The storyteller.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 50, 9 April 1897, Page 21

The storyteller.

JOHN HALLAM'S WIFE.

IX FOUR CHAPTERS.

(By Rosa Mulholland, in Are Maria.')

CHAPTER IV.

I returned home, taking with me the amulet lent by Mrs. Hallam, who was willing that I should use every means toward the successful deciphering of the inscriptions. In the uninterrupted seclusion of my own library, after long study, I began to read, with the assistance of a magnifying-glass, a little, and then a little more, of the strange signs and figures cut in the gold and stones many hundred years ago. I found that the amulet had been made by order of Rhemba, Queen of Aurungzoba ; and that all the spells of all the magicians and necromancers of her day had been exhausted to concentrate power within the jewel, which was to serve its owner as protection against the machinations of every evil spirit. The inscription on the clasp, which was the longest, concerned exorcism, or final banishment of a troublesome spirit to the regions of the other world ; and made reference to the teachings of a certain philosopher whose name was given. I concluded that without further knowledge derived from the works of this master of magic I could not attempt the spell of exorcism, and felt that I had come to a full stop just as I was growing hopeful of real progress. The magician's name was not unknown to me, as belonging to one of the dreamers, or impostors, of ancient Eastern times. It even seemed to me that I had seen a volume bearing his name among some curiosities of literature in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. Why should I not go there and assure myself whether or not the book existed ? I had not made a trip to Oxford for some time. I should at least have change of air and scene, and probably acquire agreeable information of some kind, even if the enchantments of Mrs. Hallam's strange ancestress must remain among the mysteries that are never to be unravelled. I started for Oxford, well aware that any one knowing the object of my visit would have regarded me as a person of disordered intellect. It was with considerable eagerness that I scanned the shelf on which my memory suggested that I had seen the volume in question ; and I had a curious feeling of acting in a dream as I put my hand on the book, took it down from its place, and set to work to explore its contents. I was not sufficiently master of the language in which it was written to feel confidence in my own reading ; and, after some delay, I obtained the assistance of an expert, who supplied me with the exact meaning of several difficult passages bearing on the subject which was occupying my mind. "Itis a very curious old book," said the expert ; " and interesting, I think, even for its matter as well as from an antiquarian and literary point of view. Say what you will, there was something at the bottom of their necromancy. There are many lost arts ; and, wise as we are in the nineteenth century, some wonderful things exist and are unknown to us." " I believe you,"' I replied. And yet as I journeyed home, with the wisdom of the old magician stored in my mind and in my notebook, I could not bring myself to believe that its assistance would enable me to influence the beings of an invisible world. The whole thing wore to me too much the air of a well-invented fairy-tale. Back in my own den, however, out of touch with the everyday world of what is called common-sense, this view became less positive. I set to work deliberately to think myself into the mood of the old magician, and after some time began to rehearse the acts and study the means recommended by him as certain to produce the desired power of compelling mischievous spirits to desist from interfering with the lives of those who are still in the flesh ; of forcing them to retire to their own place of abode, and to remain there. Anyone who is curious to know the details of the instructions' I strove to follow will find all in the book to which I have referred, if they go and seek for it as I did, and are fortunate enough to secure the services of the expert who was so useful in enlightening me. I grant, however, that I had an extraordinary advantage in the possession of the amulet. The result of my studies and practices was such that, from sheer exhaustion, I lay ill for a few days, during which time I was delirious and had strange dreams and visions. As soon as I was restored to my usual health, 1 felt eager to test the reality of the power I had acquired ; and, hopeful if not confident, I wrote to Hallam, saying that I now iound myself free to pay him another visit, and would do so at any time it might be agreeable for him and Mrs. Hallam to receive me. In return I had a few words from him and a graceful note from the lady, asburing me of the welcome that I coveted. It was late in October when I again took up my quarters in the old house, where I had already met with such strange experiences. It seemed to me that things were just as I had left them, except that the shortened days and chill atmosphere w hich naturally drive people indoors and make one dependent on fireside companionship, rendered it more apparent that a shadow of mistrust and misunderstanding still lay between husband and wife. I thought Mrs. Hallam looked paler and thinner than in the summer ; and she had a nervous manner, which betrayed her painful consciousness of her husband's displeasure. I felt, with a shock, that if her deliverance was not speedily effected, she would not live much longer to be the innocent cause of his unhappiness. I thought it no harm to startle him a little by calling his attention to the evidently delicate state of her health.

