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obscurity； they terrify us and leave the soul dejected。
〃Ideas are a complete system within us； resembling a natural kingdom；
a sort of flora； of which the iconography will one day be outlined by
some man who will perhaps be accounted a madman。
〃Yes； within us and without； everything testifies to the livingness of
those exquisite creations； which I compare with flowers in obedience
to some unutterable revelation of their true nature！
〃Their being produced as the final cause of man is； after all； not
more amazing than the production of perfume and color in a plant。
Perfumes /are/ ideas； perhaps！
〃When we consider the line where flesh ends and the nail begins
contains the invisible and inexplicable mystery of the constant
transformation of a fluid into horn； we must confess that nothing is
impossible in the marvelous modifications of human tissue。
〃And are there not in our inner nature phenomena of weight and motion
comparable to those of physical nature？ Suspense； to choose an example
vividly familiar to everybody； is painful only as a result of the law
in virtue of which the weight of a body is multiplied by its velocity。
The weight of the feeling produced by suspense increases by the
constant addition of past pain to the pain of the moment。
〃And then； to what； unless it be to the electric fluid； are we to
attribute the magic by which the Will enthrones itself so imperiously
in the eye to demolish obstacles at the behest of genius； thunders in
the voice； or filters； in spite of dissimulation； through the human
frame？ The current of that sovereign fluid； which； in obedience to the
high pressure of thought or of feeling； flows in a torrent or is
reduced to a mere thread； and collects to flash in lightnings； is the
occult agent to which are due the evil or the beneficent efforts of
Art and Passionintonation of voice； whether harsh or suave；
terrible； lascivious； horrifying or seductive by turns； thrilling the
heart； the nerves； or the brain at our will； the marvels of the touch；
the instrument of the mental transfusions of a myriad artists； whose
creative fingers are able； after passionate study； to reproduce the
forms of nature； or； again； the infinite gradations of the eye from
dull inertia to the emission of the most terrifying gleams。
〃By this system God is bereft of none of His rights。 Mind； as a form
of matter； has brought me a new conviction of His greatness。〃
After hearing him discourse thus； after receiving into my soul his
look like a ray of light； it was difficult not to be dazzled by his
conviction and carried away by his arguments。 The Mind appeared to me
as a purely physical power； surrounded by its innumerable progeny。 It
was a new conception of humanity under a new form。
This brief sketch of the laws which； as Lambert maintained； constitute
the formula of our intellect； must suffice to give a notion of the
prodigious activity of his spirit feeding on itself。 Louis had sought
for proofs of his theories in the history of great men； whose lives；
as set forth by their biographers； supply very curious particulars as
to the operation of their understanding。 His memory allowed him to
recall such facts as might serve to support his statements； he had
appended them to each chapter in the form of demonstrations； so as to
give to many of his theories an almost mathematical certainty。 The
works of Cardan； a man gifted with singular powers of insight；
supplied him with valuable materials。 He had not forgotten that
Apollonius of Tyana had； in Asia； announced the death of a tyrant with
every detail of his execution； at the very hour when it was taking
place in Rome； nor that Plotinus； when far away from Porphyrius； was
aware of his friend's intention to kill himself； and flew to dissuade
him； nor the incident in the last century； proved in the face of the
most incredulous mockery ever knownan incident most surprising to
men who were accustomed to regard doubt as a weapon against the fact
alone； but simple enough to believersthe fact that Alphonzo…Maria di
Liguori； Bishop of Saint…Agatha； administered consolations to Pope
Ganganelli； who saw him； heard him； and answered him； while the Bishop
himself； at a great distance from Rome； was in a trance at home； in
the chair where he commonly sat on his return from Mass。 On recovering
consciousness； he saw all his attendants kneeling beside him；
believing him to be dead： 〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃the Holy Father is
just dead。〃 Two days later a letter confirmed the news。 The hour of
the Pope's death coincided with that when the Bishop had been restored
to his natural state。
Nor had Lambert omitted the yet more recent adventure of an English
girl who was passionately attached to a sailor； and set out from
London to seek him。 She found him； without a guide； making her way
alone in the North American wilderness； reaching him just in time to
save his life。
Louis had found confirmatory evidence in the mysteries of the
ancients； in the acts of the martyrsin which glorious instances may
be found of the triumph of human will； in the demonology of the Middle
Ages； in criminal trials and medical researches； always selecting the
real fact； the probable phenomenon； with admirable sagacity。
All this rich collection of scientific anecdotes； culled from so many
books； most of them worthy of credit； served no doubt to wrap parcels
in； and this work； which was curious； to say the least of it； as the
outcome of a most extraordinary memory； was doomed to destruction。
Among the various cases which added to the value of Lambert's
/Treatise/ was an incident that had taken place in his own family； of
which he had told me before he wrote his essay。 This fact； bearing on
the post…existence of the inner man； if I may be allowed to coin a new
word for a phenomenon hitherto nameless； struck me so forcibly that I
have never forgotten it。 His father and mother were being forced into
a lawsuit； of which the loss would leave them with a stain on their
good name； the only thing they had in the world。 Hence their anxiety
was very great when the question first arose as to whether they should
yield to the plaintiff's unjust demands； or should defend themselves
against him。 The matter came under discussion one autumn evening；
before a turf fire in the room used by the tanner and his wife。 Two or
three relations were invited to this family council； and among others
Louis' maternal great…grandfather； an old laborer； much bent； but with
a venerable and dignified countenance； bright eyes； and a bald； yellow
head； on which grew a few locks of thin； white hair。 Like the Obi of
the Negroes； or the Sagamore of the Indian savages； he was a sort of
oracle； consulted on important occasions。 His land was tilled by his
grandchildren； who fed and served him； he predicted rain and fine
weather； and told them when to mow the hay and gather the crops。 The
barometric exactitude of his forecasts was quite famous； and added to
the confidence and respect he inspired。 For whole days he would sit
immovable in his armchair。 This state of rapt meditation often came
upon him since his wife's death； he had been attached to he