Thestreamscanbecrosseddry-shod，keltsareplunginginthepools，butevenkeltswillnotlookatafly。Now，bywayofapleasantchange，anicynorthwindisblowing，withgustsofsnow，notsnowenoughtoswellthelochthatfeedstheriver，butjustenoughsnowasthetouristsaidofthewaterintheRiverStyx
\"toswearby，\"orat!TheFieldannouncesthataduke，whorentsthreerodsonaneighbouringriver，hasnotyetcaughtonesalmon。
Theacrimoniouslydemocraticmindmaytakecomfortinthatintelligence，but，iftheweatherwillnotimproveforaduke，itisnotlikelytochangeforamerepersonofletters。ThusthedevoteeoftheMusesisdrivenback，bystressofclimate，uponliterature，andasthereisnothinginthelodgetoreadheiscompelledtowrite。
Nowcertainlyonewouldnotlackmaterial，ifonlyonewerecapableoftheartoffiction。Thegenesisofnovelsandstoriesisatopiclittlestudied，butIaminclinedtobelievethat，likethepearlsinthemusselsoftheriver，fictionisabeautifuldiseaseofthebrain。Something，anincidentoranexperience，orareflection，getsimbedded，incrusted，intheproperlyconstitutedmind，andbecomesthenucleusofapearlofromance。Mr。MarionCrawford，inarecentwork，describeshishero，whoisanovelist，atwork。Thisyounggentleman，byaseriesoffaultsormisfortunes，hashimselfbecomeacentreofharrowingemotion。Twoyoungladies，toeachofwhomhehasbeenbetrothed，areweepingouttheireyesforhim，orarekneelingtoheavenwithdespairingcries，orarehardeningtheirheartstomarrymenforwhomthey\"donotcareabawbee。\"Thehero\'saunthascommittedacrime；
everybody，infact，isindespair，whenanideaoccurstothehero。
Indifferenttothesorrowsofhisnearestanddearest，hesitsdownwithhisnotionandwritesanovel——writeslikeapersonpossessed。
Hehastheproperkindofbrain，thenucleushasbeendroppedintoit，thepearlbeginstogrow，andtoassumeprismatichues。Soheishappy，andeventhefrozen-outanglermightbehappyifhecouldwriteanovelintheabsenceofsalmon。Unluckily，mybrainisnotcapableofthisaestheticmalady，andtosavemylife，orto\"milkafinewarmcowrain，\"astheZulussay，Icouldnotwriteanovel，orevenashortstory。AboutTheShortStory，astheycallit，withcapitalletters，ourcriticalAmericancousinshavemuchtosay。Itsgerm，onefancies，isusuallyanincident，oramereanecdote，accordingtothenatureoftheauthor\'sbrain；thisgermbecomeseitherthepearlofabriefconte，ortheseedofastatelytree，inthreevolumes。Anauthorofexperiencesoonfindsouthowheshouldtreathismaterial。Onewriterinformsmethat，giventheidea，thegerminalidea，itisaseasyforhimtomakeanoveloutofitasatale——aseasy，andmuchmoresatisfactoryandremunerative。Others，likeM。GuydeMaupassant，forexample，seemtofindtheirstrengthinbrevity，incuttingdown，notinamplifying；inselectingandreducing，notinallowingotherideastogroupthemselvesroundthefirst，othercharacterstoassembleaboutthosewhoareessential。Thatseemstobereallythewholephilosophyofthismatter，concerningwhichsomanywordsareexpended。Thegrowthofthegerminalideadependsonthenatureofanauthor\'stalent——hemayexcelinexpansion，orinreduction；hemaybeeconomical，andoutofananecdotemayspinthewholecocoonofaromance；orhemaybeextravagant，andgiveacapableideaawayinthebriefestformpossible。
Theseideasmaycometoamaninmanyways，aswesaid，fromadream，fromafragmentaryexperienceasmostexperiencesinlifearefragmentary，fromahintinanewspaper，fromataletoldinconversation。Notlongago，forexample，IheardananecdoteoutofwhichM。GuydeMaupassantcouldhavemadethemostghastly，themostsqualid，andthemostsupernaturallymovingofallhiscontes。
Indeed，thatisnotsayingmuch，ashedidnotexcelinthesupernatural。WereitwritteninFrench，itmightlieinmylady\'schamber，and，astimesgo，nobodywouldbeshocked。But，byourcuriousBritishconventions，thistalecannotbetoldinanEnglishbookormagazine。Itwasnot，initstendency，immoral；thoseterribletalesneverare。Theeventswererathercalculatedtofrightenthehearerintothepathsofvirtue。WhenMr。RichardCameron，thefounderoftheCameronians，andthegodfatheroftheCameronianRegiment，wassenttohisparish，hewasbiddenbyMr。
