Father John. He did ... he took it from you ... and how do I know what devil's message it may have been that brought him into that devil's work, destruction and drunkenness and burnings! That was not a message from heaven! It was I awoke him; it was I kept him from hearing what was maybe a divine message, a voice of truth; and he heard you speak, and he believed the message was brought by you. You have made use of your deceit and his mistaking ... you have left him without house or means to support him, you are striving to destroy and to drag him to entire ruin. I will not help you, I would rather see him die in his trance and go into God's hands than awake him and see him go into hell's mouth with vagabonds and outcasts like you!
Johnny B. [turning to Biddy]. You should have knowledge, Biddy Lally, of the means to bring back a man that is away.
Biddy. The power of the earth will do it through its herbs, and the power of the air will do it kindling fire into flame.
Johnny B. Rise up and make no delay. Stretch out and gather a handful of an herb that will bring him back from whatever place he is in.
Biddy. Where is the use of herbs and his teeth clenched the way he could not use them?
Johnny B. Take fire so in the devil's name and put it to the soles of his feet. [Takes lighted sod from fire.]
Father John. Let him alone, I say!
[Dashes away the sod.]
Johnny B. I will not leave him alone! I will not give in to leave him swooning there and the country waiting for him to awake!
Father John. I tell you I awoke him! I sent him into thieves' company! I will not have him wakened again and evil things, it may be, waiting to take hold of him! Back from him, back, I say! Will you dare to lay a hand on me? You cannot do it! You cannot touch him against my will!