“Dolly never makes any one any trouble,� replied Mrs. Lucien, smiling fondly upon her child. “It is true I have taken considerable interest in Dr. Lyman’s lectures as reported in the papers, and in his subject. I have myself witnessed phenomena in the so-called spirit manifestations which I could not account for by any knowledge of my own, scientific or otherwise. If it is not spirits, then what is it?�
Mrs. Wylie shook her head.
“I confess I am very incredulous,� she said, smiling. “I think sometimes with old Mr. Hucklebone, that it is the work of the Evil One, and feel like avoiding it; but my husband is interested in the subject, and I go to these lectures to please him. I cannot say that I enjoy them, however.�
“Can you not believe the soul is immortal? And if so, why may not one come back to this earth and linger near those one has loved? Shall spirits be limited by time and space? These are finite things. Does not the spirit belong to the infinite?� Mrs. Lucien’s voice was low, sweet, and persuasive.
“I do not deny that it may be so, because I see nothing to entirely disprove such a possibility; but I cannot see what good it can do us or any one else to seek intercourse with those who have passed to the other world. There has been a boundary line and a veil of death placed between Time and Eternity, mortals and immortals, and it better remain. What I cannot countenance is that people give up their religion to take up spiritism. Why the testimony of the spirit of mortal man (admitting that it may testify) should weigh more than the great Spirit of the Universe, in whom even the wild Indian believes and whom we designate our Creator, is to me a strange thing. It is making a religion of spiritism that I object to.�
Mrs. Wylie spoke with unusual seriousness and her friend did not immediately respond.
“I do not think I believe in making a religion of it either,� she said after a moment of silence; “but there is so much one does not understand, and if by actual converse with those who have gone before and tested the mysteries of the unknown we may learn without doubt of the life in store for us, it is a satisfaction, to say the least.�
“But can we know without doubt? Do we know with what we are conversing? I confess I have seen so much charlatanry I cannot be sure of anything.�
“Have you not had experiences in your life, dear Mrs. Wylie, which have demonstrated to you a psychic power beyond explanation, save by this theory of spirit force?�
“Possibly; though I only think of one instance now which might be of this class,� said Mrs. Wylie reflectively.