"Is it possible to do otherwise? How can you, of all men, ask? Science has spoken - or, rather, science has been struck dumb.No natural, physical force is responsible for his end.He died without any cause that you could discover.This is no new thing, however.History records that men have passed similarly under visitations beyond human power to explain.If the Lord could slay multitudes in a night at a breath, as we know from the pages of the Old Testament, then it is certain He canstill end the life of any man at any moment, and send His messengers to do so.I believe in good and evil spirits as I believe in my Bible, and I know that, strong and terrible though they may be and gifted with capital powers against our flesh, yet the will of God is stronger than the strongest of them.These things, I say, have happened before.They are sent to try our faith.I do not mourn my son, save with the blind, natural pang of paternity, because I know that he has been withdrawn from this world for higher purposes in another; but the means of his going I demand to investigate, because they may signify much more than his death itself.One reason for his death may be this: that we are now called to understand what is hidden in the Grey Room.My son's death may have been necessary to that explanation.Human intervention may be demanded there.One of God's immortal souls, for reasons we cannot tell, may be chained in that room, waiting its liberation at human hands.We are challenged, and I accept the challenge, being impelled thereto by the sacred message that has been put into my heart."Even his fellow-priest stared in bewilderment at Septimus May's extraordinary opinions, while to the physician this was the chatter of a lunatic.
"I will take my Bible into that haunted room to-night," concluded the clergyman, "and I will pray to God, Who sits above both quick and dead, to protect me, guide me, and lead me to my duty."Sir Walter spoke.
"You flout reason when you say these things, my dear May.
"And why should I not flout reason? What Christian but knows well enough that reason is the staff that breaks in our hands and wounds us? Much of our most vital experience has no part nor lot with reason.A thousand things happen in the soul's history which reason cannot account for.A thousand moods, temptations, incitements prompt us to action or deter us from it - urge us to do or avoid - for which reason is not responsible.Reason, if we bring these emotions to it, cannot even pronounce upon them.Yet in them and from them springs the life of the soul and the conviction of immortality.'To act on impulse' - who but daily realizes that commonplace in his own experience?The mind doesnot only play tricks and laugh at reason in dreams while we sleep.It laughs at reason while we wake, and the sanest spirit experiences inspired moments, mad moments, unaccountable impulses the reason for which he knows not.The ancients explained these as temptations of malicious and malignant spirits or promptings from unseen beings who wish man well.And where the urge is to evil, that may well be the truth; and where it is to good, who can doubt whence the inspiration comes?""And shall not my inspiration - to employ the cleverest detective in England-be also of good?" asked Sir Walter.
"Emphatically not.Because this thing is in another category than that of human crime.It is lifted upon a plane where the knowledge of man avails nothing.You are a Christian, and you should understand this as well as I do.If there is danger, then I am secure, because I have the only arms that can avail in a battle of the spirit.My trust is shield enough against any evil being that may roam this earth or be held by invisible bonds within the walls of the Grey Room.I will justify the ways of God to man and, through the channel of potent prayer, exorcise this presence and bring peace to your afflicted house.For any living fellow-creature would I gladly pit my faith against evil; how much more, then, in a matter where my very own life's blood has been shed? You cannot deny me this.It is my right.""I will ask you to listen to the arguments against you, nevertheless," replied Mannering."You have propounded an extraordinary theory, and must not mind if we disagree with you.""Speak for yourself alone, then," answered May."I do not ask or expect a man of your profession to agree with me.But the question ceases to be your province.""Do not say that, sir," urged Henry Lennox."I don't think my uncle agrees with you either.You are assuming too much.""Honestly, I can't quite admit your assumption, my dear May," declared Sir Walter."You go too far - farther than is justified at this stage of events, at any rate.Were we in no doubt that a spirit is granted power within my house to destroy human life, then I confess, with due precautions, I could not deny you access to it in the omnipotent Name youinvoke.I am a Christian and believe my Bible as soundly as you do.But why assume such an extraordinary situation? Why seek a supernatural cause for dear Tom 's death before we are satisfied that no other exists?""Are you not satisfied? What mortal man can explain the facts on any foundation of human knowledge?""Consider how limited human knowledge is, said Mannering," and grant that we have not exhausted its possibilities yet.There may be some physical peculiarity about the room, some deadly but perfectly natural chemical accident, some volatile stuff, in roof or walls, that reacts to the lowered temperatures of night.A thousand rare chance combinations of matter may occur which are capable of examination, and which, under skilled experiment, will resolve their secret.Nothing it more bewildering than a good conjuring trick till we know how it is done, and Nature is the supreme conjurer.We have not found out all her tricks, and never shall do so; but we very well know that a solution to all of them exists.""A material outlook and arrogant," said the priest.Whereupon Mannering grew a little warm.
