series of normal occurrences with a halo of the Supernatural! Now, let me add a word on my own account, and I am done.
The Dead do not return to the scene of their toil and pain and tears. Would a freed convict sneak back to his prison house or the ex-galley slave to his oar? The convalescent does not crawl into the contagion ward again of his free choice. Nor, I believe, would the Lord permit the return of the Dead; even to bear a warning to those left behind.
Glance at the sixteenth chapter of St. Luke for confirmation of my belief;—at the parable of the "certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day"; and who, in torment, after death, called to Abraham to send Lazarus from Heaven to visit the Tortured One's five brethren:
"That he may testify unto men, lest they also come into this place of torment.
"Abraham said to him: 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.'
"And he said: 'Nay, Father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead they would repent.'
"And he said unto him: 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded through one rise from the dead.'"
No, the whole idea is preposterous. It is far outside of God's justice and infinitely farther beyond His boundless mercy.