“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 you invoke.  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.