decide more correctly whether this supernatural power has
been exercised by a good or evil intelligence?"

"The holy father speaks well, Philip Vanderdecken," observed Mathias.

"If it be the work of the Almighty, to whom should you confide, and by
whom should you be guided, but by those who do his service on this
earth? If of the evil one, to whom but to those whose duty and wish it
is to counteract his baneful influence? And reflect, Philip, that this
secret may sit heavily on the mind of your cherished wife, and may bow
her to the grave, as it did your (I trust) sainted mother. With you,
and supported by your presence, she may bear it well; but recollect how
many are the lonely days and nights that she must pass during your
absence, and how much she must require the consolation and help of
others. A secret like this must be as a gnawing worm, and, strong as
she may be in courage, must shorten her existence but for the support
and the balm she may receive from the ministers of our faith. It was
cruel and selfish of you, Philip, to leave her, a lone woman, to bear up
against your absence, and at the same time oppressed with so fatal a
knowledge."

"You have convinced me, holy father," replied Philip. "I feel that I
should before this have made you acquainted with this strange history.
I will now state the whole of the circumstances which have occurred, but
with little hope your advice can help me in a case so difficult, and in
a duty so peremptory, yet so perplexing."

Philip then entered into a minute detail of all that had passed, from
the few days previous to his mother's death until the present time, and
when he had concluded, he observed,--"You see father, that I have bound
myself by a solemn vow--that that vow has been recorded and accepted,
and it appears to me that I have nothing now to do but to follow my
peculiar destiny."

"My son, you have told us strange and startling things--things not of
this world--if you are not deceived. Leave us now. Father Mathias and
I will consult upon this serious matter; and, when we are agreed, you
shall know our decision."

Philip went upstairs to see Amine; she was still in a deep sleep. He
dismissed the servant, and watched by the bedside. For nearly two hours
did he remain there, when he was summoned down to meet the two priests.

"We have had a long conversation, my son," said Father Seysen, "upon
this strange and perhaps supernatural occurrence. I say _p