inguishable anguish and sorrow that from its
very intensity made itself seen as a blue flame. The ruffles and
knickerbockers in which some of these were attired, evidently by the
effects of the thoughts in their minds, doubtless from force of habit
from what they had worn on earth while alive, showed that they had been
dead at least two hundred years. Ayrault also now found himself in
street clothes, although when in his clubs he had worn a dress suit.

"Tell me, fellow-spirits," he said, addressing them, "how can I
communicate with one that is still alive?"

They looked at him with moist eyes, but answered not a word.

"I attributed the misery in my heart," thought Ayrault, "entirely to
the distress at losing Sylvia, which God knows is enough; but though I
suspected it before, I now see, by my companions, that I am in the
depths of hell."

CHAPTER XII.

SHEOL.

Failing to find words to convey his thoughts, he threw himself into an
open grave, praying that the earth might hide his soul, as he had
supposed it some day would hide his body. But the ground was like
crystal, and he saw the white bones in the graves all around him.
Unable to endure these surroundings longer, he rushed back to his old
haunts, where he knew he should find the friends of his youth. He did
not pause to go by the usual way, but passed, without stopping, through
walls and buildings. Soon he beheld the familiar scene, and heard his
own name mentioned. But there was no comfort here, and what he had
seen of old was but an incident to what he gazed on now. Praying with
his whole heart that he might make himself heard, he stepped upon a
foot-stool, and cried:

"Your bodies are decaying before me. You are burying your talents in
the ground. We must all stand for final sentence at the last day,
mortals and spirits alike--there is not a shadow of a shade of doubt.
Your every thought will be known, and for every evil deed and every
idle word God will bring us into judgment. The angel of death is among
you and at work in your very midst. Are you prepared to receive him?
He has already killed my body, and now that I can never die I wish
there was a grave for my soul. I was reassured by a vision that told
me I was safe, but either it was a hallucination, or I have been
betrayed by some spirit. Last night I still lived, and my body obeyed
my will. Since then I have experienced deat