She dropped on the floor at his feet, and lay there, sobbing piteously.

“Rachel, Rachel,” said he,—­and his face was not quite so calm as his voice,—­“don’t be rebellious.  We are governed by a higher Power.  This is all for our own good, and for the good of the world.  Besides, ours was not a perfect affinity.  You will be much happier with John, as he harmonizes”——­

I could endure it no longer.  Indignation, pity, the full energy of my will, possessed me.  He lost his power over me then, and forever.

“What!” I exclaimed, “you, blasphemer, beast that you are, you dare to dispose of your honest wife in this infamous way, that you may be free to indulge your own vile appetites?—­you, who have outraged the dead and the living alike, by making me utter your forgeries?  Take her back, and let this disgraceful scene end!—­take her back, or I will give you a brand that shall last to the end of your days!”

He turned deadly pale, and trembled.  I knew that he made a desperate effort to bring me under the control of his will, and laughed mockingly as I saw his knit brow and the swollen veins in his temples.  As for the others, they seemed paralyzed by the suddenness and fierceness of my attack.  He wavered but for an instant, however, and his self-possession returned.

“Ha!” he exclaimed, “it is the Spirit of Evil that speaks in him!  The Devil himself has risen to destroy our glorious fabric!  Help me, friends! help me to bind him, and to silence his infernal voice, before he drives the pure spirits from our midst!”

With that, he advanced a step towards me, and raised a hand to seize my arm, while the others followed behind.  But I was too quick for him.  Weak as I was, in comparison, rage gave me strength, and a blow, delivered with the rapidity of lightning, just under the chin, laid him senseless on the floor.  Mrs. Stilton screamed, and threw herself over him.  The rest of the company remained as if stupefied.  The storm which had been gathering all the evening at the same instant broke over the house in simultaneous thunder and rain.

I stepped suddenly to the door, opened it, and drew a long, deep breath of relief, as I found myself alone in the darkness.  “Now,” said I, “I have done tampering with God’s best gift; I will be satisfied with the natural sunshine which beams from His Word and from His Works; I have learned wisdom at the expense of shame!” I exulted in my new freedom, in my restored purity of soul; and the wind, that swept down the dark, lonely street, seemed to exult with me.  The rains beat upon me, but I heeded them not; nay, I turned aside from the homeward path, in order to pass by the house where Agnes lived.  Her window was dark, and I knew she was sleeping, lulled by the storm; but I stood a moment below, in the rain, and said aloud, softly,—­

“Now, Agnes, I belong wholly to you!  Pray to God for me, darling, that I may never lose the true light I have found at last!”