Pedento\"puthell-firetothetails\"ofhiscongregation。ThisvigorousexpressionwaswellfittedtodescribethecontewhichI
haveinmymindIratherwishIhaditnot，andwhichisnottobenarratedhere，norinEnglish。
Foracombinationofpityandterror，itseemedtomeunmatchedintheworksofthemodernfancy，orinthehorrorsofmodernexperience；whetherinexperienceorinimaginationithaditsoriginalsource。ButeventheEnglishauthors，whoplumethemselvesontheiraudacity，ortheirrealism，ortheircontemptfor\"theyoungperson，\"wouldnotventurethislittleromance，muchless，then，isatimidlyuncorrectpen-manlikelytotemptMr。
Mudiewiththeconte。Itisoneoftwotales，bothtoldastrue，whichonewouldliketobeabletonarrateinthelanguageofMoliere。Theotherisalsoverygood，andhasawonderfulscenewithacorpseandachapelleardente，andayounglady；itishistorical，andofthelastgenerationbutone。
Evenourfrozenstrathherehasitsmodernlegend，whichmaybetoldinEnglish，andoutofwhich，Iamsure，anovelistcouldmakeagoodshortstory，orapleasantopeningchapterofaromance。
Whatisthemysteriousartbywhichthesethingsaredone？Whatmakesthewell-toldstoryseemreal，richwithlife，actual，engrossing？Itisthesecretofgenius，ofthenovelist\'sart，andthewriterwhocannotpractisetheartmightaswelltrytodiscoverthePhilosopher\'sStone，orto\"harpfishoutofthewater。\"However，letmetellthelegendassimplyasmaybe，andasitwastoldtome。
Thestrathrunsduenorth，theriverflowingfromagreatlochtotheNorthernsea。Allaroundarelow，undulatinghills，brownwithheather，andaslonelyalmostastheSahara。Onthehorizontothesouthrisethemountains，BenthisandBenthat，realmountainsofbeautifuloutline，thoughnohigherthansomethreethousandfeet。
Beforethecountrywasdividedintomoorsandforests，tenantedbymakersofpatentcorkscrews，andboilersofpatentsoap，beforetheriversweredistributedintobeats，markedoffbywhiteandredposts，therelivedovertothesouth，underthemountains，asportsmanofathleticframeandadventurousdisposition。HisnameIhaveforgotten，butwemaycallhimDickLindsay。Itistoldofhimthatheoncefoundapoacherintheforest，and，beingunabletocatchtheintruder，firedhisrifle，notathim，butinhisneighbourhood，whereonthepoacher，deliberatelykneelingdown，tookalongshotatDick。Howtheduelended，andwhethereitherpartyflewaflagoftruce，historydoesnotrecord。
Atallevents，onestormydayinlateSeptember，Dickhadstalkedandwoundedastagonthehillstothesouth-eastofthestrath。
Here，ifonlyonewereanovelist，onecouldweaveseveralpagesofvaluablecopyoutofthestalk。Thestagmadeforthestrathhere，andDick，whohadnogillie，butwasanindependentsportsmanoftheoldschool，pursuedonfoot。Plungingdownthelow，birch-cladhills，thestagfoundthefloodedriverbeforehim，blackandswollenwithrain。Hetookthewater，crossingbythebigpool，whichlookedalmostlikealittleloch，tempestuousunderanorthwindblowingupstream，andcoveredwithsmallwhite，viciouscrests。Thestagcrossedandstaggeredupthebank，wherehestoodpanting。Itisnotahumanethingtoleaveadeertodieslowlyofariflebullet，andDick，reachingthepool，hesitatednot，butthrewoffhisclothes，tookhisskenebetweenhisteeth，plungedin，andswamtheriver。
Allnakedashewashecutthestag\'sthroatintheusualmanner，andgrallochedhimwithalltheskillofBucklaw。Thiswasverywell，andverywellitwouldbetoaddadescriptionofthestagatbay；butasIneverhappenedtoseeastagatbay，Iomitallthat。
Dickhadachievedsuccess，buthisclotheswereononesideofaroaringriverinspate，andheandthedeadstagwereontheother。
Therewasnochanceoffordingthestream，andtherewasthennobridge。Hedidnotcaretoswimback，fortheexcitementwasoutofhim。Hewastremblingwithcold，andafraidofcramp。\"A
