. But I tell
you that every man, woman, and child in this building stands in as
desperate peril as though his house was on fire over his head and there
was no way out."

He stopped for a moment to get breath, leaning forward over the desk
and panting. Over the building there was a great silence. Maggie was
stirred beyond any earlier experience. She did not know whether he were
charlatan or no. She did not care. She had lived for more than two
years in Skeaton, where everything and every one was dead. Now here was
life. The evidence of it reassured her, whispering to her that Martin
still lived, that he could be found, even that he was coming to her.
Her nervous excitement increased. The emotion of the people around her,
the bands, the singing, all seemed to cry to her, "He is coming! He is
coming! He is coming!" ... but it was Martin now and not God.

Old Crashaw, having recovered his breath, went on: he continued for
some time to abuse them all, screaming and beating the wooden desk with
his fists--then suddenly he changed, his voice softened, his eyes were
milder, there was something wistful and pathetic in his old ugly yellow
face.

"I know that you came in here to-night, all of you, just as you might
into a picture-house or a theatre. Entrance free. Well, then, why not?
Had we charged half-a-crown there wouldn't have been one of you.
Half-a-crown and the most important thing in life. I say the most
important--I say the only important thing in life. A man's soul, its
history and growth. What do you know of the soul, you ask me? How do
you know there is one? Well, I can only tell you my news. If a man
comes into your town and tells you that there is an army marching down
upon it to destroy it he may be true or he may not. If he is true then,
when you don't listen to him you are doomed. If you do listen the
preparation to meet that army will at any rate do you no harm even
though the army doesn't exist."

"I tell you that the Soul exists, that God exists, and that one day God
and the Soul will meet. You say that hasn't been proved, and until it
is proved you will spend your time over other things that you know to
be true. Try it at least, give it a chance. Why not? You give other
things a chance, marriage, doctors, trades, amusements. Why not the
Soul? Don't listen to any one else's definition of religion. Don't
believe in it. Make your own. Find out for yourself. My children, I am
an old man, I am shortly to die.