" Yes," answered, gloomily. " Whatever her secret is, she does not thrive on it. God help me, I know not how to save her !" I said nothing of my purpose in coming-, fearing to encourage expectations which I might not have power to fulfil. " May I ask you," I said, "if you have had any renewal of the cause of your uneasiness since I left you in July ?" " Any renewal I" he said with a bitter laugh. " Her freaks are simply monstrous, her falsehoods unblushing. I would rather not talk on the subject. I am pleased to see you here, but I have no longer any hope of relief from your sagacity." I soon seized an opportunity of informing Mrs. Hallam that I had deciphered the inscriptions on the amulet, and that I hoped before long to place a translation in her hands. My next step was to ask her to entrust me with the moonstone which had been the property of her ancestress Rhemba, the queen. She readily placed this second jewel in my keeping, consenting also to my retention of the amulet. Fortified, therefore, with these two important talismans, I shut myself up in my chamber and proceeded to put in to practice the theory I had learned from the magic-book, with the assistance of the expert, and began to make preparations for the working of the long-forgotten spell. I felt that I was making my experiment chiefly for the sake of my friends, but a good deal to satisfy my own highly-excited curiosity with regard to the unknown I requested to be allowed to remain for some days undisturbed' in my apartments and Hallam willingly gave me my way. He himself was in no mood for genial companionship, and fancied me engrossed in my habitual studies. I will not dwell on the days and nights when concentrated effort had become an agony, and my determination to succeed almost wore out by tension the thread of my life. My task was to draw a circle, with such assistance as I possessed, material and spiritual, — a circle which, beginning with a radius extending far beyond the round of this globe of the earth, should keep ever contracting, narrowing a little every day, growing at last perceptibly smaller every hour, till it should finally arrive within the limits of my requirements. One cause of my suffering was the enormous resistance made by the unseen to the progress of my labours. As my circle grew smaller and smaller, supernatural efforts were made to paralyze my will, to destroy the force of my purpose, which was irresistible as long as it was sustained. Sleep was forgotten ; nothing was present to me but the narrowing of that circle, which was drawing closer hour by hour to me as to its centre.

At last there came a day when I knew that the circle was no longer outside the walls of the house in which I stood. Another cycle of the hours of day and night would bring its circumference within the enclosure of my chamber. I was dizzy for want of food and rest ; though food was beside me, and my bed was in the adjoining room. Conscious of having arrived very near the brink of madness, I was yet keenly alive to the knowledge that the moment was at hand for testing the reality of my powers. About nightfall I became aware that my extraordinary circle was already in the centre of my apartment. I saw it presently gleaming like a silver snake on the floor, a perfect ring with a radius of about a yard and a half. Then I knew it was time for action, and that I must not proceed further except in the presence of witnesses.

It was Hallam's custom to visit me every night before bedtime. On this particular evening I awaited his coming with anxiety. When he appeared I looked eagerly to see whether he perceived my circle — now a ring of white fire like a chain of diamonds burning — in the centre of the floor. As he made no remark upon it, I concluded that the marvellous appearance was invisible to him.

" Hallam, I have not shut myself up in this room so long without a purpose in view. I have been strangely employed. I will say no more until I have made a trial on which I think your future happiness depends. Will you grant me a favour, even though you should look upon me as a madman ? Will you bring Mrs. Hallam to this room, and remain here with her silently during my pleasure 1 Something extraordinary is to about to take place. If nothing unusual happens, then my labour for some months past will be a melancholy Jianco."

Hallam stared at me in astonishment, but the earnestness of my manner impressed him in spite of his judgment. He immediately left me, and returned with Mrs. Hallam. I placed them both sitting beside, and a little behind me ; and begged them to remain tranquil no matter what strange things they might have to witness. Then, all things being in readiness, I began my incantations, solemnly exhorting the spirit of Rhemba to approach us, to renounce the simulated appearance of her innocent descendant, to confess her own identity, and to return to the state of separation from humanity in the particular sphere to which she had been relegated.

Two or three hours passed, as I pursued my purpose and persisted in the working of my spell. Hallam and his wife sat motionless, impelled by something more than the sight of my determination and the sound of my utterances, which they were unable to understand. The portion of the house where the servants slept was at a considerable distance from where we were. Complete silence reigned as the night advanced, and yet there was something vibrating in the air that was not silence, — something vague and remote, which grew and grew ; not the whisper of wind, nor the sough of trees, nor anything known to our ears, but a murmur of discordant sounds unfamiliar to human nature. As I pronounced the name of Rhemba with more and more urgency, I was aware that Mrs. Hallam stirred slightly, as if recognising the word : but she remained perfectly controlled, and relapsed into absolute quietude. Hallam's white set face encouraged me to proceed, to struggle against the deadly faintness which at moments almost threatened to disable me.

