Flames by Robert Smythe Hichens
page 68 of 702 (09%)
page 68 of 702 (09%)
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every way than him."
"But surely that fights against your theory that the existence of a soul is proved by such an influence as I possess over Addison?" "Not at all. I said if it were possible for the body not to express the soul, if--but that's just the difficulty, it is not possible. The body manifests the soul. Supposing it were not so, the power of evil, the devil, if you choose to name it and imply a personal existence for it, might have hold of the world even more tightly than now. Just conceive, under such conditions, how you might lure Addison to destruction if you desired to do so. Looking at you, and seeing the same face in which he has learned to see what he thinks entire goodness, he would be unable to believe that any action you could suggest and take part in could be evil. You could wreck his future with a perfect ease. But, as things are, did your nature change and become malignant, your face would change too, and you might quickly cease to exercise a strong influence over Addison. He might even, having now been unconsciously trained into a curious integrity, learn to hate and to despise you. You remember our conversation to-night about that symphony?" "Yes." "I said that the soul which could reproduce hell should be able to reproduce heaven." "I know." "Well, my boy--for you are a boy to me--the reverse of that might happen also." |
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