I apprehend the fact to be not
unlike what you suggest," the voice replied, with a subdued gusto. "It
would depend upon our hypothetical person's discretion, and his views
as to the claims of the august Being who has so long controlled the
destinies of the human race, how much the existing order of things
might have to fear from him. I should imagine that the august Being,
if He be as wise as they say He is, would be careful how He treated
this hypothetical person!"

"You are a liar," said Helwyse, unceremoniously. "Why is not Satan,
who must possess this all-powerful knowledge, supreme over the
universe?"

Instead of taking offence (as Helwyse, to do him justice, hoped it
would; for his Berserker blood, which boiled only at heaven-and-hell
temperature, was beginning to stir in him),--so far from being
offended, the voice only uttered its peculiar quiet chuckle.

"Your frankness charms me! it proves you worthy to learn.
Satan--supposing there be such a personage--divides, with the other
august Being, the sovereignty of the spiritual world. Were I a cynic,
I should say he owned at least half of the physical world into the
bargain! But Satan is only a spirit, and his power over men is but as
the power of a dream. Were a Satan to arise in the flesh, so that men
could see and touch him, and hear his voice with their fleshy
ears,--there were a Satan! Already has the Incarnation of goodness
appeared to mankind, and, though the world be moved to virtue only
slowly and with reluctance, mark how mighty has been his influence!
What think you, then, would be the power of a Christ of evil, showing
to men the path they already grope for? I tell you, the human race
would be his only; Hell, full to bursting with their hurrying souls,
would outweigh Heaven in the balance; the teller of the secret would
be king above all,--forever!"

The sinuous voice twined round the listener's mind, swaddling the
vigorous limbs into imbecile inertia. But when before now did a sane
human brain let itself be duped by sophistry? This case were worth
marking, if only because it is unparalleled.

"And the only punishable sin is ignorance!" muttered Helwyse.

"Well, I have thought so, too. And I have questioned whether a man
might have power over himself, to put his hand to evil or to good
alike, and to remain impartial and impassive; and so make evil and
good alike minister to his culture and raise him upwards!"

"The question does credit to your