Just about three o'clock — the deathly hour when all life in the flesh shrinks from the blighting chill which passes over the carth — that ineffable discordant murmur which I have mentioned swelled suddenly to a chorus of angry wailing. It seemed to fill all the remote chambers and halls of the house, and gradually poured towards us into the nearer spaces. Finally, it approached the

stair and passage at hai d, as if driven irresistibly by a wind. Wrathfully, remonstrating und denunciatory voices bucaiue distinguishable ; each with a curious ringing double note, like the Btrings of an instrument struck together in a harsh and intolerable discord.

After a time I was conscious that some powerful individuality was present in the long tuter passage which led to the open door of the room where I stood, and where my friends, silent as dead people, sat motionless behind me. Something I can describe only as a turbulence in the air increased moment by moment ; then a moving force gradually set toward me, trying to overthrow me physically, and driving hard against my breast and head. All my strength of mind and body was necessary to withstand and repel its assaults. After what seemed to me an interminable trial, through which I hardly stood my ground, the assailing force gave way ; and in the same instant a shrill, rending cry rang to the roof ot the house, — no human cry, but a sound impossible to conceive of if not heard. Another pause, and a solitary figure stood visible in the doorway. It was the figure of Mrs. Hallam, in light gown and with loosened hair — exactly as she had appeared entering the room some hours before, led by her husband from her dressing-room in compliance with my urgent request It was the very counterpart of the woman who sat clinging to Hallam a little way behind me.

I heard the sound of a sudden movement from Hallam, but no exclamation escaped from either husband or wife.

The figure in the doorway had the appearance of a living woman, approaching us with reluctance, shrinking from the light with terror. The sight of her strengthened my nerve ; and, after a few moments, I renewed my exertions, aud concentrated all the powers of the spell to compel her to advance into the room and to discover herself into her supernatural reality. Step by step, always resisting but always over powered, she came forward and stood plainly in view within a foot of the circle. Without turning my head or removing my eyes from her, I spoke to Hallam. " Hallam," I said, " are you satisfied ? The spirit you see before you is subject to the powers which she herself when in the flesh made use of for the most iniquitous purposes. She is the remote ancestress of your wife, and has pursued her through mere malice, — the hatred of evil for what is unchangeably good."

Hallam made a slight murmur and drew his wife into his arms,

" Rhemba," I said, again putting the spell in motion, " I command you to step within this circle, to throw off the disguise of innocence, and to appear before your victims in your acknowledged personality." A convulsive movement noAV shook the strange being, swayed her backward and impelled her forward, finally casting her across the diamond flame of the ring on the floor, in the centre of which she stood at last, while a change passed gradually over her features and the character of her personality. On the occasions when 1 had seen her before face to face. I had perceived the beginning of such a change as now took place in a thorough manner. The fair lace became yellow, then green and swarthy : the golden hair turned black as ebony ; the figure grew more ample but still retained it 1 * graceful outlines. The white gown disappeared, and was replaced by rich robes sown all over with jewels ; the clear blue eyes were consumed in the fire ot a pair of burning orbs, splendid in form and setting, but expressive ot concentrated malignity. Jewels hung on her swarthy arms and shone on her finely-formed ieet and ankles. I paused a moment, unable to proceed from the overwhelming sense ot the presence of a cloud of evil witnesses, invisible, but pressing round me and upon me— the last attempt of Rhemba's following to overthrow me and rescue her. I feared that were Ito succumb, she might even yet prove triumphant ; and so, with a rally of all my physical and mental forces, 1 held the evil spirits in the air at bay. and continued to exert and put in force my command over Rhemba.

My words now seemed to hail on her. as it each struck her. wounding her bodily. She cowered, shook, crouched to the floor and then stood up struggling ; while her glances darted on every side, as if she looked in desperation for some escape from my presence, and from out of the control of the white-gleaming circle. I perceived that the jewels on her dress had burst into name, and that their flames began to run together, making figures of lire all o\er her garments. Presently the fire extended, threatening to consume her. Now a part of her became obscure, as it a cloud had covered it ; shone out again vividly and vanished. Then another part of her disappeared. to show itself once more for a moment, and finally to become extinguished with its fugitive splendours. Bit by bit she burned away ; glowed in fire, went out : again flamed forth, and sank into extinction. Soon there was nothing left but a foot, a shoulder, and the unconquerable eyes which out-lasted the jewels, and flared on us with rebellious agony till they, too, went out, as the flame of a candle drops down in its socket. As the last remnant of her became extinct a rush as of crowding wings swept like a wind through the chamber and went hurtling down the passages.