mother-nakedman，\"inawilderness，withafloodbetweenhimandhisraiment，wasinapitiableposition。Itdidnotoccurtohimtoflaythestag，anddressinthehide，and，indeed，hewouldhavebeenfrozenbeforehecouldhaveaccomplishedthattask。Sohereconnoitred。
Therewasnobodywithinsightbutonegirl，whowasherdingcows。
Nowforanakedman，withaknife，andbedabbledwithblood，toaddressayoungwomanonalonelymoorisadelicatebusiness。Thechanceswerethatthegirlwouldfleelikeastartledfawn，andleaveDicktowalk，justashewas，tothenearestfarmhouse，aboutamileaway。However，Dickhadtoriskit；helaydownsothatonlyhisfaceappearedabovethebank，andheshoutedtothemaiden。Whenhehadcaughtherattentionhebrieflyexplainedtheunusualsituation。Thentheyoungwomanbehavedlikeatrump，orlikeaHighlandNausicaa，forstudentsofthe\"Odyssey\"willrememberhowOdysseus，simplycladinaleafyboughofatree，madesupplicationtothesea-king\'sdaughter，andhowshebefriendedhim。EvenifDickhadbeenareaderofHomer，whichisnotprobable，therewerenotreeswithinconvenientreach，andhecouldnotadopttheleafycoveringofOdysseus。
\"Yousitstill；ifyoumoveaninchbeforeIgiveyoutheword，I\'llleaveyouwhereyouare!\"saidMissMary。Shethencastherplaidoverherface，marcheduptothebankwhereDickwascrouchingandshivering，droppedherampleplaidoverhim，andspedawaytowardsthefarmhouse。Whenshehadreacheditsshelter，andwasgivinganaccountoftheadventure，Dicksetforth，likeaprimevalHighlander，thecoveringdoingdutybothforplaidandkilt。Clothesofsomekindwereprovidedforhimatthecottage，aricketyoldboatwasfetched，andheandhisstagwererowedacrosstherivertotheplacewherehisclotheslay。
Thatisall，butifonewereadealerinromance，muchplaymightbemadewiththefuturefortunesofthesportsmanandthemaiden，happyfortunesorunhappy。Inreallife，thelassie\"drewupwith\"
ashepherdlad，asMissJennyDenisonhasit，marriedhim，andhelpedtopopulatethestrath。AsforDick，historytellsnomoreofhisadventures，norisitallegedthatheeveragainvisitedthedistantvalley，orbeheldthefaceofhisHighlandNausicaa。
Now，ifonewerearomancer，thismereanecdoteprobablywould\"rest，lovelypearl，inthebrain，andslowlymatureintheoyster，\"tillitbecameanovel。Properlyhandled，theincidentwouldmakeaveryagreeablefirstchapter，withtheaidofscenery，botany，climate，andremarksonthemannersandcustomsofthereddeerstolenfromSt。John，ortheStuartsd\'Albanie。Then，probably，onewouldreflectonthecharactersofMaryandofRichard；Marymusthaveparents，ofcourse，andonewouldmakethemtalkinScottish。Probablyshealreadyhadalover；howshouldshebehavetothatlover？Thereisplentyofroomforspeculationinthatproblem。AstoDick，ishetobeaLothario，oraloverpourlebonmotif？Whatarehisdistinguishedfamilytothinkoftheloveaffair，whichwouldcertainlyensueinfiction，thoughinreallifenobodythoughtofitatall？Arewetoendhappily，withamarriageormarriages，orarewetowindallupinthepleasant，pessimistic，realistic，fashionablemodernway？IsMarytodrownthebabyintheMucklePool？IsshetosufferthepenaltyofhercrimeatInverness？Or，happythought，shallwenotmakeherdiscardedrivallovermeetDickinthehillsonasunnydayandthen——aretheynottakingahintfromfactstofightaduelwithrifles？IseeDicklying，withabulletinhisbrow，onthesideofacorrie；hisbloodcrimsonsthesnow，aneaglestoopsfromthesky。Thatmakesaprettypicturesqueconclusiontotheunwrittenromanceofthestrath。
Anotheranecdoteoccurstome；good，Ithink，forashortstory，butcapable，also，ofbeingdumpeddowninthemiddleofalongnovel。Itwasintheoldcoachingdays。ABordersquirewasgoingnorth，inthecoach，alone。Atavillagehewasjoinedbyamanandayounglady:theirpurposewasmanifest，theywerearunawaycouple，boundforGretnaGreen。Theyhadnottravelledlongtogetherbeforetheyounglady，turningtothesquire，said，\"Vousparlezfrancais，Monsieur？\"HedidspeakFrench——itwasplainthatthebridegroomdidnot——and，totheendofthejourney，thatremarkableladyconductedalivelyandaffectionateconversationwiththesquireinFrench!Manifestly，hehadonlytoaskandreceive，but，alas!hewasanunadventurous，plaingentleman；healightedathisownvillage；hedrovehomeinhisowndogcart；thefugitivepairwentforward，andtheGretnablacksmithunitedtheminholymatrimony。Therestissilence。
