SCENE IV.

In the same perspective as Scene III. is the Heavenly City on the Hill. Thronging spirits move to and fro.

The distance is full of radiance and of happy social life. In the foreground is seen a dim and desolate place. It is cavernous and mountainous. Its extreme edge yawns over a black space, like a gulf or pit, or it might be the mouth of an underground river. Here and there is a stark, dead tree. A narrow footpath winds among the crags. The path turns a sharp corner between boulders; and the fair contrast of a sunny country smiles beyond it. Rosebushes in full bloom peer above the top of the rocks. The annunciation lily is still prominent among the flowers. No sign of life appears in the mountainous foreground.

Suddenly, silently, and swiftly, moving from the sunny land, around the sharp turn in the pathway, feet and face set toward the cavernous region,

_Enter_ AZRAEL, _Angel of Death_. (_The Angel is immovable of manner. But an obvious tenderness wars with the solemnity of his expression. He looks neither to the right nor to the left, but glides over the rough path steadily; his robe, which is of dull, white gauze, conceals his feet; his wings are folded; he carries no flaming sword, nor any weapon._)

(_After a moment’s interval, following_ THE ANGEL _quickly_,)

_Enter_ DR. THORNE (_his robe is much paler, but still of a purplish tint. It is now clasped by the golden cross. He cries aloud_). Azrael!

ECHO (_from the caverns_). Azrael!

(AZRAEL _makes no reply. Moves on steadily._)

DR. THORNE (_in a lower voice_). Azrael, Angel of Death!

(AZRAEL _turns his head, but without pausing_.)

DR. THORNE. In the name of Him who strove with thee, and conquered thee--whither goest thou, Azrael?

(AZRAEL _pauses. He looks over his folded wing at the man; regards him steadily; does not speak; moves on again._ DR. THORNE _utters an inarticulate exclamation. He follows the Angel. Halfway down the path he stops, perplexed. His expression is anxious._ AZRAEL _moves on. He does not again look back; glides to the edge of the ravine. The scene darkens. The Angel does not pause, but can be seen to cross the gulf fleetly. He does not fly, but appears to tread the air across the space._)

[_Vanish_ AZRAEL.

(DR. THORNE _stands alone in the gloom. His eyes are fixed upon the spot where the Angel disappeared. A low, rushing sound, as of water, can now be heard._)

DR. THORNE (_shudders; speaks_). It seems like an underground river. Horrible! (_Calls._) Azrael! Tell me thine errand--in this fearful place!

(AZRAEL _neither replies nor appears. It grows very dark. The perspective of the Heavenly City fades. The rushing of the river can be heard. Now, through the unearthly gloom, upon the hither side of the gulf, slowly grow to form the outlines of a Woman. She stretches her arms out with the motion of one feeling her way. She moves with difficulty, tripping sometimes, but regaining her footing bravely. Her robe is light. Her face cannot be recognized._)

DR. THORNE (_on whose sensitive countenance falls the only light in the scene, shows an unaccountable emotion. He murmurs_). It is a woman--alone--exhausted ... and a stranger. As I serve her, so may God send some soul of fire and snow to serve my dear wife--in _her_ hour of mortal need! (_He advances towards the woman with a chivalrous sympathy._)

(The Woman _moves on steadily; weakens; reels, but holds her ground. It can now be seen that her eyes are closed. She falls. She does not cry out._)

DR. THORNE. How brave you are! Keep courage. (_Catches her before she touches the ground. She lies in his arms in a faint or collapse._)

(DR. THORNE _carries her along midway of the scene_.)

(_It lightens slowly. As it does so, it can be seen that the woman is young and fair, and fine of nature. Her robe is of dazzling white; it has a surface like that of satin-finished gauze, which reflects all the light there is. Her long, dark hair is disordered, and falls about her. She is pale. Her eyes do not open. She lies helplessly in his arms._)

(DR. THORNE _lays her gently against the trunk of a dead tree, which has fallen across a hollow in the cliff, and which rests so as to support the woman. He seats himself beside her; bends to examine her face._)

DR. THORNE (_recognizes the face of the woman; cries in a voice that rings through the hills_). _Helen!_

THE ECHO (_takes up the cry_). _Helen!_

HELEN THORNE (_is half-conscious and confused; does not open her eyes; murmurs_). Will it last long?

