al priest's surmises as to
their respective psychological states, I shall take leave to summarise a
few of his remarks and omit the rest. The whole section, in fact, might
be omitted without any detriment to the history; and may be ignored by
those who have arrived as far as this point in the reading of the book.

Sir John is somewhat obscure; and I suspect that he does not fully
understand the theory that he attempts to state, which I suppose was
taught him originally by Richard Raynal himself, and subsequently
illustrated by the priest's own studies. He instances several cases as
examples of the classes of persons to which he refers; but his obscurity
is further deepened by the action of the zealous and discreet scribe,
who, as I have said in the preface, has been careful to omit nearly all
the names in Sir John's original manuscript.

Briefly, his theory is as follows--at least so far as I can understand
him.

* * * * *

It is at once man's glory and penalty that he is a mixed being. By the
possession of his complex nature he is capable of both height and
depth. He can devote himself to God or Satan; and there are two methods
by which he can attain to proficiency in either of those services. He
can issue forth through his highest or lowest self, according to his own
will and predispositions.

Most men are predisposed to act through the lower or physical self; and
by an interior intention direct their actions towards good or evil.
Those that serve God in this manner are often incapable of high mystical
acts; but they refrain generally from sin; and when they sin return
through Penance. Those who so serve Satan sin freely, and make no
efforts at reformation. A few of these, by a wholehearted devotion to
evil, succeed in establishing a relation between themselves and physical
nature, and gain a certain control over the lower powers inherent in it.
To this class belong the less important magicians and witches; and even
some good Christians possess such powers (which we now call psychical)
which, generally speaking, they are at a loss to understand. Such
persons can blast or wither by the eye; they have a strange authority
over animals; [I append a form of words which Sir John quotes, and
which, he says, may be used sometimes lawfully even by christened men.
It is to be addressed in necessity to a troublesome snake. "By Him who
created thee I adjure thee that thou remain in the spot whe