Iwouldgivemuchtoknowwhatthatyoungperson\'sprevioushistoryandadventureshadbeen，tolearnwhatbefellherafterherwedding，tounderstand，inbrief，herconductandhermotives。
WereIanovelist，aMaupassant，oraMeredith，theMuse，\"fromwhatsoeverquartershechose，\"wouldenlightenmeaboutall，andI
wouldenlightenyou。ButIcanonlymarvel，onlythrowoutthehint，onlydepositthegrainofsand，thenucleusofromance，insomemorefertilebrain。IndeedthetopicismuchmorepuzzlingthantherightconclusionformyHighlandromance。Inthatcasefancycouldfindcertainobviouschannels，intooneorotherofwhichitmustflow。ButIseenochannelsforthelivesofthesethreequeerlymetpeopleinthecoach。
Asarule，fanciesarecapableofbeingarrangedinbutafewfamiliarpatterns，sothatitseemshardlyworthwhiletomakethearrangement。Buthewholooksatthingsthuswillneverbeawriterofstories。Nay，evenoftheslowlyunfoldingtaleofhisownexistencehemayweary，forthecombinationsthereinhavealloccurredbefore；itisinahackneyedoldstorythatheisliving，andyou，andI。Yettoactonthisknowledgeistomakeabadaffairofourlittlelife:wemusttryourbesttotakeitseriously。Andsoofstory-writing。AsMr。Stevensonsays，amanmustview\"hisverytriflingenterprisewithagravitythatwouldbefitthecaresofempire，andthinkthesmallestimprovementworthaccomplishingatanyexpenseoftimeandindustry。Thebook，thestatue，thesonata，mustbegoneuponwiththeunreasoninggoodfaithandtheunflaggingspiritofchildrenattheirplay。\"
Thatistrue，thatistheworstofit。Theman，thewriter，overwhomtheirresistibledesiretomockathimself，hiswork，hispuppetsandtheirfortuneshaspower，willneverbeanovelist。
Thenovelistmust\"makebelieveverymuch\"；hemustbeinearnestwithhischaracters。Buthowtobeinearnest，howtokeepthenoteofdisbeliefandderision\"outofthememorial\"？Ah，thereisthedifficulty，butitisadifficultyofwhichmanyauthorsappeartobeinsensible。Perhapstheysufferfromnosuchtemptations。
CHAPTERXV:THESUPERNATURALINFICTION
Itisatruismthatthesupernaturalinfictionshould，asageneralrule，beleftinthevague。InthecreepiesttaleIeverread，thehorrorlayinthis——THEREWASNOGHOST!Youmaydescribeaghostwithallthemosthideousfeaturesthatfancycansuggest——
saucereyes，redstaringhair，aforkedtail，andwhatyouplease——
butthereaderonlylaughs。Itiswisertomakeasifyouweregoingtodescribethespectre，andthenbreakoff，exclaiming，\"Butno!Nopencandescribe，nomemory，thankHeaven，canrecall，thehorrorofthathour!\"Sowriters，asarule，prefertoleavetheirterrorusuallystyled\"TheThing\"entirelyinthedark，andtothefrightenedfancyofthestudent。Thus，onthewhole，thetreatmentofthesupernaturallyterribleinfictionisachievedintwoways，eitherbyactualdescription，orbyadroitsuggestion，theauthorsaying，likecabmen，\"Ileaveittoyourself，sir。\"
Therearedangersinbothmethods；thedescription，ifattempted，isusuallyoverdoneandincredible:thesuggestionisapttoprepareustooanxiouslyforsomethingthatneverbecomesreal，andtoleaveusdisappointed。
Examplesofbothmethodsmaybeselectedfrompoetryandprose。
Theexamplesinversearerareenough；thefirstandbestthatoccursinthewayofsuggestionis，ofcourse，themysteriousladyin\"Christabel。\"
\"Shewasmostbeautifultosee，Likealadyofafarcountree。\"
Whowasshe？Whatdidshewant？Whencedidshecome？WhatwasthehorrorsherevealedtothenightinthebowerofChristabel？
\"ThendrawinginherbreathaloudLikeonethatshuddered，sheunboundThecincturefrombeneathherbreast。
HersilkenrobeandinnervestDropttoherfeet，andfullinviewBeholdherbosomandhalfherside-
Asighttodreamof，nottotell!
Oshieldher!shieldsweetChristabel!\"
Andthenwhatdoherwordsmean？
\"Thouknowestto-night，andwiltknowto-morrow，Thismarkofmyshame，thissealofmysorrow。\"
Whatwasit——the\"sighttodreamof，nottotell？\"
Coleridgeneverdidtell，and，thoughheandMr。Gilmansaidheknew，Wordsworththoughthedidnotknow。Heraisedaspiritthathehadnotthespelltolay。IntheParadiseofPoetshashediscoveredthesecret？Weonlyknowthatthemischief，whateveritmayhavebeen，waswrought。
\"Osorrowandshame!Canthisbeshe-
Theladywhokneltattheoldoaktree？\"……
\"Astarhathset，astarhathrisen，OGeraldine，sincearmsofthineHavebeenthelovelylady\'sprison。
OGeraldine，onehourwasthine。\"{11}
IfColeridgeknew，whydidhenevertell？Andyethemaintainsthat\"intheveryfirstconceptionofthetale，Ihadthewholepresenttomymind，withthewholenessnolessthanwiththelivelinessofavision，\"andheexpectedtofinishthethreeremainingpartswithintheyear。Theyearwas1816，thepoemwasbegunin1797，andfinished，asfarasitgoes，in1800。IfColeridgeeverknewwhathemeant，hehadtimetoforget。Thechancesarethathisindolence，orhisforgetfulness，wasthemakingof\"Christabel，\"whichremainsamasterpieceofsupernaturalsuggestion。
Fordescriptionitsufficestoreadthe\"AncientMariner。\"Thesemarvels，truly，arespeciosamiracula，and，unlikeSouthey，webelieveasweread。\"Youhaveselectedapassagefertileinunmeaningmiracles，\"LambwrotetoSouthey1798，\"buthavepassedbyfiftypassagesasmiraculousasthemiraclestheycelebrate。\"
Lambappearstohavebeenalmostaloneinappreciatingthismasterpieceofsupernaturaldescription。Coleridgehimselfshrankfromhisownwonders，andwantedtocallthepiece\"APoet\'sReverie。\"\"ItisasbadasBottomtheweaver\'sdeclarationthatheisnotalion，butonlythescenicalrepresentationofalion。
Whatnewideaisgainedbythistitlebutonesubversiveofallcredit——whichthetaleshouldforceuponus——ofitstruth？\"Lambhimselfwasforced，bythetemperofthetime，todeclarethathe\"dislikedallthemiraculouspartofit，\"asifitwerenotALL
miraculous!WordsworthwantedtheMariner\"tohaveacharacterandaprofession，\"perhapswouldhavelikedhimtobeagardener，orabutler，with\"anexcellentcharacter!\"Infact，theloveofthesupernaturalwasthenatsolowanebbthatacertainMr。Marshall\"wenttosleepwhilethe\'AncientMariner\'wasreading，\"andthebookwasmainlyboughtbyseafaringmen，deceivedbythetitle，andsupposingthatthe\"AncientMariner\"wasanauticaltreatise。
Inverse，then，Coleridgesucceedswiththesupernatural，bothbywayofdescriptionindetail，andofsuggestion。Ifyouwishtoseeafailure，trytheghost，themoralbutnotaffableghost，inWordsworth\'s\"Laodamia。\"Itisblasphemytoaskthequestion，butistheghostin\"Hamlet\"quiteasuccess？Dowenotseeandhearalittletoomuchofhim？Macbeth\'sairyandviewlessdaggerisreallymuchmoresuccessfulbywayofsuggestion。Thestagemakesaghostvisibleandfamiliar，andthisisonegreatdangerofthesupernaturalinart。Itisapttoinsistonbeingtooconspicuous。
DidtheghostofDarius，in\"AEschylus，\"frightentheAthenians？
Probablytheysmiledattheimperialspectre。ThereismorediscretioninCaesar\'sghost-
\"IthinkitistheweaknessofmineeyesThatshapesthismonstrousapparition，\"
saysBrutus，andhelaysnoverygreatstressonthebriefvisitoftheappearance。Forwantofthisdiscretion，AlexandreDumas\'sghosts，asin\"TheCorsicanBrothers，\"arefailures。Theymakethemselvestoocommonandtoocheap，likethespectreinMrs。
