nd the congregation is divided, doing all in
their power to dispossess me; but I am right. What other men may mean
when they use that expression, I cannot tell. What I mean is that I am
under the influence of some tremendous power, which I know is God
Almighty, Himself, and resist that power I dare not. I may be called a
fanatic, cruel, mad; but the great and good God who made me ordains me
in all things. This power--this spirit--this will, whatever it may be,
is the chief motive that moves me. It could draw me to fire; it could
draw me to water; it could draw me to the rack, as it did martyrs of
old; it could draw me to any death--to anything pleasing, or repulsive;
but I am mistaken, misunderstood by people, and the future as well as
the present generation may condemn me in their narrow views as being
dishonest, as being revengeful, as being even bloodthirsty; but,
Charles, when God did command Peter to slay, did he refuse? No. If my
God commands me to slay, I will do it, though rivers of blood shall
flow----"

The face of the wild fanatic was terrible to look upon. Charles Stevens,
bold as he was, gazing on him in the full light of day, could not
repress a shudder. His thin, cadaverous face, smooth shaven and of an
ashen hue, was upturned to heaven, and those great, awful eyes seemed
gazing on things unlawful for man to see. The long right arm was raised
toward the sky, and again that deep voice called out:

"O thou great Jehovah, do but command me, and rivers of blood shall
flow----"

"Mr. Parris!" began Charles, alarmed.

"Stop! I implore you do not interrupt me, Charles. Wait until, by
fasting and prayer and long, solemn meditation on these mysterious
subjects, the Lord has opened your eyes to the invisible world, then you
may judge. If you become weary with long standing, sit down, and I will
pour into your ears such proofs that you can no longer deny the
existence of witchcraft."

Charles felt the strange spell of the fanatic's presence, and he merely
bowed his head as a signal for him to proceed. Mr. Parris, in his deep
sepulchral voice, continued:[B]

[Footnote B: Like argument is used by Cotton Mather in his
"Invisible World."]

"Mr. John Higginson, that reverend and excellent person, says that the
Indians, which came from far to settle about Mexico, were, in their
progress to that settlement, under a conduct of a Devil, very strangely
emulating the blessed covenant which God gave Israel in the w