After that I had an interval of unconsciousness, and my next mental impression was of the tact that llallam and Virginia were ministering to me where they had placed me on a couch a few yai ds from the point which the ring ol my magic circle had touched at. The gleaming ring was gone : the lamp burned low. In the silence we could hear the ticking ot the clock. A few broken sounds passed between us three, but we were too much overwhelmed by our laic experience to be able to express ourselves articulately.

Presently the clock struck, and at the same time the sounds of life began to make themselves heard in the lower part of the house. Little by little we emerged from the shadow of supernatural awe that bad wrapped us round. Not, however, till the daylight began to show behind the blinds did we leave off conversing in low tones ot the incredible occurrences of the night. Then my friends leit me to return to their own rooms, looking like ghosts themselves, as they went down the passage in the dawn-light ; Jlallam almoat carrying his wife, who clung to him in terror, like a drowning creature. Ot

course we kept the whole strange experience a secret between OUrselves.

it became evident next day that Mrs. Hallam must be taken at once into a new atmosphere. Naturally enough, she was overcome vv ith dread of a renewal of the persecution in some form or other, and llallam re-olved to take her to London without delay ; while I consented to see to the winding up of affairs at the manor-house — the dismissal of servants, sale of furniture, removal of valuables.

Having seen the Hallams off to London, I returned for a few days to my own house, pending the fulfilment of my trust with regard to the manor. The morning after my arrival home the door ot my library suddenly opened and a stranger came in. I was surprised that the servants should have admitted any one, as I was particularly bu.y ; but, supposing it to be an accident, I received my vi-itor with as good a grace as 1 could assume at the moment. He was a venerable-looking old man, with white beard and penetrating eyes, and was dressed in a peculiar grey gown, which I imagined to be the habit of some religious order.

I presented him with a seat, and asked him to tell me what circumstance had gained me the favour of his visit. He immediately began to speak of the East, its peoples, creeds, history and occult sciences. Before long I became enthralled listening to him. The conditions of spirits long released from the flesh, the relations existing between them and living humanity — of these subjects he discoursed with the air of one possessed of extraordinary knowledge. After an hour of earnest conversation, he said, as if by way of illustration :

" Xow, in the case of Virginia Hallam and the vicious Rhemba "

'• Grreat heaven !" I exclaimed. " Who has informed you of these intimate and secret matters ?"

'• That is of no consequence," he said. " You must tell Virginia that she need fear persecution no more. At present she is in danger of losing her life through a natural apprehension. Let her remember that there are good spirits as well as evil ones. Rhemba can assail her no more. But at the same time counsel her always to w ear the amulet."

I felt in great awe of my venerable and learned visitor, reflecting that his knowledge of the facts of our case was as strange a matter as any of our experiences. I was no longer in a position to wonder at anything, and I answered him that I was grateful for his sympathy and counsel. •• I am a relative of Virginia's," he said ; " though I had passed out of sight of humanity before she was born."

He took his leave as abruptly as he came ; and after he had left me I remained as if stunned, unable to account for the extraordinary impression he had made on me. I had tried to keep him longer with me. but he had slipped away from me, I scarcely knew how. I rang the bell and inquired from the servants of his coming and going, but they had seen no such person as I described. No one had come in at the door, no one had gone out of it. His words came back to me :

■• I had passed out of sight of humanity before she was born. There are. good spirits as well as evil ones. Rhemba can assail her no more. Counsel her always to wear the amulet."

I made full notes of the visit, and when 1 joined my friends in London I placed these notes before them. To my surprise. Mrs. llallam was infinitely relieved by the message I conveyed to her. She rested with a childlike faith on the assurance that the good spirits had taken her into their care. Her imagination was soothed, her mind steadied. Also her heart Avas now satisfied with her husband's love : for Hallam knew not how to make amends for the wrong his thoughts had done her.

ihe llallams eventually settled down in a charming house at a pleasant distance from London. One day, when Virginia was arranging her household gods in what she delighted to calf her

•• permanent home," I happened to be with her, and saw in her hands a small painting in a "frame of ivory carving. Something in the outlines of the pictured figure attracted me from a distance, and 1 desired to be allowed to look at it more nearly.

"Itis a portrait of my father s eldest brother," she said. "He went as a missionary to the Ea^t long before my father's career led him also in the same direction, lie died before I was born. My father venerated his memory."

The picture was a singularly faithful portrait of my unaccountable visitor.

(Tin; Exu.)