Oliphant\'snovel，\"TheWizard\'sSon。\"This，indeed，isthecruxofthewholeadventure。Ifyoupaintyourghostwithtooheavyahand，youraiselaughter，notfear。Ifyoutouchhimtoolightly，youraiseunsatisfiedcuriosity，notfear。Itmaybeeasytoshudder，butitisdifficulttoteachshuddering。
Inprose，agoodexampleoftheovervagueisMiriam\'smysteriousvisitor——theshadowofthecatacombs——in\"Transformation；or，TheMarbleFaun。\"Hawthorneshouldhavetoldusmoreorless；tobesurehiscontemporariesknewwhathemeant，knewwhoMiriamandtheSpectrewere。Thedwellerinthecatacombsnowpowerfullyexcitescuriosity，andwhenthatcuriosityisunsatisfied，wefeelaggrieved，vexed，andsuspectthatHawthornehimselfwaspuzzled，andknewnomorethanhisreaders。Hehasnot——asinothertaleshehas——managedtothrowtherightatmosphereaboutthisbeing。Heisvagueinthewrongway，whereasGeorgeSand，inLesDamesVertes，isvagueintherightway。WeareleftinLesDamesVerteswiththatkindofcuriositywhichpersonsreallyengagedintheadventuremighthavefelt，notwiththeirritationofhavingasecretkeptfromus，asin\"Transformation。\"
In\"WanderingWillie\'sTale\"in\"Redgauntlet\"，therightatmosphereisfound，therightnoteisstruck。Allisvividlyreal，andyet，ifyouclosethebook，allmeltsintoadreamagain。
Scottwasalmostequallysuccessfulwithadescribedhorrorin\"TheTapestriedChamber。\"Theideaisthecommonplaceofhauntedhouses，theapparitionisdescribedasminutelyasaburglarmighthavebeen；andyetwedonotmock，butshudderasweread。Then，ontheotherside——thesideofanticipation——takethesceneoutsidethecloseddoorofthevanishedDr。Jekyll，inMr。Stevenson\'swell-knownapologue:
Theyarewaitingonthethresholdofthechamberwhencethedoctorhasdisappeared——thechambertenantedbywhat？Avoicecomesfromtheroom。\"Sir，\"saidPoole，lookingMr。Uttersonintheeyes，\"wasthatmymaster\'svoice？\"
Afriend，amanofaffairs，andapersonneveraccusedofbeingfanciful，toldmethathereadthroughthebooktothatpointinalonelyHighlandchateau，atnight，andthathedidnotthinkitwelltofinishthestorytillnextmorning，butrushedtobed。Sothepassageseems\"well-found\"andsuccessfulbydintofsuggestion。Ontheotherside，perhaps，onlyScotsmenbroughtupincountryplaces，familiarfromchildhoodwiththeterrorsofCameronianmyth，andfromchildhoodapttohauntthelonelychurchyards，neverstirredsincetheyearofthegreatPlaguechokedthesoilwiththedead，perhapsTHEYonlyknowhowmuchshuddermaybefoundinMr。Stevenson\'s\"ThrawnJanet。\"Theblacksmoulderingheatinthehillsandglensthatarecommonlysofresh，theaspectoftheMan，theTempteroftheBrethren，weknowthem，andwehaveenoughoftheoldbloodinustobethrilledbythatmasterpieceofthedescribedsupernatural。Itmaybeonlyalocalsuccess，itmaynotmuchaffecttheEnglishreader，butitisofsureappealtothelowlandScot。TheancestralCovenanterwithinusawakens，andisterrifiedbyhisancientfears。
Perhapsitmaydieoutinapositiveage——thispoweroflearningtoshudder。Tousitdescendsfromverylongago，fromthefar-offforefatherswhodreadedthedark，andwho，halfstarvedandalluntaught，sawspiritseverywhere，andscarcediscernedwakingexperiencefromdreams。Whenweareallperfectpositivistphilosophers，whenathousandgenerationsofnursesthatneverheardofghostshaveeducatedthethousandandfirstgenerationofchildren，thenthesupernaturalmayfadeoutoffiction。ButhasitnotgrownandincreasedsinceWordsworthwantedthe\"AncientMariner\"tohave\"aprofessionandacharacter，\"sinceSoutheycalledthatpoemaDutchpieceofwork，sinceLambhadtopretendtodislikeits\"miracles\"？Why，assciencebecomesmorecock-sure，havemenandwomenbecomemoreandmorefondofoldfollies，andmorepleasedwiththestirringofancientdreadwithintheirveins？
Asthevisibleworldismeasured，mapped，tested，weighed，weseemtohopemoreandmorethataworldofinvisibleromancemaynotbefarfromus，or，atleast，wecaremoreandmoretofollowfancyintotheseairyregions，etinaniaregna。Thesupernaturalhasnotceasedtotemptromancers，likeAlexandreDumas，usuallytotheirdestruction；morerarely，asinMrs。Oliphant\'s\"BeleagueredCity，\"
tosuchsuccessastheydonotfindintheworldofdailyoccupation。Theordinaryshillingtalesof\"hypnotism\"andmesmerismarevulgartrashenough，andyetIcanbelievethatanimpossibleromance，iftherightmanwroteitintherightmood，mightstillwinusfromthenewspapers，andthestoriesofshabbylove，andcheapremorses，andcommonplacefailures。
\"ButitneedsHeaven-sentmomentsforthisskill。\"
CHAPTERXVI:ANOLDSCOTTISHPSYCHICALRESEARCHER
ADVERTISEMENT
\"IfanyGentlemen，andothers，willbepleasedtosendmeanyrelationsaboutSpirits，Witches，andApparitions，InanypartoftheKingdom；oranyInformationabouttheSecondSight，Charms，Spells，Magic，andthelike，TheyshallobligetheAuthor，andhavethempublishttotheirsatisfaction。
\"DirectyourRelationstoAlexanderOgstouns，ShopStationer，atthefootofthePlain-stones，atEdinburgh，ontheNorth-sideoftheStreet。\"
IsthisnotapleasingopportunityforGentlemen，andOthers，whoseAuntshavebeheldwraiths，doubles，andfetches？ItanswersverycloselytotherequestsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch，whopublish，assomeonedisparaginglysays，\"thedreamsofthemiddleclasses。\"ThankstoFreedom，Progress，andthedeclineofSuperstition，itisnowquitesafetoseeapparitions，andeventopublishthenarrativeoftheirappearance。
ButwhenMr。GeorgeSinclair，sometimeProfessorofPhilosophyinGlasgow，issuedtheinvitationwhichIhavecopied，attheendofhis\"Satan\'sInvisibleWorldDiscovered，\"{12}thevocationofaseerwasnotsosecurefromharm。He，orshe，mightjustasprobablybeburnedasnot，onthechargeofsorcery，intheyearofgrace，1685。However，ProfessorSinclairmanagedtoraketogetheranoddenoughsetoflegends，\"provingclearlythatthereareDevils，\"adesirablemattertohavecertaintyabout。\"Satan\'sInvisibleWorldDiscovered\"isaveryrarelittlebook；IthinkScottsaysinaMS。notethathehadgreatdifficultyinprocuringit，whenhewasatworkonhis\"infernaldemonology。\"Asacopyfellinmyway，orratherasIfellinitsway，ahelplessvictimtoitscharmsanditsbluemoroccobinding，Itakethischanceoftellingagaintheoldtalesof1685。
Mr。SinclairbeganwithalongdedicatoryEpistleaboutnothingatall，totheLordWintonoftheperiod。TheEarldugcoal-mines，andconstructed\"amoliminousrampierforaharbour。\"A
\"moliminousrampier\"isachoicephrase，andmaybeenviedbynovelistswhoaimatdistinctionofstyle。\"YourdefendingthesaltpansagainsttheimperiouswavesoftheragingseafromtheNE。issingular，\"addstheProfessor，addressing\"thegreatestcoalandsalt-masterinScotland，whoisanobleman，andthegreatestnoblemanwhoisaCoalandSaltMerchant。\"PerhapsitisalreadyplaintothemodernmindthatMr。GeorgeSinclair，thoughaProfessorofPhilosophy，wasnotaverysagaciouscharacter。