DR. THORNE (_clasps her reverently. As his arms touch her, they can be seen to tremble. He moans_). My--poor--wife!

HELEN THORNE (_still lying with closed eyes; murmurs, but more distinctly_). I said I would die two deaths for him.... Are they over, yet?... if that would help him any ... where he had gone. (_Opens her eyes, but they see nothing. Dreamily and solemnly, as if repeating a familiar prayer, she speaks softly._) Great God! I will die ten deaths for him ... and count myself a happy woman ... if that will make it any easier for _him_.

DR. THORNE (_groaning, puts his wife gently from him, as if she were a being too sacred for his touch. Turns his face from her; speaks_). I am not fit!... I dare not touch her!

HELEN THORNE (_praying_). Dear Lord! I would die for him ... as Thou didst die for us.... If that could be.... _Dear_ Lord!

DR. THORNE (_utterly broken_). I am a sinful man, O God! (_Removes from her, and stands with his face in his hands._)

HELEN THORNE (_recovering full consciousness, and with it sudden strength, lifts herself to a sitting posture; looks about her; half rises. Suddenly she recognizes her husband, where he stands aloof. She cries plaintively_). Esmerald?--Isn’t it over yet? _Esmerald!_ Have you forgotten me? Don’t you _care_ for me any more?... (_piteously_). Oh, Death! I did not think that thou wouldst _crucify_ me ... _so_!

(_Sudden darkness falls. When it passes, the gulf, the dark mountain, the underground river, the ravines are gone. Slow and sweet light returns softly. It is the setting of the sun. The perspective of the Heavenly City and spirits are as before. The grim scenery surrounding the mouth of the River of Death has given place to a fair meadow, sunny and open. Some of the boulders remain, and the path which cut through the ravine now runs across the field. Clumps of trees and thick shrubs break the space between the foreground and the distant spirits, and the path turns a curve through a thicket of roses. Lilies as before grow higher than any other flowers, and nearer to the eye._)

HELEN THORNE (_stands, tall and glorious. Faint color has returned to her pale face. Her expression is radiant. She looks downward and stretches down her hands; speaks, very softly_). Dear!

DR. THORNE (_prostrate at his wife’s feet, speaks_). Forgive! _Forgive_ me, Helen.

(HELEN THORNE _smiles divinely. Stoops to lift him up._)

(DR. THORNE _resists her still, and, fallen at her feet, he draws the hem of her robe slowly to his lips. Then he lays his cheek upon her feet before he reverently kisses them._)

DR. THORNE. I said ... oh, I have broken my heart for what I said ... to you!

HELEN THORNE (_reaches down her beautiful arms to him. Draws him up_). Why, my poor Love! My dear Love! Did you think I would remember _that_?

(DR. THORNE _arises. Holds out his shaking arms; does not speak._)

(HELEN THORNE _in silence creeps to him, not royally, like a wife who was wronged; but like the sweetest woman in the world, who loves him because she cannot help it, and would not if she could. Her face falls upon his breast._)

(DR. THORNE, _as if she were a goddess, still not daring to caress her, lays his cheek upon her soft hair. Before her face, but not touching it, he delicately curves his hand as if he enclosed a sacred flame from the rude air._)

HELEN THORNE (_lifts her face to his. Her eyes, all womanly, turn to him in Paradise as they did on earth. She speaks softly_). I am in Heaven ... after all!

DR. THORNE. And I have never been there ... until now! (_He clasps her slowly to his heart; turns her face back upon his arm and reverently looks at it; scans it adoringly; humbly crying._) Helen! _Helen!_

(DR. THORNE _kisses his wife’s brow--eyes--cheek--and then her lips. Suddenly, around the curve in the path where the thicket of roses blossoms, running rapidly_,)

_Enter_ LADDIE (_carrying a stalk of the white lilies. He cries_). Papa! Papa! I’ve lost you, Papa! (_The child runs down the path. Closely following him, fair and gentle, brightly smiling_,)

_Enter_ MRS. FAYTH. (_She draws back quickly; utters an inarticulate exclamation; extends her hands in an impulsive gesture of delight. But she withdraws and puts her finger on her lips. She retreats without speaking._)

(MRS. FAYTH, _hidden for a moment behind the thicket of roses, reappears beyond with the other spirits. The group of spirits stirs upward in the bright scenery._)

(DR. THORNE _and_ his Wife, _having seen or heard nothing, still stand rapt, embracing solemnly_.)