Mr。SinclairprofessesthathisproofsoftheexistenceofDevils\"arenooldwife\'strattlesaboutthefire，butsuchasmaybidethetest。\"Helived，oneshouldremember，inanagewhenfaithwasreallyseekingaidfromghoststories。Glanvil\'sbooks——and，inAmerica，thoseofCottonMather——showthehospitalitytoanecdotesofanedifyingsort，whichweadmireinMr。Sinclair。Indeed，SinclairborrowsfromGlanvilandHenryMore，authorswho，likehimself，wishedtoestablishtheexistenceofthesupernaturalonthestrangeincidentswhichstillperplexus，butwhicharescarcelyregardedassafemattertoargueupon。ThetestimonyforaGhostwouldseldomgotoajuryinourdays，thoughamplysufficientinthetimeofMr。Sinclair。About\"TheDevilofGlenluce\"hetookparticularcaretobewellinformed，andfirstgaveittotheworldinavolumeon——youwillneverguesswhatsubject——Hydrostatics!Inthepresentworkheoffersus\"TheDevilofGlenluceEnlargedWithseveralRemarkableAdditionsfromanEyeandEarWitness，APersonofundoubtedHonesty。\"
Mr。Sinclairrecommendsits\"usefulnessforrefutingAtheism。\"
ProbablyMr。Sinclairgotthestory，orhaditputoffonhimrather，throughoneCampbell，astudentofphilosophyinGlasgow，thesonofGilbertCampbell，aweaverofGlenluce，inGalloway；thesceneinourowntime，ofamysteriousmurder。CampbellhadrefusedalmstoAlexanderAgnew，aboldandsturdybeggar，who，whenaskedbytheJudgewhetherhebelievedinaGod，answered:
\"HeknewnoGodbutSalt，Meal，andWater。\"Inconsequenceoftherefusalofalms，\"TheStirsfirstbegan。\"The\"Stirs\"areghostlydisturbances。Theycommencedwithwhistlinginthehouseandoutofit，\"suchaschildrenusetomakewiththeirsmall，slenderglasswhistles。\"\"AbouttheMiddleofNovember，\"saysMr。
Sinclair，\"theFoulFiendcameonwithhisextraordinaryassaults。\"
ObservethathetakestheFoulFiendentirelyforgranted，andthathenevertellsusthedateoftheoriginalquarrel，andtheearlyagitation。Stoneswerethrowndownthechimneyandinatthewindows，butnobodywashurt。
NaturallyGilbertCampbellcarriedhistaleofsorrowtotheparishMinister。Thisdidnotavailhim。Hiswarpandthreadswerecutonhisloom，andeventheclothesofhisfamilywerecutwhiletheywerewearingthem。Atnightsomethingtuggedtheblanketsofftheirbeds，afavouriteoldspiritualtrick，whichwasplayed，ifI
rememberwell，onaRomanEmperor，accordingtoSuetonius。PoorCampbellhadtoremovehisstock-in-trade，andsendhischildrentoboardout，\"totrywhomthetroubledidmostfollow。\"Afterthis，allwasquietasperhapsmightbeexpected，andquietallremained，tillasonnamedThomaswasbroughthomeagain。Thenthehousewastwicesetonfire，anditmighthavebeenenoughtogiveThomasabeating。Ontheotherhand，CampbellsentThomastostaywiththeMinister。Butthetroublescontinuedintheoldway。AtlastthefamilybecamesoaccustomedtotheDevil，\"thattheywerenomoreafraidtokeepuptheClash\"chatter\"withtheFoulFiendthantospeaktoeachother。\"TheywereliketheWesleys，whoweresofamiliarwiththefiendJeffrey，thathauntedtheirhome。
TheMinister，withafewofthegentry，heardoftheirunholyfriendship，andpaidCampbellavisit。\"AttheirfirstcomingintheDevilsays:\'QuumLiterarumisgoodLatin。\'\"ThesearethefirstwordsoftheLatinrudimentswhichscholarsaretaughtwhentheygototheGrammarSchool。Thentheyallprayed，andaVoicecamefromunderthebed:\"WouldyouknowtheWitchesofGlenluce？\"
TheVoicenamedafew，includingonelongdead。ButtheMinister，withraregoodsense，remarkedthatwhatSatansaidwasnotevidence。
Letitberemarkedthat\"theladTom\"hadthatveryday\"comebackwiththeMinister。\"TheFiendthenofferedterms。\"Givemeaspadeandshovel，anddepartfromthehouseforsevendays，andI
willmakeagrave，andliedowninit，andtroubleyounomore。\"
HereonCampbell，withScottishcaution，declinedtogivetheDevilthevalueofastraw。Thevisitorsthenhuntedafterthevoice，observingthatsomeofthechildrenwereinbed。Theyfoundnothing，andthen，asthenovelistssay，\"astrangethinghappened。\"