LADDIE (_stops on the path, irresolute. Frowns a little in pretty, childish perplexity; makes as if he would go back; looks at the two again. Then suddenly darts forward; cries_). Why, that’s my Mamma! (_Springs to her; clutches at her white robe, pulls at her hand._)

HELEN THORNE (_recognizes the child instantly, despite his larger stature; she cries out_). Why, my little boy! Mother’s baby boy! Oh! _you_ again, ... you, too! My little, little boy. (_Catches him to her; kisses him wildly; holds him, and releases him, and holds him again. Murmurs half-intelligible words brokenly._) Mother’s baby!... Mother’s beauty!... Oh, mamma _missed_ you, sonny-boy--

(DR. THORNE _does not speak. His face is shining. He holds his wife within his arms as if he feared to lose her if he loosened them._)

(THE CHILD, _laughing softly, fondles his mother. The three stand clinging together rapturously._)

VOICES (_from beyond the rose thicket chant_).

“As it was in the beginning, is now, And ever shall be, World without end. Amen.”

(_Chorus of spirits from the region of the Temple on the Heavenly Hill very softly sing._)

“O Paradise! O Paradise! The world is growing old. Who would not see that heavenly land, Where love is never cold?” ...

(_As they sing, the fair country brightens subtly, and all the heavenly scene is radiant. The moving groups of spirits seem to be joining in the song._)

(DR. THORNE _and_ his Wife, _turning, look into one another’s faces. They do not speak._)

(_Now, delicately, it shall be seen to darken on the bright land, and a holy half-light touches every outline._)

(The Child _leaves his parents. He walks a few steps away, shading his eyes with one hand, as if he saw invisible glory; in the other hand he carries the annunciation lily._)

(_Vaguely at first, then more definitely; slowly and solemnly_,)

_Enter_ JESUS THE CHRIST.

(_The_ Sacred Figure _advances towards the_ Man _and_ Woman, _who are unconscious of the approach. Its hands are stretched in benediction. It stands for a moment, mutely, and unseen by them._)

(The Boy _runs towards it fearlessly; seats himself upon the meadow-grass at the feet of the_ Figure.)

(_The_ Sacred Figure _stirs towards the child. All the light in the scene now falls from the_ Figure.)

(_The_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and the_ Child _receive its full effulgence_.)

VOICES FROM BEYOND (_sing_).

“Where loyal hearts and true Stand ever in the light, Enraptured through and through”--

(_The_ Man _and the_ Woman _now perceive the_ Sacred Figure. _They fall to their knees. The man’s arm still encircles his wife. They bow their heads before the Divine Presence._)

(_The_ Child, _with the lifted lily, remains at the feet of the_ CHRIST.)

VOICES FROM BEYOND (_repeat_).

“Enraptured through and through, In God’s most holy sight.”

(_The_ Sacred Figure _dims and slowly fades. With it disappears the stalk of annunciation lilies. The light returns softly upon the celestial scenery._)

(_The_ Sacred Figure _vanishes_.)

(_The_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and_ Child _stay gazing after it_.)

(_Now a mist breathes upon the Heavenly City and the sunny country. All the outlines of the happy scenery blur and faint._)

(_The groups of spirits grow dim._)

(_Distant music softly sustains the strains of the song; but without words._)

(_And now the golden mist slowly envelops the_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and the_ Child, _who remain for a moment before the eyes--a vision--solemn, tender, and half unreal_.)

(_The music continues very faintly. The strain slowly ceases._)

(_The mist dulls, deepens, and thickens, till it rolls like an impenetrable curtain before the vanished scene._)

END OF THE DRAMA.

The Riverside Press _Electrotyped and printed by H. O. Houghton & Co. Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A._

End of Project Gutenberg's Within the Gates, by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps