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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
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 XJNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
CECIL THE SEER 
 
 A DRAMA OF THE SOUL 
 
 WALTER WARREN 
 
 AUTHOR OF " COLUMBUS THE DISCOVEREK," " THE AZTECS," ETC. 
 
 (Tun 
 
 ^miitf»$ 
 
 AUG 
 
 3 
 
 ^r* A 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 ARENA PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 Copley Square 
 1894 
 
 in v - ^ 
 
 
 
.CA 
 
 Copyrighted, 1894, 
 
 by 
 ARENA PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 
 A II rights reserved. 
 
 A ena P*-ess. 
 
PLACE AND TIME. 
 
 Act First : In a Southern " Border State " of the American 
 Union, a little before the War for Secession. 
 An evening party at the home of the Cecils. 
 Scene : A large hall with glimpses beyond it 
 of a parlor and a porch. 
 
 Act Second : Scenes First and Third : Interior of a sick 
 chamber. Scene Second : A grove representing 
 the surroundings of a dream or trance. 
 
 Act Third : In a Northern " Border State " just at the open- 
 ing of the War for Secession. Scene First : The 
 interior of the home of Freeman and Celia ; 
 Scene Second : A village green in front of Free- 
 man's house, at one side of which the porch of 
 his house is visible. 
 
CHARACTERS. 
 
 Cectl. Professor in a College, a Candidate for the 
 
 highest Judicial Office of the State, to 
 be appointed by its Governor and con- 
 firmed by its Senate. Also a particular 
 friend and the instructor of Celia. 
 
 Kraft. Head Politician of the ruling party of the 
 
 State, and a particular friend of Madam 
 Cecil. Celia has been the adopted 
 daughter of his deceased wife. 
 
 Freeman. A young Law Student, friend of Cecil and 
 
 Celia, and in love with Faith Hycher. 
 
 Blaver. Religious Exhorter, and Head of the Pro- 
 
 hibition party of the State. Particular 
 friend of Miss Primvvood. 
 
 Father Hycher. Head of the Church party -of the State 
 who wish to obtain a division of the 
 School Fund. Uncle of Faith Hycher, 
 and particular friend of Widow Hycher, 
 his sister-in-law. 
 
 Lowe. A Quaker, representing a syndicate of rail- 
 
 way monopolists who are pushing a plan 
 for appropriating and improving a part 
 of the chief city of the State. 
 
 Jem. A colored servant. 
 
v CHARACTERS. 
 
 Celia. Adopted daughter of deceased wife of 
 
 Kraft. Pupil and particular friend of 
 
 Cecil and Freeman. 
 Cecilia. An idealized Celia, appearing throughout 
 
 the dream in Act Second. — To be acted 
 
 by the same one who acts Celia. 
 Madam Cecil. Wife of Cecil, particular friend of Kraft. 
 Faith Hycher. In love with Freeman, niece of Father 
 
 Hyc'her and step-daughter of Widow 
 
 Hycher. 
 Miss Primwood. Principal of a Female Seminary, particular 
 
 friend of Blaver. 
 Widow Hycher. Step-mother of Faith Hycher, particular 
 
 friend of her brother-in-law, Father 
 
 Hycher. 
 Madam Lowe. Quakeress, wife of Lowe. 
 Milly. A colored servant. 
 
 A Physician, Choristers, Promenaders, Dancers, Populace, 
 Ruffians, Detectives, Militia, etc. 
 
CECIL, THE SEER. 
 
 ACT FIRST. 
 
 Scene: An evening party at the home of the Cecils. 
 A large hall or parlor. Backing at the Right, ex- 
 tending diagonally across the stage, a wide doorway, 
 beyond which is a glimpse of a porch and garden. 
 Further forward on the Right, a small table about 
 which are three chairs. Further forward still, be- 
 tween the place of the Right Second and the Right 
 Front Entrances, a bay window containing a sofa, 
 and apparently hiding those seated upon it from the 
 view of others in the hall. Backing at the Left, 
 extendi Jig diagonally across the stage, a wide door- 
 way, beyond which is a glimpse of a?iothcr room. 
 Entrances : Right Upper, through the door- 
 way ; Right Third, through a long ^win- 
 dow open from the floor up ; and Right 
 Front, through a doorway. Left Upper, 
 through a doorway, and Left Second, 
 through a doorway. 
 
 7 
 
8 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Curtain rising discloses Freeman and Father 
 
 Hycher sitting in the bay window, and 
 
 couples walking to and fro upon the 
 
 stage. 
 
 Father Hycher. My standards are the standards 
 
 of the world, 
 Freeman. I know it. 
 
 Father H. You were questioning 
 
 Freeman. Their truth. 
 
 Father H. {slowly and sarcastically). 
 
 Your name is Freeman. 
 Freeman. It defines me, yes. 
 
 Father H. You think fidelity to man can grow 
 From germs of infidelity to God ? 
 You think that questioning the forms men most 
 Esteem, proves high esteem for men themselves ? 
 You think in one that's wed, or vowed to wed, 
 To love a third one proves pure love for all ? 
 Freeman. That all depends on what he does. 
 Father H. And that ? 
 
 Freeman. On what he is. Why ask these things 
 of me ?— 
 And here ? 
 Father H. Why should I not ? One sees so much 
 
 In scenes like this ! 
 Freeman. Oh no ! — You mean so little. 
 
 The forms we see are puppets of a play, 
 A dull play too ! Though seek what pulls the 
 string, 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 9 
 
 'Tis dull no longer. Soon a button breaks, 
 
 A veil falls off 
 
 Father H. Too bad to hope for that ! 
 
 Freeman. Too bad. if lives be bad! Jf not, too 
 good ! 
 Some, things that on the outside seem profane, 
 Upon the inside may be sacred. 
 Father H. Ah ? 
 
 Freeman, The converse too is true. 
 Father H. (haughtily). 
 
 You mean to say ? — 
 (Music starts.) 
 Freeman (rising, as docs Father Hycher.) 
 That all should watch the play, and not forget 
 They're part of it themselves. 
 Father H. (looking toward Right), I see I'm wanted. 
 Exit — Right Front — after bowing to Freeman, 
 Father H. (Freeman moves toward the 
 Right Upper Entrance. The following 
 chorus is sung to the accompaniment of a 
 piano apparently in the rooms beyond the 
 Left Upper Entrance. During the si/)g- 
 ing certain of those upon the stage, or enter- 
 ing from its various entrances, dance to 
 the music). 
 
 We live but for bubbles, and those who know 
 The way of the world their bubbles will blow. 
 Ay, all but who 're willing their doings should be 
 No more than are drops in an infinite sea, 
 
IO CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Will blow them, and show them, till, by and by, 
 They fill and float to the air on high ; 
 Hoho ! hoho ! and the world will thus 
 See how big a bubble can come from us. 
 
 We live but for bubbles that grow and glow 
 The bigger and brighter the more we blow ; 
 And, borne on the breath of the breeze around 
 Wherever the tides of the time are bound, 
 There is nothing of earth or of heaven in sight 
 But they'll image it all in a rainbow light ; 
 Hoho ! hoho ! and the world will thus 
 See how bright a bubble can come from us. 
 
 We live but for bubbles a-dance in the blast, 
 But who can tell how long they will last ? 
 So swell your cheeks, and puff, and fan, 
 And make the most of them while you can, 
 For if ever the breath in them fail, they will pop, 
 And only be drizzles to dry as they drop ; 
 Ho-ho ! ho-ho ! and the world will thus 
 Be done with the bubbles that came from us. 
 
 Enter — Right Upper — during the singing, 
 Faith. She meets Freeman and, after a 
 time, they sit in the bay window at the 
 Right. 
 Exeunt — at different Entrances — the dancers or 
 singers. 
 Faith. This night seems like a fete in fairy-land. 
 That singing proves it so. I like to see 
 Our Cecil circled by the people singing. 
 Freeman. You note its meaning then ? 
 
CECIL THE SEEK. ii 
 
 Faith. What ? 
 
 Freeman. Cecil-worship. 
 
 Faith. And worship in the interest men pay 
 For worth when they can get it — justly due 
 To men of principle. 
 
 Freeman. And how of women? 
 
 'Tis Madam Cecil is the priestess here. 
 She'll take the fee. He's but the puppet-idol. 
 
 Faith. How so ? 
 
 Freeman. Our foremost judgeship must be iilled. 
 
 Faith. And what of that ? 
 
 Freeman. It is a high position. 
 
 And she, who's always looking up, has seen it. 
 
 Faith. That may be ; but you spoke of worship. 
 
 Freeman. ^Yhy, 
 
 If there's an idol's niche left tenantless, 
 The one all worship is the one all want there. 
 
 Faith. Oh yes ! — and Madam Cecil 
 
 Freeman. Drawing hither 
 The undirected flow of current thought, 
 Though little rills, may find them, all together, 
 Enough to float the bark of her ambition. 
 You see this house — and she herself — are gems. 
 For setting, gems need gold. Her husband earns 
 By teaching in the college, at the most, 
 No gold to spare ; and, even did she hope, 
 From her own managing, no perquisites 
 
 Faith. What perquisites ? 
 
 Freeman. The kind that make us call 
 
12 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 A public man " His Honor," lest the world 
 Might fail to recognize it, if not labeled. 
 
 Faith. Will Cecil get the place ? 
 
 Freeman. The governor 
 
 May nominate him ; but the senators 
 Can scarcely be expected to confirm, 
 Without some reason not upon the surface, 
 A man so young and inexperienced. 
 
 Faith. He's worthy of it. 
 
 Freeman. Worthy ! — What is worth 
 
 With those that she will try to get to push him ? 
 Their favors must be paid for. Most have suits 
 They sue for in the law courts. Think you 
 
 Cecil, 
 An upright, downright and straightforward nature, 
 Will twist and smirk with twenty different faces 
 The twenty different ways that these would have 
 him ? 
 
 Faith. It were a brilliant chance ! 
 
 Freeman. Yes, far too brilliant 
 
 For moths to meet with, and escape a scorching. 
 He suns in higher light. 'T will not daze him. 
 
 Faith {looking toward the left). 
 There's Madam Cecil now — 
 
 Freeman {rising). And angels too, 
 
 They say, draw near us when we talk of them. 
 
 Faith {also rising). With her comes Kraft. 
 
 Freeman. He's ruler of his party, — 
 
 Controls the governor. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 13 
 
 Faith. Ah! And Cecil, then, — 
 
 Are he and Kraft such friends ? 
 Freeman. No; she and Kraft, 
 
 A man she's deluged with such flattery 
 That his half drowned, asphyxied reason raves 
 Past all resisting her. Nor that alone. 
 I've heard he means to seat that son of his 
 In Cecil's present chair. Your men that rule, 
 When others hold the place that they would fill, 
 Tramp an inferior, and push off an equal ; 
 But when the selfish scheme they brew is spoiled 
 By one above them,— why, they 're left no option; 
 But, like a cover, they must lift him higher. 
 So, by their very righteousness, you see 
 The righteous force their foes to do them justice. 
 
 Exeunt— Right Front— Freeman and Faith. 
 £ ntcr — Left Upper— Kraft with Madam Cecil. 
 Madam C. Your charming son — 
 Kraft. Gains charms from you who say that — 
 Madam C. Has such a noble brow, and eyes, and 
 
 manner. 
 Kraft. Yes ; he is like his — mother. 
 Madam C. Why, my friend, 
 
 His mien, his manner are as like to yours, 
 As ever were the echoes of a wood 
 To singing of a woodsman. 
 • Kraft. Oh, you flatter ! 
 
 Madam C. And pardon, if I add both have their 
 music. 
 
14 CECIL, THE SEER. 
 
 Kraft. No, no ; but Madam Cecil, you do 
 
 natter ! 
 Madam C. Not half so much, my good friend, as 
 your mirror, 
 When you but face — 
 Kraft {looking at her intently). 
 
 And find it very bright ? — 
 But now, about my son : I think of course— - 
 Madam C. What I think. Do we ever disagree ? 
 Kraft. I wish your husband could be led— 
 Madam C. You think 
 
 He cannot then ? 
 Kraft. Why that depends — 
 
 Madam C. On whom ? — 
 
 A good judge is a man whose judgments you 
 Approve. 
 Kraft {bowing to her). 
 
 Thanks for your interest. 
 Enter — Left Second — Mr. Blaver with Miss Prim- 
 wood. 
 Madam C. {continuing to Kraft). 
 
 Why that 
 Becomes me, — does it not ? I've heard you 
 
 say 
 I always do, as well as wear, the thing 
 That seems becoming ; — and the principal 
 {touching Kraft with her fa?i ; then pointing it to- 
 ward herself^) 
 Should always draw its interest. Not so ? — 
 
CECIL, THE SEER. 15 
 
 {turning to speak to Miss P rim wood and Blaver, 
 who carries a pamphlet in his hand.) 
 Miss Primwood, ah ! Good-evening — You too, 
 Deacon : 
 {All bow. Kraft talks aside to Miss Primwood, 
 Madam Cecil continues to Blaver, tapping 
 his pamphlet with her /an.) 
 We've read your little prohibition tracts. 
 Blaver. Yes? — Thanks. — But, as you say, they're 
 
 very little. 
 Madam C. The smallest diamond in this ring I 
 wear 
 Is better for my humble, human use, 
 Than a whole world of dust whirled in a star 
 Set in an orbit out beyond my reach. 
 Blaver. If, in some humble way, my tracts do 
 
 good — 
 Madam C. The littlest bird-track, sometimes, in 
 the sand 
 May make one think of wings flown out of sight. 
 Blaver. If only mine would — wings of progress, 
 
 say. 
 Madam C. Ah, but your cause is right. 
 Blaver. Yes, all our pleas 
 
 Are based upon religion. Yet you know 
 The lower courts are hostile. 
 Exeunt — Left — Miss Primwood and Kraft. 
 Madam C. Right must win. 
 
 Blaver. You think so ? — The professor too ? — 
 
1 6 CECIL, THE SEER. 
 
 Madam C. {assuming an air of ' disparagement). 
 
 Come, come ; 
 , s No man should anchor trust in such as he, 
 
 Why your opponents never 
 
 Blaver {eagerly?). 
 
 Would support him ? — 
 They would not? 
 Madam C. Would ? — how could they ? Do you 
 know, 
 'Twas only last night, when some friends were here 
 And talking of the governorship, he said 
 Our next might be a prohibitionist. 
 Blaver {greatly phased, rubbing his hands'). 
 
 Is that so ? Really ! — Is that so ? Why, why ! — 
 Madam C. {tapping him with her fan). You may 
 
 be governor yet. You may, you may ! — 
 Enter — Left Second — Father Hycher with Widow 
 Hycher. 
 (Madam C, noticing them, says aside,). 
 But ttiere comes Father Hycher-^— 
 
 (insinuatingly to Blaver). 
 
 Do you think 
 A man, religious truly, would not stand 
 Upon a platform based upon religion ? 
 
 (Madam C. and Blaver bow to Father H. 
 and Widow Hycher. Blaver talks 
 A aside to Widow H. and, with her, pres- 
 ently, exits at the Left — Madam C. con- 
 tinues talking to Father Hycher). 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 17 
 
 You act like saints we read of in the legends, 
 
 With holy air about you. As you entered, 
 
 Our thoughts turned toward religion. 
 Father H. Ah ? — with mine ! — 
 
 I saw you at the church, the other day. 
 Madam C. I heard the Father was to preach — 
 Father H. And came? — 
 
 Madam C. To be a worshipper. 
 Father H. You think perhaps, 
 
 That we make less of preaching than of praise. 
 Madam C. Now, honestly, I do admire your 
 
 form. 
 Father H. I like to see you give it countenance. 
 
 But, really, Madam Cecil, you are right. 
 
 We must have form : — all eyes, ears, crave it so. 
 
 The only question, as I say, is this — 
 
 Which form is the 
 
 Madam C. The form the most emphatic, 
 
 One might call the form. 
 Father H. Right, just right again !- 
 
 In schools, asylums, prisons, everywhere 
 
 That souls should be impressed 
 
 Madam C. There one should use 
 
 The most impressive form. 
 Father H. Why, this is strange ! 
 
 Just what I told your husband ! 
 Madam C. (laughing significantly). So you've 
 learned 
 
 A woman's thoughts are echoes ; and she echoes 
 
1 3 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 The thoughts that have been nearest to the heart 
 To which she stands the nearest. 
 Father H. No — but I — 
 
 How could I think my words had had such 
 weight ? 
 Madam C. Words are a currency that owe their 
 worth 
 Less to their substance, often, than their source. 
 
 Father H. Your husband, then, you think 
 
 Madam C. {with an implied suggestion). 
 
 A man that knows 
 Enough to judge a beaker by its brand. 
 Father H. I did not think I had such influence. 
 Madam C. Nor does the sun. It never thinks at all ; 
 Yet keeps the whole world whirling — by its 
 
 light ?— 
 No, no, — by its position. 
 Father H. If the courts 
 
 Would only recognize that, and the wrong 
 Of taxing our schools to support a rule 
 From which our own religion is ruled out — ■ 
 Madam C. And on your side are many senators ? — 
 
 And they confirm the judges ? 
 Father H. What of that ? 
 
 Madam C. Why, Father, sometimes I have played 
 at whist ; 
 
 And when my partner holds the cards that win 
 
 Enter — Right Front — Freeman and Faith, pres- 
 ently seating themselves in the bay window. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 19 
 
 Enter — Left Second — Lowe carrying a map- 
 like plan of streets, parks, etc. Other 
 Gentlemen enter with him. All sur- 
 round Madam C. 
 Father H. (to Madam C). 
 
 What then ? 
 Madam C. Then I play low. That's whist. 
 Father H. Ha ! ha ! 
 
 Freeman {to Faith). 
 
 See Madam Cecil. How her ribboned form 
 Bends o'er the black coats ! — like a bow of 
 
 promise 
 Above thick cloud-banks. Each one thinks he sees 
 Those of his own cloth fly at Cecil's bidding 
 Like crows where grows but shall not grow a 
 
 harvest. 
 Oh, to be popular, just let one be 
 Abulge with promise, pledging everything. 
 Till time present him his protested bills, 
 The world will fawn and paw him like a hound 
 To do his bidding. Promise is a flea : 
 It makes us itch ; but fools us, would we catch it. 
 Madam C. {looking over Lowe's plans). 
 
 This line here is the river bank, — not so ? 
 Lowe. And here the railway ; and the park is here, 
 
 And here the church (pointing). 
 Madam C. The church ? 
 
 Lowe. You know with me 
 
 Religion is the chief consideration. 
 
20 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Madam C. I know ; but you're a friend ? 
 Lowe. The company 
 
 Are world's folk, — will not build a meeting. So 
 We would not quarrel with them : we build this. 
 Madam C. Yes. How considerate ! 
 Lowe. 'Tis my wish to be so. 
 
 Madam C. But no one lives here yet ? 
 Lowe. In time some will. 
 
 Madam C. And, for their future good, you build 
 the church ? 
 Exit — Left Upper — Father Hycher. 
 Lowe. Yet some do not approve it. 
 Madam C. Is there doubt 
 
 Of your success ? 
 Lowe. Oh no — not if the courts 
 
 Remove the injunction of the district's owners. 
 Madam C. But that will follow. As my husband 
 says, 
 The corner stones of monumental deeds 
 Must always crush some worms ■ and plans like 
 these 
 
 {laughing good-naturedly) 
 Are monumental — even in their size ! 
 Suppose we find a table for them here. 
 {gesturing toward the Left?) 
 Exeunt — Left Second — Madam C, Lowe and 
 other Gentlemen. 
 Freeman (to Faith). 
 
 This is the foremost swindle of them all, — 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 21 
 
 A syndicate that steals the river bank ; 
 
 Then taxes doubly those they steal it from 
 
 For what is left them. But the abuse is old. 
 
 Whore thrived ambition yet, but strove to build 
 
 Itself a monument by heaping up 
 
 That which, when lost, made hollow all about it ! 
 
 How many castle-towns I've seen in Europe, 
 
 Where every graceful touch in breadth and height 
 
 That formed the great hall's pride, appeared out- 
 lined 
 
 As if by shadowy finger-prints of force 
 
 That snatched all from the low lands at its base ! 
 
 But look you — there is Cecil, and with Celia. 
 {pointing toward Left Upper Entrance') 
 
 How indiscreet ! She's ward, you know, of 
 Kraft, 
 
 Who only can make Cecil judge ; and Kraft 
 
 Hates Celia, treats her like a slave, they say. 
 Faith. Why so ? 
 
 Freeman. He has his reasons. 
 
 Faith {rising). Do you know them ? 
 
 (Freeman rising and shrugging his shoulders^) 
 
 'Twas said that you admired her too ? 
 Freemax. I did. 
 
 Before my eyes met you 
 
 Faith. This never can be. 
 
 My uncle's honor and mine own are pledged. 
 Freeman*. But honor helping none and harming 
 self, 
 
2 2 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Need never serve the body of a vow 
 From which the life to which it vowed has flown. 
 Exeunt — Right First — Faith and Freeman. 
 Enter — Left Upper Entrance — Celia and Cecil. 
 Cecil. Must leave off study, Celia ? 
 Celia. So it seems. 
 
 Cecil. To be their brightest, minds need bur- 
 nishing ; 
 And earth needs all the light that we can give it. 
 Celia. I know — were I not so opposed — then, 
 too, 
 I'm but a woman. What can woman do ? 
 Cecil. Do, Celia, do ? 
 
 Celia. Why, yes — what starts with her ? 
 
 Cecil. No matter what. Men sow the seed, you 
 think. 
 How could it grow, were it to find no soil ? 
 You've seen the crystal globes clairvoyants use, 
 And think they see the heavens in ? — Some 
 
 women 
 Have souls like that. One faces them to find 
 His thoughts divine, himself akin to God. 
 
 Celia. If that be woman's nature 
 
 Cecil. It is not, 
 
 Till polished in the friction of the schools, 
 Which some think needless ; but where woman's 
 
 mind 
 Has never been made bright, the thoughts of men 
 Will never flash for it. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 23 
 
 Celia. The sun may find 
 
 Its image in the dullest pool. 
 Cecil. To be 
 
 Too modest, is we lag behind, and break 
 
 God's lines, who ranks us right. 
 Celia. But eyes, they say, 
 
 Made free to roam round all the world of thought 
 
 Find views too strange 
 
 Cecil. To those this side of it ? — 
 
 Who envy what they cannot see themselves ? 
 
 Celia. They say they hate what does not aid 
 religion. 
 
 Cecil. Aid whose, and what ? — their own ? — and 
 are they sure 
 They do not make themselves their lord, forsooth, 
 Because they wish to lord it over others ? 
 
 Celia. It may have been my fault — I had a dream — 
 
 Cecil. You're blamed for dreaming then ? 
 
 Celia. No, but I told it. 
 
 Cecil. Another Joseph ! — indiscreet, I see. 
 
 You should have known we all at heart are Tar- 
 tars ; 
 And value most the beauty of the spirit, 
 When, like the Tartar's daughter, it is veiled. — 
 And yet, if unveiled once, why not for me ? 
 
 Celia. 'Twas but a whim. I thought, and said I 
 thought 
 That, if a soul must live hereafter, why, 
 It must have lived before. — You know the Christ 
 
24 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Did not rebuke the throng that said some thought 
 
 Elias had returned ; but, in an age 
 
 When all believed it might be, said 'twas true. 
 
 And then our creed — Where can it come to pass, — 
 
 The body's resurrection ? 
 Cecil. Where ? 
 
 Celia. Where but 
 
 In that new earth of Hebrew prophecies ? — 
 
 Which would have but misled, had those that 
 heard 
 
 Not had it in their power themselves to be 
 
 Restored to life in that restored estate. 
 Cecil. Seems life so bright then ? — You would live 
 
 it over ? 
 Celia. No, no ; so sad that I would solve its 
 reason. 
 
 If we have lived before, we all are born 
 
 In spheres to which our own deeds destine us. 
 Cecil. Not Adam's ? 
 Celia. Each one may have been an Adam ; 
 
 And therefore made a slave now. 
 Cecil. You a slave ? 
 
 Celia. I must tell some one — let me tell it you : 
 
 To Kraft, whose wife, ere death, was more to me 
 
 Than mother, I'm a waif. 
 Cecil. But others prize you. 
 
 A jewel is not judged by its surroundings. 
 Celia. And yet a jewel might be cheaply bartered 
 
 By one who did not prize it. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 25 
 Cecil. bartered ? — You 
 
 Celia. Note my complexion — who think you my 
 
 mother ? — 
 Cecil. What, what ? — Kraft never claimed you as a 
 
 slave ? 
 Celia. Xor will, perhaps ; but he has threatened it ; 
 
 And even the suggestion of this here — 
 Cecil But what's his object? 
 Celia. I alone have seen 
 
 The writings that were left him by his wife, — 
 
 Her wish to free her slaves 
 
 Cecil. Oh, what a worm 
 
 Is greed for gold ! Did ever human fruitage 
 Turn into rot but it had gnawed the core ? — 
 Was there a will ? 
 
 (Celia nods slightly?) 
 
 You are in danger, yes. 
 Celia. A wretch has come, as vile as he is 
 
 ugly ; 
 
 And if I were the charmer of a snake, 
 ' I could not shrink from touch more horrible. 
 Cecil. And what of him ? 
 Celia. ^Vhy, I must go with him ; 
 
 Indeed, have been forbidden to come here. 
 Cecil. To-night ? 
 Celia. To-night. 
 
 Cecil. Must marry him ? 
 
 Celia. Nay, worse. 
 
 He needs, or says he needs, a housekeeper. 
 
26 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. Why, Celia, this is monstrous ! By what 
 means 
 Would Kraft enforce his will ? 
 
 Celia. By force itself ; 
 
 And what he deems my ignorance. 
 
 Cecil. Tell me, child, 
 
 Has Kraft good reasons ? 
 
 Celia. If he has ? 
 
 Cecil. Why, then, 
 
 By your white soul, and by the work of Christ, 
 In spite of threatened storms with thunderbolts 
 As thick as bristling blades in a bayonet charge, 
 I'll stand between you and the coming danger. 
 
 Celia. I thank you, friend ; but no ; your race is 
 mine. 
 But 'twill take time to prove it. 
 
 Cecil. Who meanwhile 
 
 Will guard you ? 
 
 Celia. Yes — who will ? 
 
 Cecil. That son of Kraft ? 
 
 Celia. He's such a villain, that his daintiest deed 
 Of courtesy's a counterfeited coin 
 With which he chaffers and intends to cheat. 
 If I were drowning, I would dread to grasp 
 The hand he stretched to draw me near himself. 
 Better to die at once, when washed and clean, 
 Than catch contagion and live on defiled. 
 
 Cecil. You must remain at my house. 
 Enter — Left second — Kraft. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 2 J 
 
 Kraft {aside). Celia here ? 
 
 Celia. {noticing Kraft). 
 
 I — I — have an engagement. I must go. 
 Exit — Left Upper — Celia. 
 Kraft (Jo Cecil). 
 
 I interrupt. 
 Cecil (Jo Kraft). 'Tis nothing. — She was saying 
 
 That you desired to have her stop her studies. 
 Kraft. Yes, she must win her bread. 
 Cecil. Of course, but how ? 
 
 Kraft. That's my affair. 
 Cecil. Why, no ; not wholly, — is it ? 
 
 Let me relieve you of the charge of her. 
 
 I'll take it on myself. In two years' time, 
 
 She'll teach, and pay us back — with interest. 
 Kraft (sarcastically). Perhaps ; but, by the way, 
 now, that you speak 
 
 Of teaching, there is no one named, I think, 
 
 For your professorship, in case you leave it. 
 Cecil. 'Tis not left yet. 
 Kraft. But may be, if you wish. 
 
 If not, too, there are more professorships ; 
 
 And if so, there's my son. 
 Cecil. I see. No doubt 
 
 His claims would have fair hearing. 
 Kraft. But if you 
 
 Could recommend him 
 
 Cecil. That would pass for little ; 
 
 I know so little of him. 
 
28 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Kraft. But your word 
 
 Cecil. Would, like a bank-note, quickly lose its 
 worth 
 Were nothing stored behind it, to make true 
 The storage it bespeaks. 
 
 Kraft. Oh yes, I've found 
 
 The men most praised for judgment are the men 
 Most echoing others' judgments. Thus, forsooth, 
 They make their own appear approved by all. 
 
 Cecil. Not so with me ! Has he experience 
 In teaching ? 
 
 Kraft. He has knowledge. 
 
 Cecil. For a teacher, 
 
 A knowledge of mere books does not suffice : 
 He needs a knowledge too of human nature ; 
 And sympathy, to make his teaching welcome ; 
 And fire, to make it felt ; and tact and skill, 
 To aim and temper it for others' needs ; 
 And modesty to keep his own acquirements 
 In strictest servitude to their demands ; 
 And dignity that comes from honoring truth, 
 To crown its servant as the student's master. 
 What think you ? Has he these ? 
 
 Kraft. He's had no chance 
 
 To show 
 
 Cecil. Then why not test him where a failure 
 
 Would not be trumpeted ? A man's best friend 
 Will bid him wait for honor till he earn it. 
 Amid earth's envious crush of frenzied greed, 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 29 
 
 'Tis not a kindness, pushing to the front 
 One who is not a leader. Zealous forms 
 That crowd him there, may tramp him under foot. 
 Enter — Left Second — A Gentleman, beckoning to 
 
 Kraft. 
 
 Kraft {noticing the Gentleman, and bowing to him, 
 
 and a 7s to Cecil). 
 
 Thanks, thanks. I will remember what you say. 
 
 Exeunt — Left Second — Kraft and Gentleman. 
 
 Cecil {alone). 
 
 If Celia judged him right, his son shall get 
 No honor which my justice can deny him. 
 Humph ! Prudence hints I've ruined all my 
 
 hopes. 
 Let go then ! 'Tis a simple question this : — 
 Shall I play slave to Kraft, Lowe, Hycher, 
 
 Blaver ?— 
 Sell them the justice that is in my soul 
 To seem to deal out justice for the state ? — 
 No ; better be God's creature though a worm, 
 Than theirs, though they had power to make me 
 king : 
 
 Exit— Left Upper — Cecil. 
 Dance music. Enter at the different entrances, 
 dancers in couples or in sets. At last, 
 those nearest the Left Upper Entrance 
 beckon to the others, and all, as if suddenly 
 called away, exeunt at the Left Upper 
 Entrance. 
 
30 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Enter — Left Second Entrance — Jem, carrying 
 a tray with plates a?id refreshments on it. 
 He looks at da?icers, then crosses the stage 
 to the bay window, where, meeting Milly, 
 he places the tray on the scat. 
 Enter — Right Front Entrance — Milly, carry- 
 ing a tray with glasses containing iced tea 
 She too places her tray on a seat in the bay 
 window. 
 Jem {looking at departing dancers). 
 
 Dey's all gone wheah de tables is, I reckon, 
 
 {looking at Milly) 
 De white folks hab deir shadders. 
 Milly. An' dey dance 
 
 Benin' de white folks' back. 
 
 (Jem and Milly dance?) 
 Jem {stretching his hand to take Milly's). 
 
 Oh, heah ! come heah ! 
 Milly {drawing back her hand). 
 
 No, no, you don't. 
 Jem {looking sharply at her hand, which she keeps 
 clenched). 
 
 Now tell me what you got 
 In dat black hollah dah. 
 Milly {jerking her hand away). 
 
 Jes' what you habn't. 
 Jem. Come, come, now, Milly. Lawd ob all de stahs ! 
 Dis heah's a patch ob his own pitchy sky , 
 An' hoi's a stah in dah. Whose am it, hey ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 3 1 
 
 Milly. Whose? Mine. 
 
 Jem. You'll catch it — livin' deed o' darkness ! 
 Milly {throwing an car-ring from one hand into the 
 other). 
 Dey'll hab to catch dis fust. 
 Jem. Come, you knows, Milly, 
 
 Dat I'll not gib you way. Say, whah 'd you get 
 it? 
 Milly. Why, on de floah. 
 
 Jem. Who dwoptit off 'urn den ? 
 
 Milly. Why, dem as owes us twenty times so 
 much 
 As dat 'ill fetch us. 
 
 (Shaking the ear-ring at Jem.) 
 Jem. Ah, dat's right. 
 
 MlLLY {putting ea?'-ring in her pocket). 
 
 Ay, ay, 
 An' doin' right. 
 Jem. Except dat you's not dancin' 
 
 (Jem and Milly dance). 
 Heah, heah, now, heah an' heah ! 
 Milly (stopping, and gesturing to Jem zuho keeps on 
 dancing). 
 
 Now, Jem, stay put. 
 Jem. For why ? 
 
 Milly. Dey'll fin' us out. 
 
 Jem. Ugh, dey can't see us. 
 
 Milly. Ole missus 's allers houndin' roun', you 
 
 know, 
 To fin' de niggah. 
 
32 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 {Moving, and gesturing toward the bay window?) 
 Dah. Sit down, 
 (Milly sits in the bay window. Jem takes refresh- 
 ments and passes them to her). 
 Jem. An' take 
 
 De crums dat's fallen from de rich man's table. 
 Dat's scripter. 
 
 (Jem sits down. Both eat.) 
 
 Look heah, Milly, say 
 
 Milly. Say what ? 
 
 Jem. I likes dis cake. It's sweet, and yet, you 
 knows, 
 Dis dahkey's lips would like anoder cake. 
 (Puckering lips, as if to kiss her.) 
 Milly. Oh, you go home 
 Jem (looking out of the window). 
 
 No ; it am cold out dah. 
 Milly. Den let it shake you ! you's got one wife 
 
 now. 
 Jem. Not one ! De las' one, Dinah, 's sold, you 
 
 know. 
 Milly. Law sakes ! I hadn't heahd o' dat. 
 Jem. She'm gone 
 
 Gone like the dark cloud when the night - am 
 
 come. 
 I'll nebah see her moah. 
 Milly. Jem dat am sad. 
 
 Jem. An' you don't reckon dis Jem's meant to be 
 A gem widout a settin ? ' 
 
CECIL THE SEER 
 
 33 
 
 MlLLY. Dah's de white folks. 
 
 Enter — Left Upper — Blaver and Miss Prim- 
 wood. — Milly and Jem rise, taking their 
 
 trays. 
 Jem. Well, dey don't reckon so neider. 
 Milly. What dey reckon, 
 
 Dey showed by sellin' Dinah. 
 
 Jem. What you reckon 
 
 Milly. Is all de numbers ob your wives ! 
 
 (bowing to Jem.) 
 Jem. You can't. 
 
 Exeunt — Right Front Entrance — Milly and Jem 
 
 hurriedly. 
 Miss Primwood {catching a glimpse of them, and 
 holding up her hands). 
 There's no religion, none — I tell you none. 
 Men are not solemnized as once they were. 
 Blaver. Xo, they are sodomized. You say you 
 saw 
 
 {pointing toward the Left?) 
 In Cecil's hand, a reddish-colored dram? 
 
 Miss Primwood. It might have been 
 
 Blaver. To those who saw it drunk 
 
 It looked, at least, like liquor. He was not 
 Avoiding the appearances of evil. 
 He's not the man I thought — no proper mate 
 
 For Madam Cecil. She 
 
 Miss Primwood. You think so, eh ? 
 
 Men never will know women. This is hers — 
 3 
 
34 
 
 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Her party — making those not thirsty drink, 
 And eat, when they've no appetite, — and dance, 
 When, prudence knows, they ought to be in bed. 
 Enter — Right Front — Milly, carrying a tray 
 containing a reddish-colored liquid in 
 glasses. She stops before Blaver. 
 Blaver (to Milly). 
 
 Ah, — what is this ? 
 Milly. Iced tea. 
 
 Blaver. Why, that will be 
 
 Refreshing, very ! 
 
 (To Miss P.) 
 Here! 
 (Pointing to chairs surrounding a small table, 
 near the bay window, and motioning her to 
 sit down). 
 
 Iced tea ! 
 (To Milly.) 
 
 Yes, yes. 
 (Blaver and Miss P. sit at the table. Milly 
 places two glasses of the reddish-colored 
 liquid before them?) 
 Blaver (continuing the interrupted conversation). 
 Where there's no levity, affairs like this 
 Create it. I've known sober-minded men 
 Grow indiscreet- — 
 
 (tasting the tea.) 
 
 This is good, yes — and make 
 All their professions seem ridiculous. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 35 
 
 Enter — Left and Rigid — couples walking together. 
 
 Exit — Left Upper — MlLLY. 
 
 Enter — Right Upper — Jem carrying a tray on which 
 
 are plates containing refreshments to eat. 
 Miss Trim wood {looking in disapprobation at the 
 couples). 
 And scenes like this, too, tend to cause flirtation — 
 
 {looking at two elderly people t>gethcr.) 
 In those so old, too, they should be above it. 
 
 (Miss Primwood's spoon that she has been 
 using, fills to the floor. — Blaver hands 
 Miss P. his spoon that he has not used, at 
 the same time picking up Miss P's. spoon 
 and significantly placing it in his own cup.) 
 Blaver. Precisely ! 
 
 Miss P. Yes, at times, it makes me feel 
 
 Blaver (who evidently has lost the connect ion of 
 thought). 
 Flirtation makes you feel ? 
 Miss P. (in evident disgust). 
 
 Oh no ; not that ! 
 (Jem stands before them with his tray.) 
 Blaver {noticing Jem, and taking plates from his tray 
 for Miss P. and himself, as if thinking Miss 
 P. referred to these). 
 Oh yes, I see ! 
 MlSS P. {disliking his inference with reference to the 
 meaning of her firmer words). 
 No, no ! 
 
36 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Blaver {referrmg to the plates). 
 
 Not take them ? 
 Miss P. These ? 
 
 Oh yes, I thank you. — You mistook my meaning. 
 
 I do not think one ought to feel at all. 
 Blaver. No, in flirtation none should feel at all. 
 Miss P. No, no, no ! not in that — in anything. 
 
 If none would feel, none would have discontent ; 
 
 And that would cure all evils of the time. 
 Blaver. Yes, that is so. Why, even small boys 
 now, 
 
 Must have small beer 
 
 Miss P. Something to pop, you know ! 
 
 The key-note of our age is discontent. 
 
 Our slaves now even hint of earning wages ; 
 
 And girls, once clad in bonnets and in slippers, 
 
 Now strut in hats and boots. 
 Blaver. And where, strut where ? 
 
 Miss P. Ah, that's well put, my friend. They 
 strut to schools 
 
 In which they study, think and talk like boys. 
 Blaver. And times that do not like a cackling 
 hen, 
 
 And seek to fill their coops with fowl that crow, 
 
 Will not get many eggs. 
 Miss P. No, no ; no, no! — 
 
 Think what a scandal, if our highest courts 
 
 Blaver. Should not court women of the highest 
 kind. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 37 
 
 Miss P. Precisely; and o'errule th' iniquity 
 
 That gives free entrance into men's resorts 
 
 Of maids 
 
 Blaver. That in your school are prized like jewels ! 
 (Blaver and Miss P. continue their conversation 
 
 aside.) 
 Enter — Left Upper — Cecil and Father Hycher 
 
 talking earnestly. 
 Cecil. Yes, Father Hycher ; but you know our laws 
 
 Have never recognized the churches thus. 
 Father H. But we have rights — 
 Cecil. To change the laws you have, 
 
 But not to break them. 
 Father H. Did one merely waive 
 
 The letter of the law, what could be harmed ? 
 Cecil. One's conscience, if he went against the law. 
 
 'Twould not be right, — a fact, I take it, Father, 
 
 You ought to see. 
 Father H. I do not see it so ; 
 
 And if I did, above it I could see 
 
 A higher law. 
 
 Exit — Left Second — Father H. 
 Cecil {looking after hwi, and soliloquizing). 
 
 Humph, humph ! we live to learn. 
 
 It seems that even formalists like him 
 
 Can see some spirit through a form ; but what ? — 
 
 One time upon a mountain top, I saw 
 
 My own shape magnified on clouds about me. 
 
 How many more in earth's high places find, 
 
$S CELIL THE SEER. 
 
 Looming on clouds of false regard about them, 
 False forms of self, distorted in their size ! 
 To waken such to their own true position, 
 Thank heaven for precipices ! When they fall, 
 Their views of God and self, turned upside down, 
 May bring, at last, conversion. 
 (Cecil moves toward the right near where Blaver 
 
 and Miss P. are sitting. Both rise.) 
 Miss P. Oh, Professor, 
 
 Professor Cecil, how your ears must burn ! 
 We've heard the rumors that are in the wind. 
 Cecil {bowing and motioning them to be seated). 
 Trust not to words with only wind to back them. 
 There's nothing quite so empty as the sky 
 Behind a blow, when once it has blown by. 
 (All sit, Cecil taking a vacant chair at the table?) 
 Miss P. That's well for you to say ; but you two 
 friends, 
 
 {bowing to Blaver.) 
 Your judgment, 
 
 (bowing to Cecil.) 
 and your judgments, when they rule 
 Our civil, social, educational ways, 
 Will put an end to some things. 
 Cecil. To their life ? 
 
 Miss P. How you enjoy a joke ! — You've read, 
 not so ? 
 
 (gesturing toward Blaver.) 
 The deacon's latest work ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 39 
 
 Cecil. To tell the truth, 
 
 I've not had time. 
 
 Miss P. So, little interest !— 
 
 Cecil. Of course the question has two sides 
 
 Blaver {aside). 
 
 Two sides ? — 
 It has but one. I see that he's not with us. 
 
 Miss P. The great book of the age ! 
 
 Blaver {to Miss P). 
 
 You flatter me. 
 {to Cecil). 
 She likes my essay, since, on general grounds, 
 As I detail the duties of the state, 
 I argue prohibition by the whole 
 Of all things detrimental to the part, 
 Applying this, not only to the cause 
 To which my life is pledged, but with this, too, 
 To questions like the giving of instruction 
 To slaves, and free tuition to poor whites, 
 And throwing open to our girls and women 
 The State schools, not designed to train their sex. 
 'Tis my discussion of this latter point 
 Enlists her praise, whose long — 
 
 ('Miss P. straightens up and draw back.) 
 
 no, I mean wide — 
 Whose wide experience, as the principal 
 Of our first female college, seals her right 
 To criticise all efforts of the State 
 To train our girls in different schools from hers. 
 
40 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil (in good-natured banter). 
 
 Ah, yes, I see. The same boat floats you both. 
 
 You pull together. Friends are worth the 
 having 
 
 Who best can serve themselves when serving us. 
 Miss P. Oh, you must read his book ! You'll like 
 it too ; 
 
 If but for what it says of slaves and women. 
 Cecil. You class the two together ? I should not. 
 (aside.) 
 
 How women love their fetters ! — But 'tis well. 
 
 They make sweet slaves, but very bitter masters. 
 Miss P. You would not open then our college doors 
 
 To women ? 
 Cecil. Why not ? 
 
 Miss P. Why, our boys and girls 
 
 Might fall in love ! 
 Cecil. That would be no new thing ; 
 
 And, being wont to walk in love, when young, 
 
 They might be much less prone to fall in love, 
 
 In ways not wise, when older. 
 Miss P. But their minds 
 
 Are so unlike ! — 
 Cecil. And never can be matched 
 
 Until they learn to share each other's aims. 
 
 Souls are not mated when two forms of flesh 
 
 Join hands, or merely share each other's arms. 
 Miss P. And you would have them like each 
 other ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 41 
 
 Cecil. Yes. 
 
 'Tis quite important if they are to marry. 
 
 Like ought to go with like. And paths that 
 push 
 
 Young men and maids together, whet their wits 
 
 And make their weddings wise ones. 
 Miss P. Always ? 
 
 Cecil. No ; 
 
 But oftener, yes much oftener so, than elsewise. 
 
 Where true love is the treasure to be sought. 
 
 One glimpse of nature is a better guide 
 
 Than all the forms of calculating art 
 
 That ever powdered an instinctive flush, 
 
 Or rouged pale hate, in any masquerade 
 
 That men call good society. 
 Miss P. One scarce 
 
 Would think you had so much romance in you. 
 Cecil. All have romance, if only they have soul. 
 
 'Tis in the expression of it that they differ. 
 Ejiter — Left Upper — Jem with tray holding more 
 
 refreshments. 
 Miss P. And most of them believe, with Deacon 
 Blaver, 
 
 It should not be expressed in schools. 
 Cecil. Why not? 
 
 Romance is but that region of the soul 
 
 Whose sun is love, within which, when we dwell, 
 
 Each act of duty and each thought of truth 
 
 Is haloed with a lisht that seems like heaven's. 
 
4.2 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 To spirits rightly moved, the whole of life, — 
 Home, school, religion, — ought to hoard romance. 
 (Jem speaks aside to Cecil.) 
 Cecil {rising). 
 
 (Blaver and Miss P. rise while Cecil gestures 
 toward chairs, Jem and the refreshments^) 
 Oh, pray be seated, and take more. 
 Miss P. Thanks. 
 
 Blaver. Thanks. 
 
 (Jem removes from table the e?npty glasses and plates, 
 
 and substitutes full ones.) 
 Miss P. And do you then approve, do you admire 
 These short-haired women, and these long-haired 
 
 men, 
 Exchanging shawls and coats, and stripping life 
 Of charactei, to make it caricature? 
 
 Exit — Left Upper Entrance — Jem. 
 Cecil. I do not much admire the straw in spring 
 That forms the spread of flower-beds ; but 
 
 beneath 
 Sleep summer's fairest offspring. What you moot 
 May show two sides. I've seen a man run 
 
 down 
 Amid the clash and clangor of a street, 
 Because one ear was deaf. In any sphere, 
 The rush of life may run down all who hear 
 But on one side. 
 
 Enter — Right Upper Entrance — Freeman. 
 Miss P. But when one side is right. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 43 
 
 Cecil. The right is that to which the world moves 
 on. 
 You cross its track to stop it ; it moves on, 
 You fall. 
 (Cecil bows and turns toward Freeman. Blaver 
 
 and Miss P. bow t then reseat themselves?) 
 Miss P. And this he does not mean to do 
 
 For my cause or for yours. Trust me for that. 
 Blaver. His friends must see he does not get so 
 high 
 That falling far will hurt him. 
 
 (Blaver and Miss P. continue to cat and drink, 
 and talk aside, till, after a little, Blaver 
 points rigorously toward the Right Second 
 Entrance. Then both rise, taking plates 
 and glasses with them, and exeunt at 
 Right Second Entrance?) 
 Enter — Left Upper Entrance — Madam Cecil, 
 Madam Lowe and Lowe, carrying his 
 plans, also Jem. 
 Madam Cecil {to Jem). 
 
 Here, you say ? — 
 {To Cecil.) 
 Oh, here you are ! Come look at these — 
 {Pointing to Lowe's plans.) 
 
 these plans, 
 They're just the thing the city needs. And we've 
 Been searching all the house for you. 
 
 Exit — Right Upper Ent 'ranee — Jem. 
 
44 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 (Madam Cecil and Madam Lowe remain near Left 
 Upper Entranced) 
 Cecil motions to Freeman indicating that he 
 look at the plans with him, which Free- 
 man does. 
 Cecil {replying partly to Madam C. and partly speak- 
 ing to Lowe). 
 
 I see. 
 Lowe {pointing to a part of the plan). And see the 
 
 church here ? 
 Cecil. Oh ! is that the church ? 
 
 But I thought you a friend ? 
 Lowe. The company 
 
 Are world's folk — will not build a meeting. So 
 We would not quarrel with them. We build this. 
 Freeman {laughing good-naturedly). 
 
 You beat the Masonic order. They but make 
 A show of their religion when they lay 
 A corner-stone. You lay out for it now. 
 Lowe. Ah yes ! With me religion is the chief 
 Consideration. Think how poor our life 
 Would be without religion. 
 Freeman. Be less rich, 
 
 You think. 
 Lowe. Just so ; and so there's nothing like 
 
 A church to elevate the character 
 
 Freeman. Of real estate, I see. 
 
 Lowe {half realizing that he is being made a butt). 
 
 No, we don't mean 
 
CECIL THE SFER. 45 
 
 Freeman. No people live here yet ? 
 
 Lowe. Ah, but they will 
 
 Freeman. If you do what 'tis right to do for them. 
 
 To build a church is right — not so ? — and right 
 
 Is your religion. 
 Lowe. Yes ; but one might think 
 
 His motives were not rightly understood. 
 Freeman {glancing toward Cecil significantly). 
 
 I think we understand them perfectly. 
 Lowe {looking particularly toward Cecil). 
 
 And like the plans then ? 
 Freeman. Oh, he must — as plans. 
 
 They plan so far ahead. 
 Lowe. Ah, if one see 
 
 A mountain in his path that must be climbed, 
 
 He'll make more effort. Effort's what we need. 
 
 With such a plan as this, our friends will know 
 
 We need more money, and will find us more. 
 Cecil. That's true. 
 (Madam Cecil comes to them. Freeman turns to 
 
 speak to Madam Lowe.) 
 Lowe (to Cecil). 
 
 Am glad to meet such approbation. 
 Cecil. Not that exactly ! Wise men ride no 
 hobby 
 
 Before a cool mood tests its hoofs — should have 
 
 To study this. 
 Exeunt — Right Upper Entrance — Freeman and 
 Madam Lowe. 
 
46 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Lowe {half in earnest turning to Madam Cecil). 
 If friends must judge like foes, 
 What good then does it do to have a friend ? 
 Cecil {earnestly and good-naturedly). 
 To prove to all the justice of our souls 
 That wish for friends both generous and just.— 
 
 {Taking the plans in his hands}) 
 'Tis difficult to take these in, at first. 
 
 Enter — Right Upper Entrance — Jem. 
 Madam C. (to Lowe, as if with a covert meaning). 
 You leave them here, and we'll look over them. 
 (She motions toward Jem, to whom Cecil 
 hands the plans, at the same time motion- 
 ing to him to take them to the Left. Jem 
 turns, and presently}) 
 Exit — Left Second Entrance — Jem. 
 ( When Cecil and Madam C. turn toward Jem, Lowe 
 
 turns toward the Right Third Entrance. ) 
 Lowe (to Himself), 
 
 And when the time comes that he needs a friend, 
 I'll take him in too and look over him. 
 Exit — Right Third Entrance — Lowe. 
 Madam C. (to Cecil, and evidently annoyed to see 
 Lowe leaving them). 
 Kraft, Hycher, Lowe and Blaver, — all, to-night, 
 All frown at things that you have said to them. 
 Why will you always give these men offense ? 
 Cecil. Because I give them truth. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 47 
 
 Madam C. Truth is for fools. 
 
 Cecil. I give it to them. 
 
 Madam C. Humph ! It comes from fools. 
 
 Cecil. Yes, if they think men want it. I do not. 
 
 They only need it. 
 Madam C. Need ? What for ? 
 
 Cecil. Their good — 
 
 Their own. and — say — humanity's. 
 Madam C The good 
 
 All seek from men like you, is leadership. 
 
 But he who leads men up, himself must mount, 
 
 Where he is seen above them. 
 Cecil. How and where 
 
 He mounts, depends on that in which he leads. 
 
 A leader in the truth had better kneel 
 
 Upon the footstool of a throne, than sit 
 
 Upon it, crowned by falsehood. 
 Madam C Would you were, 
 
 But what I thought you were when we were wed ! 
 Cecil (kindly). 
 
 Come, come, your wishes, like wild steeds, 
 escape 
 
 The reining of your reason, and may wreck it. 
 
 Why wish a station higher than we have ? 
 Madam C. For you — your influence. 
 Cecil. Nay, in that you err. 
 
 True words alone are weapons of true thought. 
 
 If I be free to use these, I am free 
 
 To be truth's champion. If, to gain the place 
 
48 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 You wish me, or to hold it, being gained, 
 I let my tongue be tied, I'm but a slave. 
 
 Madam C. 
 
 A woman wrecked at sea, had better lash 
 The anchor to her throat, than try to breast 
 The waves of life in such a world as this, 
 Wed to a man without ambition. She 
 Could not sink sooner. 
 
 Cecil {gazing and gesturing at their surroundings). 
 
 Do you sink, my wife, 
 With these surroundings ? 
 
 Madam C. Yes, for power and wealth 
 
 Both loom before you. When I tell it you, 
 And strive to urge you toward them, you, blind 
 
 loot, 
 Squat, blinking like an owl ; or, if you stir, 
 But flutter, blunder, miss your aim, and fall 
 From off the very branch, the topmost branch, 
 You ought to perch upon. 
 
 Cecil. Alas, my wife, 
 
 I thought you loved me for the man I was. 
 I never wrought nor wished for wealth. 
 
 Madam C. Oh, drone, 
 
 That I could sting you, as do bees their drones 
 That make no honey ! 
 
 Cecil. You do sting at times. 
 
 This ought to please you. But you've better 
 
 moods. 
 I never could have thought I loved you else. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 49 
 
 Why blame my soul, because it must be true 
 To higher aims and higher influence ? 
 If, seeking these, this world's promotion come, 
 Let come ! I'll take it then by right divine. 
 Madam C. Fanatic I Do you think in men's mad 
 rush, 
 Each towards his own life's goal, they wrest the 
 
 power 
 That makes another serve them, without work ? — 
 Skill ? shrewdness ? tact ? and forcing to the wall y 
 Or down the precipice, each weaker rival ? 
 Cecil. I do, if power that crowns them come from. 
 
 God. 
 Madam C. The power that crowns one with success 
 on earth 
 Is earthly. Keen men know this. 'Tis not God: 
 The devil rules the world. 
 Cecil. God overrules it. 
 
 Madam C. In far results, but in the ,near ones 
 
 never ! 
 Cecil. Then look to far results. Transferring 
 there 
 These transient whims of yours, you'll find them 
 
 melt, 
 Like summer mist, while, rock-bound under them, 
 Each goal remains that your true nature craves. 
 Why seek for riches, when we have enough ? 
 Madam C. Enough ! Oh, sluggard ! Have we 
 that ? 
 4 
 
50 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. We have — 
 
 Enough for comfort, not enough for care ; 
 
 Enough to make us grateful for the wage 
 
 Rewarding earnest work ; but not enough 
 
 To bind long habit to the fate of those 
 
 Whose serving earth has made them slaves to it. 
 
 The peace of life crowns competence, not wealth. 
 
 The wise man wants no more. 
 
 Madam C. But woman does. 
 
 Exit — Left Second Entrance — Madam Cecil. 
 
 Cecil. Then let no wise man marry. Cursed 
 fate !— 
 This striving to walk on in paths of right, 
 And knowing every pace takes one more stride 
 Away from all one loves ! — From all one loves ? — 
 No, no ; — from all that, once, one thought he loved. 
 Oh, cruel customs of a cruel world, 
 Which damn us for those dreams that seem to be 
 Our holiest inspirations ! Cruel dreams, 
 That never prove delusions, till the world 
 Welds bonds for us that death alone can break ! 
 And cruel bonds that make all happiness, 
 In one so bound, impossibility, 
 Unless he sell his soul, or — who is this ? 
 
 Enter — Right Second Entra?ice — Celia. 
 Why, Celia ! 
 
 Celia. I have come to tell you, friend, 
 The man I fear is here. I saw his face, 
 And like a thunder-cloud foretelling storm 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 5 r 
 
 Cecil. We'll go first where we'll not be overheard. 
 
 Exeunt — Left Upper Entrance — Cecil and Celia. 
 
 Enter — Right Upper Entrance — Freeman and Faith. 
 
 Freeman. You love me, Faith. Your manner tells 
 
 me so. 
 Faith. Your rival, Freeman, is no man, mere man. 
 Freeman. You are deceived. You vow through — ■ 
 to — a man. 
 Who'll use you — God knows how ! the door is 
 
 locked : 
 He holds the key. Your uncle, though a priest, 
 Has eyes upon your wealth. The thing is proved. 
 Your dying father feared this. Faith, I know 
 His wish for you. Trust him, trust me, your 
 
 friend, 
 Disrobed of mystery, save th' eternal one 
 Which thrills us now, whom heaven has made for 
 mates. 
 Faith. I would not give you up, except to wed 
 
 A holier spouse. 
 Freeman. Yet one that is, at times, 
 
 A Moloch, clasping in his arms of fire 
 Desires he kindles, but can never quench. 
 Faith. Oh, Freeman, when you speak, I tremble so ! 
 You fill my soul with fears for you ; but, oh, 
 With fears that are so sweet, again I fear 
 That my own soul is what I should fear most. 
 Freeman. Let's fright away our fears by facing 
 them. 
 
52 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Will you not be my bride ? Be this and use 
 Your freedom as your father would have wished. 
 Enter — Left Second Entrance — Father Hycher. 
 Father H. {to Faith). 
 
 What ? — Have I warned you, Faith, so many 
 
 times ? 
 And you still parley with this infidel ? — 
 Obey me now ! — Away, no more of this ! 
 
 (Faith moves toward Left Upper Entrance — 
 Freeman starts to follow her. Father 
 Hycher calls' to him.) 
 You will not follow her ? — 
 
 Exit — Left Upper Entrance — Faith. 
 Freeman. No ? — wherefore not ? 
 
 Father H. I am her uncle. 
 
 Freeman. Not her father, though ! 
 
 Father H. Her spirit's — I direct her steps. 
 Freeman. Step-father ? — 
 
 In that role men like you are just ideal ! 
 But I am, that which you are not — her friend. 
 Father H. You are a young man with a young 
 
 man's dreams. 
 Freeman. You are an old man with an old man's 
 schemes. 
 And she has wealth, and you have use for it. 
 Father H. And you think you have none ! Oho, 
 young man, 
 When you have read yourself, you may be heard 
 When trying to read others. But we waste 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 53 
 
 Our time. I am her guardian ; and you 
 
 Should act the gentleman. 
 Freeman. Which when I act, 
 
 I'll not take lessons in the art from you. 
 Father H. Take this at least. — A gentleman is one 
 
 Who never does the unexpected. 
 Freeman. Well, 
 
 By that test you can pass. I grant it you. 
 
 All you have done has been in character. 
 
 You call me infidel ; but, Father Hycher, 
 
 The infidel is one who does not trust 
 
 The power that made and moves the soul within. 
 
 If Faith did not desire another life 
 
 Than you have planned, you might be wise and 
 kind. 
 Father H. Poor youth, when you know more 
 
 about the world 
 
 Freeman. I shall know more about such men as 
 you ; 
 
 Know how the dust of earth can make one blind, 
 
 And dm can make one deaf, till skies can blaze 
 
 And heaven's voice thunder, yet no sight nor 
 sound 
 
 Reach 
 
 Father H. {sarcastically^) 
 
 What ?— 
 Freeman. What was a soul ! But there are souls 
 
 Are stolen when they're stoled. The devil's hand 
 
 Out-does the deacon's, and there's nothing left 
 
54 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 But vestment. All the batterer's priceless birth- 
 right 
 Goes for the mess of pottage that he feeds on. 
 Not strange such like to limit others' joys, 
 Turn nature inside out and upside down, 
 Claim spirit rules where all are slaves of sense, 
 And heaven their crown whose schemes are rimmed 
 by hell. 
 Father H. Humph, humph, young man ! You'll 
 yet repent of this. 
 Exit — Left Second Entrance — Father Hycher. 
 Enter — Left Upper Entra,7ice — Cecil and Celia. 
 Cecil (to Freeman.) 
 
 Why, friend, you seem excited. What has roiled 
 you ? 
 Freeman. Oh nothing, nothing, nothing but a 
 toad 
 That squat upon a flower here in your garden ! 
 Cecil. Here is a flower that you may save from 
 this. 
 I must attend the guests, and this, our friend, 
 Needs your protection. She will tell you why. 
 I leave her with you. 
 
 Enter — Left Upper Entrance — Madam Cecil. 
 (Cecil continues to Celia, taking her hand.) 
 And remember, Celia, 
 You must not fail to stay with us to-night. 
 Madam Cecil (aside). 
 
 I thought so ! I have spied this play before. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 55 
 
 Men seldom waive the wishes of their wives 
 Except to welcome other women's wishes. 
 Kraft and myself will scotch this pretty game. 
 (to Cecil, while Celia talks aside to Freeman, after 
 both have bowed to Cecil.) 
 You had forgotten you had other guests. 
 A storm is coming on. They start to leave ; 
 And we must speed their parting. Shall we go ? 
 (Cecil and Madam C. move toward the Left 
 Second Entrance — Freeman and Celia 
 move toward the bay window at the 
 Right) 
 Freeman (motioning toward the bay window). 
 Let's stay in here, and we'll be out the way. 
 
 Exeunt — Left Second Entrance — Cecil and 
 Madam C. Freeman and Cecil seat 
 themselves in the bay window. 
 Enter — Left Upper — Father and Widow Hvcher. 
 Father Hycher (to Widow Hycher). 
 
 Let him have all her money that you live on ? — 
 Not I ! 
 Widow H. (to Father H). He shall not call on 
 
 Faith again. 
 Father H. You'll say she's out ? 
 Widow H. I will. — And you, you liked 
 
 The stole ? 
 Father H. One could not be embroidered better. 
 
 With just the shade 
 
 Widow H. For your complexion, yes. 
 
.56 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Father H. Your candlesticks too go so well now 
 
 with 
 
 Freeman (to Celia). 
 
 The fiddlesticks ? 
 Father H. (to Widow H.). 
 
 The other ornaments. 
 Widow H. (to Father H.). 
 
 They're always just before you when you pray ? 
 Father H. (to Widow H.). 
 
 And make me think of you. 
 Widow H. (to Father H.). 
 
 And make heaven too ? — 
 No matter what one does ? 
 Father H. (to Widow H.). 
 
 Who could forget 
 Your deeds in rendering the church attractive ? 
 Freeman (to Celia). 
 
 Especially in the front pew with her bonnet, — 
 So sweet ! — a hanging garden ! 
 Father H. (to Widow H.). 
 
 All note this. 
 Freeman (to Celia). 
 
 The very bees can't help but buzz about it. 
 Widow H. (to Father H.). 
 
 And Cecil — will he aid you ? 
 Father H. (to Widow H.). 
 
 Humph ! a cause 
 That's lost is not the one I follow. 
 Exeunt — Left Second — Father Hycher and Widow 
 Hycher. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 57 
 
 Cecil (to Freeman). Cause ? — 
 
 Does he mean Cecil's ? 
 Freeman. Hope so ! Happy Cecil ! — 
 
 'Twill be high noon for him when he can see 
 A form like that one shadowing him no more. 
 Celia. I think it always seems high noon to those 
 Who trample all their shadows underfoot 
 As he does. 
 Enter — Right Upper Entrance — Lowe and Madam 
 Lowe. 
 (The stage becomes gradually darker.) 
 Freeman (pointing toward Right Upper Entrance). 
 Yes, that's true. But what of those 
 Who deem it wise to keep themselves in shade, 
 Held as a shield to ward away the light 
 With every ray of color that might reach them, 
 As if they feared 'twas their worst enemy ? 
 Lowe (to Madam Lowe). 
 
 The air seems weighted with a comimr storm. 
 Freeman (to Celia). 
 
 Their air appears so. Yes. 
 Madam L. (to Lowe). 
 
 Must hurry home. 
 (Thunder in the distance) 
 How near ! We should have been at meeting ! 
 Lowe (to Madam L. 
 
 Yes, 
 But if we had been there, how could one then 
 Have shown those plans ? 
 
58 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Madam L. (to Lowe). 
 
 Of course, we had to come, 
 But this man Cecil's not religious. 
 Lowe {to Madam L.). 
 
 No; 
 You heard how they made light of that new build- 
 ing— 
 And for their own sect too ! 
 Madam L. (to Lowe). 
 
 Yes, I have heard 
 Enough for once. That irreligious music ! 
 Lowe (to Madam L.). 
 
 And noise and dancing ! Well, 'twas fortunate 
 That our refreshments came so early. 
 Madam L. (to Lowe). Yes. 
 
 (Distant thunder?) 
 
 Lowe (to Madam L.). 
 
 There's one good thing : this thunder storm will 
 end it. 
 Exeunt — Left Upper Entrance — Lowe and Madam 
 
 Lowe. 
 Freeman (to Celia). 
 
 I wonder if they really grudge each draft 
 Of those enjoying what is past their taste ? 
 'Tis sad to think it, yet one sometimes must, 
 That there's no conscience goads like conscious 
 
 envy ; 
 None seem so zealous as when they are jealous. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 59 
 
 (Thunder louder than before. Celia and Freeman 
 both rise.) 
 But hear the storm, I think 'tis best you stay 
 In Cecil's study. 
 
 (Freeman points toward Left Second Entrance.) 
 Celia {pointing toward the right). 
 
 We can pass through here. 
 Freeman. I'll go at once, and call two men I 
 know, 
 Detectives — good ones — they will shadow him. 
 Exeunt — Right Front Entrance — Freeman and 
 
 Celia. 
 
 Enter — Left Upper E?itrance — Blaver, Lowe, 
 Miss Primwood and Madam Lowe, and 
 others, all with hats and cloaks, evidently 
 prepared to leave the house. 
 Blaver (to Lowe). 
 
 I used to have some confidence in Cecil. 
 Lowe (to Blaver). 
 
 But now he shows such lack of enterprise ! 
 Blaver. 'Tis clear to me, he'll never aid my plans, 
 
 Xor yours. 
 Enter — Left Upper E?itrance — Madam Cecil, fol- 
 lowed by Jem. 
 Lowe. And wise men, when they fear a fight, 
 
 Will never lend one weapon to a foe. 
 Madam C. (to Miss Primwood). 
 You leave us in a storm. 
 
60 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Blaver (to Madam Cecil). 
 
 It will clear off. 
 Madam C. And when the sun is shining here, you 
 know 
 Where you can find a friend. 
 Blaver [rather significantly, as lie offers his arm to 
 Miss Primwood). 
 
 Yes — one — I do. 
 I thank you for a very pleasant evening. 
 (Shaking hands with Madam C.) 
 Madam C. {shaking hands with Blaver). 
 Good evening. 
 
 (To Jem.) 
 Here, Jem, show them to the gate. 
 Madam C. motions to Jem who moves toward 
 Right Upper Entrance— Miss Primwood, 
 then Lowe, then Madam Lowe, also 
 others, shake hands with Madam C. 
 Miss P. Goodnight. 
 Madam C. Good-night. 
 
 Lowe. Good-night. 
 
 Madam L. Good-night. 
 
 Madam C. Good-night. 
 
 Exeunt — Right Upper Entrance — Blaver with 
 Miss Primwood, Lowe with Madam 
 Lowe and others. 
 Enter — Right Third Entrance — Kraft. 
 Madam C. (to Kraft). 
 
 Have all our guests gone ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 61 
 
 (Thunder and storm increase.) 
 Kraft. No ; for I am here. 
 
 Madam C. You feel at home without the going 
 
 there ? 
 Kraft. And where's your husband ? 
 Madam C. With some guests, perhaps. 
 
 Kraft. Or, say, with Celia. 
 Madam C. What ? — Your scheme 
 
 has failed ? 
 Kraft. Not yet ; my men are here. 
 
 Enter — Right Upper Entrance — Jem. 
 (Thunder and lightning — Kraft points toward Jem.) 
 
 You send for him, 
 I'll send my men for her. 
 
 Exit — Right Third Entrance — Kraft. 
 
 Madam C. {to Jem). 
 
 Jem, find your master. 
 I wish to see him. Tell him 'tis important. 
 Exit — Right Upper Entrance — Jem. 
 (to herself?) 
 Now let him leave her but one little moment, 
 As leave he must, and they will have her seized. 
 And may a pall, as black as tops this night, 
 
 (Thunder and lightning). 
 Come down, and hide her face from him forever. 
 Oh, naught but death, or burial deep as death, 
 Can ever fitly robe a form once wedged 
 Between a man and wife ! — Though what care If- 
 
62 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Kraft hates my husband ; yet is wholly mine ; 
 And so I get my wish. 
 
 {Thunder and lightning.) 
 E?iter — Right Upper Entrance — Cecil. 
 Cecil (to Madam Cecil). What is your wish ? 
 Madam C. And what care you, my husband, for 
 my wish ? 
 Oh, I was but a fool, to wed a fool ! 
 Like goes with like. I now acknowledge it. 
 
 {Thunder and lightning?) 
 You might have been — ah me ! — what might you 
 
 not? 
 Position, wealth, — all waited on your nod. 
 You have dismissed them by your course to-night ; 
 But one hope now remains, and that through 
 Kraft. 
 Enter — Right First E?itrance — in trepidation, Celia. 
 
 {Thunder and lightning.) 
 Celia. Help ! help ! 
 Cecil {to Celia). 
 
 I'm here. What is it ? 
 Celia. Kraft with men ! 
 
 They come to take me. 
 Cecil. That they shall not do. 
 
 Madam C. Wait ! 'Tis her guardian claims her. 
 
 Who are you ? 
 Cecil. A man who shields a woman. 
 Madam C. If she lie ? — 
 
 Cecil. He's free to prove it. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 63 
 
 Madam C. Dare you tell him that ? — 
 
 Him, Kraft, — the man on whom alone depends 
 Your chance now for promotion ? 
 
 {Thunder and lightning.) 
 Celia (to Cecil.) 
 
 Do not harm 
 Yourself. 
 Cecil (to Celia). 
 
 But sacrifice this gentle lamb 
 To wild ambition ? — Never ! — Hide in here ! 
 (Cecil points toward Left Upper Entrance?) 
 Exit — Left Upper Entrance — Celia. 
 Madam C. (to Cecil). 
 
 You do not know — They claim her as a slave. 
 Cecil (to Madam C). I save her as a woman. 
 Madam C. But the law — 
 
 The sentiment — the spirit of the State. — 
 You dare not shield her. 
 
 {Thunder and lightning?) 
 Cecil. Wherefore dare I not ? 
 
 Madam C. No man has ever yet with us been 
 left 
 Not ruined — left to live, who ventured this. 
 Your influence, your position, property, 
 Your life, my home, my hope for you, — all, all 
 Would all be forfeited. 
 
 (Thunder and lightning?) 
 Cecil. Well, let them go. 
 
64 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 When they have stripped me of all things be- 
 sides, 
 I'll have a clean, clear conscience, death and 
 heaven. 
 Madam C. You are a madman. 
 Cecil. Not so mad as you : 
 
 I wait for proof. 
 Madam C. And if they prove their case ? — 
 
 Cecil. They'll wait then till they take her. But 
 they come. 
 
 {Thunder and lightning?) 
 
 Enter — Right Front Entrance — Kraft with two men. 
 
 Kraft {to Cecil). 
 Is Celia here ? 
 
 {advancing toward Left Upper Entrance?) 
 I say, is Celia here ? 
 Cecil {standing in front of Left Upper Entrance — 
 and looking around}. 
 I do not see her here. 
 Kraft. I too have eyes. 
 
 I did not ask you that. She's in this house. 
 Cecil. She was my guest ; if she be still within 
 
 Then she is still my guest. 
 Kraft. I am her guardian. 
 
 Cecil. And so am I, while I remain her host. 
 {Thunder and light?iing?) 
 (Cecil looks at theme7i behind Kraft.) 
 You seem to wish to guard her well, — too well. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 65 
 
 Kraft. I'm more than guardian. She belongs to 
 
 me. 
 Cecil. Well, prove your case. 
 Kraft. You ask for proof from me, — 
 
 A gentleman ? — 
 Cecil. I ask for proof from you. 
 
 Kraft. You hint I am no gentleman ? 
 Cecil. I say 
 
 You are not gentle in your present mood ; 
 And that child is — too gentle far for you. 
 Kraft. What ? — You defy me ? — I shall search for 
 her. 
 
 {Thunder and lightning?) 
 Cecil. Not till you get by me ! 
 
 (Cecil pulls out a pistol. Madam C seizes it.) 
 
 Kraft. And that we shall ! 
 
 (Kraft dashes at Cecil, followed by his nun. 
 
 Pistol Ji?'ed behind scene, but apparently on 
 
 stage. Cecil falls. Terrific thunder 
 
 and lightning?) 
 
 Ejiter — Right Upper Entrance — Freeman with two 
 
 detectives. 
 Freeman. Here ! seize them ! Stop the villains, 
 
 every one ! 
 Exeunt — Left Second E?itrance — Kraft and men, 
 followed by detectives. 
 E?iter — Left Upper Entrance — Celia, and 
 bends over Cecil, excitedly examining into 
 his condition. 
 5 
 
66 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 (Freeman snatches pistol from Madam C, saying to 
 her,) 
 
 Aha, you are the murderer ? you ? eh ? — you ? 
 Madam C. I did not fire it. 
 Freeman {examinmg pistol). 
 
 One ball gone ! Who did ? — 
 
 Confess it, or convict your lover, Kraft. 
 Celia (wriiiging hands over Cecil's prostrate body). 
 
 Oh, he is dead for me ! — The only man 
 
 I ever loved is dead for me, for me ! 
 
 {Thunder and lightning?) 
 Curtain. 
 
CECIL THE SEEK. 67 
 
 ACT SECOND. 
 
 Scene First : A sick chamber. At the Left, between 
 the Front and Second Entrances, is an alcove; in 
 this, visible to the audience, is a bed, beside the bed is 
 a chair and a small table, and on the latter are 
 bottles and glasses. On the bed, Cecil lies insen- 
 sible, with his head to the. audience and his face to- 
 ward the stage, fust behind Cecil, lying also on 
 the bed, but concealed in this scene, is an effigy ex- 
 actly resembling him. Forming the back curtain of 
 the stage, is a wall containing a bell-cord, windows, 
 possibly a door, etc. 
 
 Entrances : by doors at the Right and Left 
 Front and Second, the Left Second Entrance 
 leading apparently to the space behind the 
 bed i?i the alcove. 
 TJie curtain rising discloses a Physician sit- 
 ting in the chair beside the bed, and Celt a 
 just enterifig the room, or stand i?ig near 
 him. 
 Celia {aside). 
 
 How fortunate for Freeman and myself 
 
 That Kraft and Madam Cecil should have fled 
 
68 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 And left to us the man they thought was mur- 
 dered ! 
 Now we can nurse him, as he should be nursed. 
 
 (to the Physician.) 
 How does he seem this morning ? 
 Physician. Very low. 
 
 Celia. You fear he never will recover, then ? 
 Physician (rising from chair, and offering it to 
 Celia). 
 'Tis hard to tell — no other case just like it. 
 One would not think a bullet lodged where this is 
 Enough to insulate the brain entirely, 
 Yet not a nerve will act. He scarcely seems 
 To see, or hear, or even feel one touch him. 
 Celia (looking at Cecil). 
 
 'Tis just like death. 
 Physician. Yes, very much like death. 
 
 Celia. He seems to think, though. 
 Physician. Certainly. He's living. 
 
 Celia. In states like this, what can a person think 
 
 of? 
 Physician. Why, he must dream of what he did, 
 and was, 
 And wished to be, before he reached them. 
 Celia. So ? 
 
 Physician. Of course, there's nothing else for him 
 
 to think of. 
 Celia. I've sometimes thought he knows that I 
 am by. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 69 
 
 Physician {rising and preparing to leave). 
 Perhaps he does. At any sign of it, 
 Attempt to make him conscious of your presence, 
 And keep him so. 'Tis said that things as slight 
 As flickering flames, attracting consciousness 
 At times, if they but set the nerves to thrilling, 
 Wake slumbering senses into life again. 
 Celia. I will. You'll come to-morrow, will you 
 
 not? 
 Physician. Oh, certainly ! Good-day. 
 Celia {accompanying the Physician to the Right 
 Second entrance). 
 
 Good-day. 
 Exit — Right Secon d — P h ys i c i a n . 
 Celia looks back toward Cecil and crosses to alcove). 
 
 Poor man ! 
 Can this be Cecil ? — Cecil had a soul. — 
 And where now has it flown? — I wonder if 
 My voice could ever really call him back ! 
 I'll try it. I will sit here day by day, 
 And take his hand in mine, as I would lead 
 His body, were he in the body still ; 
 And though he may not hear the thing I say, 
 Xor even feel me touch him, who can tell 
 But I may find his spirit in its dreams, 
 And comfort him, and draw him here once more. 
 {She apparently passes around the foot of the bed to its 
 other side.) 
 Exit — Left Second — Celia. 
 
7° 
 
 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Scene Second : The stage is darkened, and the curtain 
 forming the back of the room in Scene First rises, 
 leaving everything on the stage the same as in this 
 scene with exception of that which is back of the 
 Right and Left Second Entrances . At the rear of the 
 stage, is an exte?isive sylvan landscape, trees, rocks, 
 mosses, etc., backed by higher rocks and distant 
 mountain scenery. The leaves are colored as in 
 autumn, and the sky as at simrise. Golden light 
 illumines the stage. Backing, near the center of the 
 stage, slightly elevated and containing seats overlook- 
 ing the stage, is an arbor. Some of the stone or 
 moss-covered steps leading up to this can be used as 
 seats. Around and behind the arbor are other steps 
 leading upward. Entrances, used in this scene: 
 Right and Left Third and Upper ; and Back Center, 
 behind the arbor, and reached by passing upward 
 either through it or around it. 
 
 From the moment that the stage is darkened, 
 and while it is gradually being illumined 
 again, the following is chanted by a choir, 
 either invisible to the audience, or, clothed 
 in white, and arranged at the rear of the 
 
 Oh, who has known the whole of light, 
 
 That knows it day by day, 
 Where suns that make the morning bright, 
 
 At evening, pass away ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 71 
 
 Before the day, beyond the day, 
 
 Above the suns that roll, 
 There was a light, there waits a light 
 
 That never leaves the soul. 
 
 Oh, who has weighed the worth of light, 
 
 That gauged it by the gleam 
 That came within the range of sight 
 
 And thought the rest a dream ? 
 Before that sight, beyond that sight 
 
 And all that mortals deem, 
 There was a light, there waits a light, 
 
 Where things are all they seem. 
 
 Once or twice toward the close of the singing, 
 Cecil sits up in the bed in a bewildered 
 way, passing his hand over his forehead. 
 As the last strains die away, he stands 
 on the floor, leaving an exact effigy of him- 
 self lying on the bed behind him. He now 
 appears clothed in white with knee breeches. 
 As he begins to gaze wondermgly about 
 him, 
 Enter — Left Third Entrance — Cecilia, an 
 idealized form of 'Celia, clothed also in 
 white, Grecian style. Cecil does not 
 see her till after she has spoken. 
 Cecil. Ah, where am I ? 
 Cecilia. With me. 
 
 Cecil {looking at her in astonishment, yet shrinking 
 from her as if i?i awe). 
 
 And who are you ? 
 
72 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecilia. Your friend. 
 Cecil (drawing nearer her). 
 
 My friend ? 
 Cecilia. Do I seem else ? 
 
 Cecil {with pleased bewilderment). 
 
 Nay, nay 
 You seem it all : you seem far more than this ; 
 Yet where — when — was it, that I knew you so ? 
 Cecilia. You knew me so ? — You think you knew 
 
 me, then ? 
 Cecil. Yes, knew you ; and I know you ; yet seem 
 not 
 To know where, when or how I learned of you. 
 (Cecil gazes around, then looking back at the 
 bed that he has left, he sudde?ily starts upon 
 seeing there the effigy of himself?) 
 What ? what ? — Is that my body ? — Am I dead ? 
 Cecilia. You seem to be alive. 
 Cecil. If feeling be 
 
 The test of life, I do live. — And yet that — 
 {returning toward the bed and looking at the effigy?) 
 
 That is my body. 
 Cecilia {meeting him as he turns about, and pointing 
 to his own form). 
 
 Nay, but look you here. — 
 What then is this ? 
 Cecil (placing his hand on his chest). 
 
 This ? — 'Tis so light, so free ! 
 'Tis but an essence framed of flutterings, 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 73 
 
 Ethereal as the trillings of a lark 
 
 Left up in heaven when it has dropt to earth. — 
 
 And you call this a body ? 
 Cecilia. That one there, 
 
 {pointing toward the bed.) 
 
 Holds not your thought ? 
 Cecil. Nay, it has flown to you. 
 
 Cecilia. And wherefore, think you, has it flown to 
 
 me ? 
 Cecil. I do not know. It seems as if my soul 
 
 Had all my life been flying thus to you. 
 
 Why. when you speak, your voice the echo seems 
 
 Of some familiar strain, with which all sounds 
 
 That ever I thought sweet were in accord. 
 
 And when my dimmed eyes dare to face your 
 own, 
 
 Each seems a sky within which is inframed 
 
 A world that holds my lifetime ; and the light 
 
 Beams like a sun there, scattering doubt and 
 gloom. 
 
 (looking around}) 
 
 But what a world you live in ! — Golden skies ? — 
 
 Is it the sunset? 
 Cecilia. Nay ; you see no sun. 
 
 Cecil. Is it the Indian Summer? 
 Cecilia. Nay ; you see 
 
 The air is far too clear. 
 Cecil. Is there a breeze ? — 
 
 I feel it fan me. 
 
74 
 
 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecilia. Yet the leaves move not. 
 
 Cecil. Why, every leaf glows fairer than a flower ! — 
 
 It must be autumn. 
 Cecilia {plucking a leaf, and handing it to him). 
 
 Nay ; these leaves are fresh. 
 Cecil. I think I dream : — all things appear so 
 strange 
 Yet doubt I dream : — they all appear so clear. 
 Cecilia {sitti?ig on o?ie of the lower steps, leading up 
 from the stage to the arbor). 
 Does nothing seem familiar ? 
 Cecil {sitting, i?i a half kneeling position, on a step be- 
 side Cecilia, but lower than the one that she 
 occupies, and gazing up reverentially toward her). 
 
 No — yet, yes. 
 I dimly can recall what now appears 
 A troubled, stormy sea, yet not a sea ; 
 And in the depth that which I call myself 
 Seemed held and heaved as in some diving bell. 
 But evermore in reveries and dreams, 
 But most in dreams when outward sense would 
 
 sleep 
 My soul would be released, and rise and reach 
 Fresh air, in which was breathed what gave fresh 
 
 life ; 
 Then, sinking downward, wake and work again, 
 Till time for rest and fresh refreshment came. 
 But never could my powers at work below 
 Remember aught that blest them when above. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. . 75 
 
 Cecilia. And now you dream that somehow they 
 came here ? 
 
 Cecil. Oh, do not tell me that I now but dream ! — 
 Nay, say 'tis heaven ? — Or is the rest of sleep 
 But absence from the body while we draw 
 Xew drafts of life from that which gave us life ? 
 
 Cecilia. What do you think ? 
 
 Cecil. I do not think at all. 
 
 I only know I would that I were Adam ; 
 And you were Eve, created while I slept. 
 Or is it true that all our souls create 
 The things that they aspire for ? — And are you, — 
 You whom my very spirit seems to clasp 
 And thrill forever at each tingling touch, 
 Are you, indeed, the form of my ideal ? 
 Oh, love, you seem as if at one with God ; 
 And yet I never thought a God could be 
 So dear. 
 
 (kneeling?) 
 I've heard of monks in ecstasy 
 Who saw — or thought they saw — the Virgin. I — 
 I could not credit them. But now, it seems 
 
 Cecilia. You think that I 
 
 Cecil. I know not what you are. 
 
 I only know my soul has sought for you ; 
 And now has found the search was not in vain. 
 Why, and how is it that I know so well — 
 How have you told me — what you are to me ? 
 
 Cecilia. I have not told you this ; and only He 
 
76 CECIL, THE SEER. 
 
 Who formed the spirit knows the how and why. 
 Cecil. Who formed ?— Why, that is God. I 
 thought me dead. 
 
 Yet here, I see not 
 
 (gazing around and upward?) 
 Cecilia. You had hoped, at death, 
 
 To pass to Paradise, and be at rest. 
 Move on : I have detained you. 
 
 {rising, and waving him off with gesture?) 
 Cecil (rising anxiously). 
 
 I move on ? — 
 And you stay here ? — I cannot. There is not 
 The littlest finger of the littlest nerve 
 In all my frame here, that could summon power 
 To move where you moved not. 
 Cecilia. Ah, then your will 
 
 Is mightier than you deemed it ? You can rise 
 But when you wish to rise ? The gates of heaven 
 Need not be closed to keep you out of them ? 
 (seating herself on a step higher than she occupied be- 
 fore?) 
 Cecil (sitting beside, but below her). 
 
 Keep out of them ? — Why, your sweet form alone 
 Has brought me now a million, million times 
 More than I ever dreamed that death could bring 
 me. 
 Cecilia. But where is your religion ? 
 Cecil. All was love. — 
 
 Cecilia. And not the Christ — ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 77 
 
 Cecil. Why, yes — that which he was — 
 
 For which he died, — the spirit in the man, — 
 In me. in yon. — Ah, now it seems as if 
 Each face I loved on earth but imaged yours ! — 
 Why is it, dear one, that you seem to be 
 So fully all things that they all could be? 
 And what love is it ? — what, the halo here 
 That seems to orb you in the sphere of God ? 
 Cecilia. Had you seen more of that, you might 
 
 find out. 
 Cecil. I would I could ! 
 Cecilia {rising, as does also Cecil). 
 
 And shall I help you to it ? 
 Cecil. I knew there was no wish within my soul 
 That would not find an echo in your own. 
 Where shall we go that we may find — ? 
 Cecilia {pointing toward the Rig Jit). You see 
 Those coming ? — Let us watch them first — from 
 here. 
 {They enter the arbor, where, in view of the 
 
 audience, they overlook the stage. 
 Enter — Right — Lowe and Madam Lowe in 
 gray Quaker costumes, resembling in most 
 regards those of Cecil and Cecilia. 
 {Blue-gray light illumines the stage.) 
 Cecil {aside). 
 
 They look like Lowe, the Quaker, and his wife. 
 Lowe (to Madam L.). 
 
 I feel so weary, yet we hoped for rest. 
 
78 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Madam L. (to Lowe). 
 
 Did I not walk with thee, I half might doubt 
 
 The leading of this path. 
 Lowe. I doubt it not, 
 
 When leading thee. — Who ever saw thee decked 
 
 In vain attire ? 
 Madam L. Or thee not grave and gray ? 
 
 Lowe. Or heard thee romp? 
 
 Madam L. Or thee hilarious? 
 
 Lowe. Or found thee once the toy of giddy fancy ? 
 Madam L. Or thee, of disconcerted calculation? 
 Lowe. None ever ! — Yet I fear this path. — I 
 thought 
 
 I heard — and Oh, I dared to listen twice ! — 
 
 I thought I heard strange singing — 
 
 Madam L. Birds? — -I thought 
 
 I saw — and Oh, I dared to look there twice ! — 
 
 I thought I saw a wicked, grinning ape. 
 Lowe. Hush, hush ! Think not of these things. 
 Nay, but think 
 
 Of things that God hath made. — I wonder if 
 {becoming shrewd) 
 
 The holy city be completely built. 
 Madam L. They might give thee a contract. 
 Lowe. Well, they might ! 
 
 And if the saints be not all Friends 
 
 Madam L. Sh — sh — 
 
 Not that ! — so loud ! — I fear me lest 'tis doubt. 
 Lowe. To doubt is charity, where to believe 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 79 
 
 Is to condemn. Who knows but we could thrive 
 Deprived of friends — build churches. 
 Madam L. Say not that. 
 
 We may be taken down yet, where they use them. 
 Lowe. I fear me some may use them here. For 
 look !— 
 {Part of the stage is illuminated with red light.) 
 The colors on the leaves, the very skies 
 Seem sadly gay. 
 Madam L. Oh, do not look at them ! 
 
 They glow to tempt the lusting of the eye. 
 Lowe. Sh. sh ! — What's that ? Loud noise and 
 music too ! 
 (Blaver and Miss Primwood are heard singing.) 
 
 Oh, up and spout, and down and shout, 
 And show the spirit off and out. 
 
 Madam L. Oh, there may be a fiend here ! Let 
 
 us hide. 
 Exeunt — Right Third — Lowe and Madam L. hur- 
 riedly. 
 Enter — Left Upper — Blaver and Miss Prim- 
 wood in blue clothes resembling those of 
 Cecil and Cecilia. Stage is illummed 
 with dark blue light. 
 Cecil (aside). 
 
 They're Blaver and Miss Primwood, I should 
 say. 
 
80 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Blaver. We should have found the place ere 
 this ; or heard 
 
 The blowing of the trumpets, or the shouts 
 
 Miss P. Of all the deacons, yes. 
 
 Blaver. We soon shall reach 
 
 The place " where congregations ne'er break 
 
 "P-"- 
 Oh, I could talk forever ! 
 Miss P. So could I !— 
 
 Yet, — do you know ? — if I were not with you, 
 I half should tremble, lest my feet were near 
 
 The silence of the 
 
 Blaver (in a frightened way). 
 
 Do not speak of that ! 
 Keep talking. — It's too true ! — There's not one 
 
 shout. 
 There's no one got the power here. 
 Miss P. It may be, 
 
 They all have got it. 
 Blaver. What if that were so ? — 
 
 Suppose they had. — Suppose that no one here 
 Could ever find a spirit to reform — 
 Not one to preach to, — how could saints here 
 
 know 
 About one's gifts ? 
 Miss P. (agitated). 
 
 Yes, yes ; but keep on talking. 
 To be with one who talks on, makes one sure 
 The silence is not near. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 8 1 
 
 Blaver. I'll talk. You sin< 
 
 •&• 
 
 Perhaps, at times, to change a tune or text, 
 The congregation pauses ; and may hear, 
 And send the sexton for us. 
 
 Enter — Right Third — stealthily, and dodging behind 
 trees, Lowe and Madam L. 
 
 Miss P. (pointing toward the Right). 
 
 Who are they, 
 So still, so backward, skulking through the trees ? 
 Blaver. So backward and so still ! — They're both 
 
 bad signs. 
 Miss 'P. Though this were Paradise, there might 
 be here 
 Another serpent. 
 Blaver. Or those like him ! — Would 
 
 Be backward too, and not stand up fur aught. 
 Miss P. Would slip away. 
 Blaver. Be still in doing it. 
 
 Miss P. {clinging to Blaver's ami). 
 
 How glad I am I learned to be a woman, 
 
 And cling to man ! Ah, were I here alone 
 
 Blaver. Those two seem slipping just like 
 drunken sneaks 
 Evading prohibition laws. — I have it : 
 Heaven's recognized my mission. How they'll 
 
 quail 
 When I exhort them ! But what's more religious 
 Than ministering discomfort ? Rile folks up, 
 6 
 
82 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Their dregs appear. They're conscious in their 
 
 depths. 
 You watch them now. — Hoho ! hoho ! hoho ! 
 (Blaver is gesturing toward the Right Third En- 
 tranced) 
 Enter — Right Upper Entrance — Father Hy- 
 cher, and Widow Hycher, in red clothes 
 resembling those of Cecil and Cecilia 
 save that the Father has a clerical ap- 
 pearance. The stage is suddenly illumined 
 with red light. 
 Father H. {to Blaver). 
 
 Hold, preaching fiend ! How dare you block my 
 
 path 
 And raise that impious and schismatic shout ? 
 Down on your knees. 
 (then to Lowe and Madam Lowe, who appear at the 
 Right). 
 Down on your knees. 
 Madam Lowe. Vain souls, 
 
 Trained on the earth to influence souls through 
 
 force, 
 In realms where spirits have not forms that force 
 Can harm, must find their occupation gone. 
 Exeimt — Right Third — Lowe and Madam Lowe. 
 Cecil (aside, as he looks at the two who have just 
 arrived). 
 Father and Widow Hycher, or their doubles ! — 
 The Quaker lady's not forgot her training. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 8 
 
 Blaver (to Miss Prim wood, as his eye follows 
 
 Madam Lowe). 
 Expected to surprise her ! — Failed ! — She knows 
 The devil's never naked — wears a mask — 
 And robes. 
 Miss P. (to Blaver, anxiously). 
 
 But should he 
 
 Blaver (to Miss P.). 
 
 He said " preaching fiend. ' ; 
 The one that rails at preaching, proves he needs it. 
 How red he is ! — He drinks — fire-water, eh ? 
 Miss P. I fear so ; yes. 
 Widow H. (to Blaver). 
 
 He bade you kneel. 
 Blaver (to Widow H.). I'm not 
 
 His suitor — Xo ; nor yours. You two don't suit 
 me. 
 Widow H. (advancing in a menacing ivay, and point- 
 ing toward the Right, but incidentally also to- 
 ward Father H.). 
 
 'Tis time you go to 
 
 Blaver. You go there yourself. 
 
 Oh, 'twill be missionary work for you ! 
 I'll not be tempted that way, then. 
 Miss P. (to Widow H., and pointing toward Blaver). 
 
 Not he !— 
 He's not for women's rights ! 
 Blaver (to Miss P.'s querying). 
 
 Who is, that's here ? 
 
84 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Miss P. (to Blaver, pointing toward Father H. and 
 Widow H.). 
 Those women. 
 Blaver {pointing to Father H.). 
 He's no woman. 
 Miss P. Then is he 
 
 For men's rights ? 
 Blaver {laughingly) Humph ! Frocks uniform his 
 calling ; 
 His calling represents both men and women ; 
 So he — he tries to take from each their best ; 
 And thinks the woman's best is in her gown ! — 
 But isn't it somewhat strange so many forms 
 We meet in Paradise should seem to garb 
 Our worst aversions ? 
 Miss P. {with solicitude). Very ! — Yet do not 
 
 Leave off exhorting them ! 
 Blaver {to Father and Wibow H.). 
 
 Hoho ! hoho ! 
 Widow H. (to Father H.). 
 
 1 feel as if some storm were near, and yet 
 Were blowing music for me. 
 Father H. (to Widow H.). 
 
 Heard in heaven, 
 Storms blowing from the mouth of hell make 
 music. 
 Miss P. (to Blaver, looking toward Widow H.) 
 There, there, I say. That woman wants her 
 rights. 
 
CECIL THE SEEK. 85 
 
 Blaver {to Miss P.). 
 
 She'll get them soon enough just where she is. 
 You know, I think I've talked to him before. 
 There were those never influenced — always 
 
 thought 
 It was the devil. — Now, you see, we've proved it. 
 
 Father H. (to Blaver to whom he advances). 
 Tell me, foul, shouting fiend ; for surely thou 
 Hast felt his vengeance on thy damne'd soul, 
 Where dwelleth the most high Inquisitor? 
 
 Blaver (to Father H.). 
 
 I'm no inquisitor myself; so never 
 
 Have made inquiry. Let the like seek like. 
 
 Miss P. (to Blaver). 
 
 His thunder sounds like music which one hears, 
 Yet need not, if he wish not. 
 
 (Father H. talks aside to Widow H.) 
 
 Blaver (to Miss P.). 'Tis his color — 
 The red of it — that flags the foe for me. 
 A chance, at last, to show what one can do ! 
 And, oh, I tell you, 'twould be just like nature 
 To fling this chip, when clearing out its workshop, 
 Down toward the fire,— that we might exercise 
 Our gifts upon it, blow and blow and blow, 
 
 (Father and Widow Hycher disappear behind a 
 rock or tree at the Right) . 
 And either set the spark to burning more, 
 Or put it out. So now's our time — Hoho ! 
 Hoho ! hoho ! hoho ! — 
 
86 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 {noticing that the Hychers have disappeared). 
 
 Why, where 've they gone ? — 
 Skulked off ? — We might have known they would. 
 
 We'll follow. 
 You sing, and I will shout. 
 
 {Moves toward Right). 
 Miss P. Not that way, no ! 
 
 (Both turn to the Left). 
 Blaver and Miss P. (together). 
 
 Hoho ! hoho ! hoho ! hoho ! 
 
 We've all things here you need to know. 
 
 Exeunt — Left — Blaver and Miss Primwood. 
 {Reappear at the Right, Father Hycher and Widow 
 
 Hycher). 
 Widow H. If I were not with you, I half might 
 fear 
 That we had wholly missed the narrow path, 
 But with my shepherd near me, all is well. 
 Father H. 'Tis odd, indeed, that I've not found a 
 flock, 
 Nor sheepfold, not a single hedge, forsooth, 
 In which to drive a single soul. 
 Widow H. Like that — 
 
 Where all were kept so safe — no schism there ! — 
 The walls were always echoing back the words 
 You spoke ; and no one else was let to speak. 
 Father H. All heard what they believed. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 87 
 
 Widow II. Could they do else 
 
 Than to believe what they were always hearing ? — 
 
 Dear words, how we must thank them for our 
 
 faith ! 
 
 Father H. Without our words men might be 
 
 left to nature. 
 Widow H. Just think of that ! — And where would 
 
 nature bear them ? 
 Father H. Off from the church, I fear. 
 Widow H. Yes, yes, and off — 
 
 Off from the priest. 
 Father H. From God, as well. 
 
 Widow H. Of course. 
 
 For He is so unnatural. 
 Father H. You mean 
 
 Is supernatural. 
 Widow H. Mysterious ! — 
 
 Creates our reason, yet condemns its use. 
 I never used my reason — did not dare. 
 Father H. You were a model woman, always, 
 
 yes. 
 Widow H. And you a model man — no monk with 
 me ; 
 Yet always showed the world a pious face. 
 Father H. I did. They lied who said I did not 
 care 
 For truth. How oft, for it, I held my tongue ! 
 Widow H. And so held on to it. 
 Father H. And kept it sacred. 
 
88 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Widow H. And easy too for us, who need not 
 find it. 
 For my part, I would rather have no truth 
 Than risk damnation, planning how to use it. 
 How kind the priest to do our thinking for us, 
 And make us, through not thinking, think just 
 right ! 
 Father H. But you did thinking — thought of me. 
 Widow H. Of course, 
 
 When you thought for me. — Is that what you 
 
 wished ? 
 And now, that we are here, you'll think for me ? 
 Father H. Could I do else ? 
 
 Widow H. And when we reach the gates, 
 
 You'll promise not to leave me ; for, you know, 
 I've never learned the language of the spirit ; 
 And might not know it, were you not beside me. 
 
 Father H. I — yes — but if 
 
 Widow H. There was no if "in what 
 
 You used to say. 
 Exeunt — Left — Father Hycher and Widow Hy- 
 cher. 
 {The red light changes to golden, and Cecil 
 and Cecilia come out from the arbor, 
 and, while speaking, gradually descend to 
 the stage.) 
 Cecil. They did not see us. 
 
 Cecilia. No 
 
 For they did not look up. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. S9 
 
 Cecil. I know, but why ? — 
 
 Where all things round them were so new and 
 strange ? 
 Cecilia. The spirit is the slave of its desire. 
 They did not care to look above themselves. 
 Cecil. Pray tell me who they were. They seemed 
 so near, 
 And yet so many million miles away. 
 They looked like people, too, whom once I 
 
 knew ; 
 Yet moved like cuckoos jointed on a clock, 
 Accenting nothing they have thought themselves, 
 Or have the force to make another think of. 
 Cecilia. They seemed to be lost souls. 
 Cecil {startled). 
 
 Lost souls, you say ? 
 Cecilia. Did you not note them — how they wan- 
 dered on ; 
 Xor knew their destination ? 
 Cecil. Heaven forbid ! 
 
 Cecilia. Why pray for this ? — You think that force 
 rules here, — 
 That spirits are not free to wander where 
 Their own ideals bear them ? 
 Cecil. Those they formed 
 
 On earth, you mean ? 
 Cecilia. Where else could they be formed ? 
 
 Cecil. And whither, think you, will ideals bear 
 Those whom we just have seen ? 
 
9 o CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecilia. Where would you deem 
 
 These could be realized — save on the earth ? 
 
 Cecil. But some of them seemed seeking for their 
 Christ. 
 
 Cecilia. I fear those seeking only for their Christ 
 May sometimes fail to find the Christ of God. 
 
 Cecil. But will they never find Him ? 
 
 Cecilia. Do you think 
 
 That those in search but for a false ideal, 
 Could recognize Him, even should they find 
 Him? 
 
 Cecil. Is not the Christ of God in all the 
 churches ? 
 
 Cecilia. Is He not preached through men ? 
 
 Cecil. And are not men 
 
 Controlled ? — inspired ? 
 
 Cecilia. And, if so, from what source ? 
 
 Are there no spirits in the line between 
 Divinity and man ? — And what of man, — 
 This urn of earth in which the true seed falls ? — 
 There was an Arab in Mohammed's time ; 
 In Joan of Arc's, there was a maid of France. 
 
 Cecil. But would you grant their claim ? 
 
 Cecilia. Some keen as you 
 
 Believed it true. And is it charity 
 To deem them dupes ? 
 
 Cecil. But one must deem them this, 
 
 Or call upon their prophets. 
 
 Cecilia. Think you so ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 91 
 
 You've heard of gypsies telling what came true. 
 Did this truth prove them seers of highest truth ? 
 Believe not every spirit ; prove 
 
 Cecil. But how? 
 
 Cecilia. How but by what is said, and character 
 Of him who says it ? To the true soul, truth 
 Appeals to taste, as beauty to the sense ; 
 Its test is quality. The truth of Christ 
 Is proved by traits of Christ. The like comes 
 
 from like. 
 Their inspiration is the nearest God 
 Whose lives and loves are nearest Him. 
 
 Cecil. May those 
 
 Not near Him be inspired too ? 
 
 Cecilia. Why may not 
 
 Some lower phase of spirit-power, earth-trained 
 To live for matter only, still intent 
 To live for matter, take abode in them, 
 And work its will upon their willing souls ? 
 What difference whether men may rise on earth 
 Impelled through emulation to enforce 
 Their wills on others ; or, through appetite 
 May fall, and yield control of reason's reins 
 To that which drives them on to lust and crime ? — 
 A spirit that inspires through selfishness 
 To mean success or failure, equally 
 May vex as by a devil made incarnate 
 Oneself and all about him. 
 
 Cecil. Poor weak man 1 
 
92 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Enter — Left — Freeman and Faith, dressed like Cecil 
 
 and Cecilia. 
 Cecilia. Weak always — save when conscious of 
 
 his need. 
 Freeman (advancing, speaking to the two, and point- 
 ing toward the Right Rear). 
 Does this path lead us upward ? 
 Cecilia. Yes, it does. 
 
 Freeman (looking at Cecil, and speaking to him). 
 Why, why, friend, is this you ? 
 (to Cecilia.) 
 
 And Celia too ? — 
 Cecilia. You'll find us friends, at least, whoe'er 
 
 we be. 
 (Cecil and Cecilia shake hands with Freeman and 
 
 Faith.) 
 Cecil (to Freeman). 
 
 And Freeman, you're with Faith ? — I join your joy. 
 Why, it fulfills my dream for you. 
 Freeman. And mine ! 
 
 (to Faith, and gesturing toward their surroundings^) 
 How much, with each new step, th' horizon widens. 
 Faith. How could one bide below ! 
 Freeman (thoughtfully, and pointi?tg toward the Left). 
 
 Ask Father Hycher. 
 Faith. And he was such a good and learned man ! 
 Freeman. Less good than learned, darling. Your 
 pure soul 
 Breathed such an atmosphere about itself 
 
CECIL THE SEEK. 93 
 
 Your very presence could impart an air 
 
 Of sacredness to all brought near to you. 
 Faith. Well, now the father interests me not ; 
 
 Nor she that held the place of mother to me. 
 Freeman [pointing upward}. 
 
 Those interest us now who call us upward. 
 Faith (to Cecilia, while Freeman turns to Cecil). 
 
 'Tis wondrous how much wiser and more wide 
 
 His views appear to be here than the Father's — 
 
 Who was so learned ! 
 Cecilia. Wondrous, does it seem ? 
 
 Why so ? — Though spirit-life be lived in thought, 
 
 Where thought pervades the atmosphere like 
 air, 
 
 What can its measure be, for any mind, 
 
 Save that mind's receptivity ? If so, 
 . When freed from bounds conditioning human 
 thought, 
 
 'Tis not a filled. mind but an open mind, 
 
 Where waits not bigotry but charity, 
 
 Although with little learning, that first thrills 
 
 To tides that flow from infinite resources. 
 Freeman (who has turned to listen to the latter 
 part op what she has been saying). 
 
 Is this a revelation ? 
 Cecilia. 'Tis to those 
 
 Who heed the truth behind the words I use ; 
 
 And yet to those who heed this truth themselves 
 
 I do not need to sav 'tis revelation. 
 
94 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Freeman. We'll move on then, and test it for 
 ourselves. 
 Farewell, kind friends, until we meet above. 
 (Freeman and Faith shake hands with Cecil and 
 
 Cecilia). 
 Cecilia. Farewell. 
 Cecil. Farewell. 
 
 (Freeman and Ykyiyl pass upward through, or around 
 the arbor, till, finally they disappear?) 
 Exeunt — Back Ce?iter — Freeman and Faith. 
 Cecil (looking at them as they ascend). 
 Oh, happy, blessed pair ! 
 
 (The following is then chanted by the choir, 
 either iiivisible, or visible at the rear of the 
 stage. During the singi/zg, Cecilia and 
 Cecil gradually ascend to the arbor where 
 both sit. 
 
 Two springs of life, — in air and earth ; 
 
 Two tides, — in soul and sod; 
 Two natures, — wrought of breath and birth ; 
 
 Two aims, — in cloud and clod ; — 
 Oh, where were worlds, or where were worth 
 
 Without the two, and God ? 
 
 Two movements in the heaving breast, 
 
 Two, in the beating heart ; 
 Two, in the swaying soldier's crest; 
 
 Two, in the strokes of art ; — 
 Oh where in aught of mortal quest, 
 
 Are e'er the two apart ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 95 
 
 Two times of day, — in gloom and glow ; 
 
 Two realms — of dream and deed ; 
 Two seasons — bringing sod and snow ; 
 
 Two states — of fleshed and freed ; — 
 Oh where is it that life would go, 
 
 But through the two they lead ? 
 
 Two frames that meet, — the strong, the fair, 
 
 True love in both begun ; 
 Two souls that form a single pair ; 
 
 Two courses both have run ; — 
 Oh where is life in earth or air, 
 
 And not with these at one ? 
 
 Cecil {pointing in the direction taken by Freeman 
 cuid Faith). 
 
 And now they rest ? 
 Cecilia. Why not ? What now remains 
 
 Of an ideal to bear them back to earth ? — 
 
 Or what to learn from mortals ? 
 Cecil. Learn from mortals ? 
 
 Can mortals aid immortals ? 
 Cecilia. Life is one. 
 
 The day's toil gives one sweeter dreams at night ; 
 
 And sweeter dreams more strength for daily toil. 
 
 If thought may pass from sphere to sphere, why 
 not 
 
 The benefit of thought ? 
 Cecil. ^Vhy, this were strange ! 
 
 Cecilia. If strangeness were a test of what is false, 
 
 Few things would be believed that were not true. 
 
9 6 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. But high and heavenly spirits helped by 
 
 human ? 
 Cecilia. Why should not all in heaven or earth be 
 helped 
 By all with whom in spirit they are one ? 
 Were you on earth, the while your soul aspired, 
 Could mine not move up with you ? What you 
 
 learned, 
 Could it not ever be a part of me ? 
 Cecil. Why, this is that for which I so have 
 longed* ! 
 And once with one I thought that I had found it. 
 Ah, can it be the halo crowning her, 
 Was your sweet face behind the face I saw ? — 
 Yet — were it right to turn from her to you ? 
 Cecilia. All ties are right that make true life more 
 bright. 
 Think you that she had not her own ideal ? 
 
 {gesturing toward the Right?) 
 And were her soul but free to pass to it, 
 Do you imagine she would pass to you ? 
 Cecil {looking toward the Right). 
 
 My wife with Kraft ? — How can it be ? — and 
 
 yet 
 
 {The stage is suddenly illumined with brown light?) 
 
 Enter — Left — Right — Kraft and Madam 
 Cecil, dressed i?i dark brown clothes, 
 shaped like those of Cecil and Celia. 
 
CECIL THE SEEK. 
 
 97 
 
 Madam Cecil {to Kraft). It matters not what we 
 
 have done. Have faith. 
 Kraft {to Madam Cecil with suppressed fear). 
 But should I meet my wife whose will I broke, 
 
 Whose slaves were not set free 
 
 Madam C. Have faith, have faith ! 
 
 Kraft. Or should we two meet Cecil 
 
 Madam C. (in abject fear). 
 
 Oh, oh, oh, 
 Speak not of that ! 'Tis paid, I say. Have 
 faith. 
 Kraft (doubtingly). 
 
 Yet some would talk of proving faith by works. 
 Madam C. I joined the church when I was sweet 
 sixteen, 
 And never danced, except away from home. 
 Kraft. And I, when I was twenty ; and I never 
 
 Let others see me backslide. 
 Madam C. And I always 
 
 Appeared to take an interest in the meetings. 
 Kraft. And I would often head subscription 
 lists 
 With more than one could pay, when they were 
 due. 
 Madam C. Yes, we were both consistent and dis- 
 creet. 
 
 Kraft. But yet, should we meet Cecil 
 
 Madam C. {shudderi?ig). 
 
 Oh, oh, oh, 
 7 
 
98 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Not him ! not him ! 
 
 {recovering herself suddenly?) 
 
 He never can come here. 
 Kraft {eagerly). 
 
 You think so — eh ? — Why not ? 
 Madam C. {sententious ly). 
 
 He lost his faith. 
 Kraft (with cringing hope). 
 
 Is that so ? — Yes ? — but how ? 
 Madam C. Why, just because 
 
 Our pastor said, one time, of slavery, 
 
 The institution was divine, God's own, 
 
 He never after set foot in that church. 
 Kraft {with self-congratulatory delight). 
 
 Oh, is that so ! 
 Madam C. Besides, he sometimes owned 
 
 To other 
 
 Kraft. Other what ? 
 
 Madam C. Misgivings. 
 
 Kraft {with assumed horror). 
 
 Not 
 
 Believe in things men preached ? 
 Madam C. {sanctimoniously). 
 
 He doubted them. 
 Kraft {decisively). 
 
 Then he did not have faith. 
 Madam C. No ; he did not. 
 
 Kraft. I learned the catechism in my youth ; 
 
 And, when men asked me, always said 'twas true. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 99 
 
 Madam C. Thank God for that! He was not 
 
 trained as you were. 
 Kraft. You know I would not let an ignorant 
 man, 
 A slave or poor white, meet me in my parlor. 
 Madam C. Of course not ! 
 
 Kraft. How can one who's ignorant 
 
 About the doctrines — doubts them, — how can he 
 Expect that God will welcome him ? 
 Madam C. Just so ! 
 
 We never have a God we understand 
 Until we learn to judge Him by ourselves. 
 
 (Cecilia, beckoning to Cecil who follows her, 
 comes from the arbor, and moves toward 
 Kraft and Madam C, who, being at the 
 front of the stage facing the audience, do 
 not see them?) 
 Kraft {in self-congratulatory way). 
 
 Your husband then had really lost his faith ? 
 I wonder if my wife had not lost hers. 
 Madam C. Did she not free her slaves ? — Our 
 pastor said 
 The institution was divine. 
 Kraft (deliberatingly). 
 
 Yes, yes. 
 Madam C. She did not think it so. 
 Kraft. Xo, she did not. 
 
 But I, I did, you see. I broke her will. 
 Madam C. Precisely ! 
 
ioo CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Kraft. Yes. 
 
 Madam C. And saved her. — 
 
 Kraft. What ? — Oh, yes ! — 
 
 Saved her from the results 
 
 Cecilia (to Kraft and Madam C, as she points to 
 Cecil). 
 
 What sophistry 
 
 Is this ? 
 Madam C. (falling on her knees before Cecil, in 
 abject fear). 
 
 Oh, Master, did I not have faith ? 
 Kraft (also falling on his knees before Cecil). 
 
 Did I not often say "Good Lord " in prayer ? 
 Madam C. Did I not do my best to show myself 
 
 In church? 
 Kraft. Did I not make professions there ? 
 
 Madam C. Did I not bear my cross ? — 
 Kraft. A diamond cross 
 
 I gave her ? — 
 Madam C I embroidered one. I showed 
 
 My faith by works. 
 Kraft. I, in my business, — 
 
 Oh, how my slaves would work at those church 
 fairs ! 
 Cecil (to Cecilia). 
 
 Are they insane ? 
 Cecilia. In part. 
 
 Cecil. Heard you the name 
 
 They called us ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 101 
 
 Cecilia. His who said that " Inasmuch 
 
 As ye have done it to the least of these, 
 
 My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." 
 Madam C. Oh, Master, wherefore are we here? 
 Cecil (to Cecilia). 
 
 Where do 
 
 They think themselves ? 
 Cecilia. Where false and hellish moods 
 
 Create a false and hellish world to live in. 
 Cecil (to Kraft and Madam C). 
 
 What seems the trouble ? What is it you fear ? 
 Kraft. Oh, Master ! 
 Madam C. Master ! 
 
 Cecil. . Why do you say that ? 
 
 Madam C. You are so holy, and we are so base. 
 Kraft. Oh, wherefore did I kill you ? 
 Madam C. Wherefore, oh, 
 
 Oh, wherefore did I load you with abuse ? — 
 
 I did not know you then. 
 Cecil. Nor know me now. 
 
 Am I your master ? 
 Kraft. It was you we harmed. 
 
 Cecil. What would you that 1 do for you ? 
 Madam C. Oh let 
 
 Us pay it back. 
 Kraft. Yes, let us pay it back. 
 
 Cecilia. Pay what back? Said you not just now, 
 " Tis paid. 
 
102 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Have faith." Your faith means faith that God 
 forgives. 
 
 If he forgive you, why not feel forgiven ? 
 Madam C. You mock us. 
 Kraft. Mock us. 
 
 Cecil (to Cecilia). 
 
 Tell me what to say. 
 
 And is there nothing one can do for them 
 
 To free them from their misery ? 
 Cecilia. They say 
 
 There is, and truly. Though the Lord forgive, 
 
 In spirit how can spirits feel forgiven 
 
 Ere they undo the wrong their lives have wrought ? 
 
 Ere this had been undone, not even laws 
 
 Of Moses let the trespasser receive 
 
 The benefit of sacrifice ; and how 
 
 Could heavenly joys crown even perfect love 
 
 Save as it served the soul it once had harmed ? 
 Cecil (to Madam C. and Kraft). 
 
 What is it, then, that you would do for me ? 
 Kraft. What you had done, had we not stayed 
 
 your work. 
 Cecil (to Cecilia). 
 
 What ? — Is it possible ? — my plans, my hopes 
 
 Can be fulfilled yet ? and fulfilled through these ? — 
 (to Kraft and Madam C.) 
 
 Well, it may be so. You may serve your time. 
 Madam C. Ah, now I know, indeed, that Heaven 
 is true ! 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 10- 
 
 Kraft. And now I know, indeed, the Lord forgives ! 
 Cecilia. But prove your faith by your fidelity. 
 
 (Cecilia points toward the Right Third En- 
 trance. As she docs so, Enter — Right 
 Upper Entrance — Jem and I\ I illy. Their 
 dresses are of a grayer shade, but other- 
 wise they resemble those of Cecil and Ce- 
 cilia. As Kraft and Madam C. turn 
 toward the Right Third Entrance, they 
 see Jem and Milly. Both start back 
 affrighted?) 
 Madam C. See those grim messengers of torture 
 
 coming! 
 Cecil (to Cecilia). 
 
 Why, those are Jem and Milly, our old slaves ! 
 She tried to thwart me, when I set them free. 
 Cecilia. She thinks them fiends. 
 Cecil. How blind ! Their dusky hues 
 
 To me seem fair as shadows cast before 
 The love of coming angels. 
 
 (Cecilia and Cecil, at her apparent bidding, 
 
 scat themselves again on some of the steps 
 
 leading up to the arbor, and from there 
 
 listen to the following?) 
 
 Madam C. (to Jem and Milly, kneeling before them). 
 
 Spare my soul ! 
 Jem. A little thing to spare ! — I 'spects I will. 
 Madam C. You will not drive me off to torment 
 then ? 
 
104 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Jem. Come, come, ole missus, you's mixed up on 
 dis. 
 De debil's not so black as he am painted. 
 He'm white, — a missus too ! When you gets dah, 
 
 {pointing down.) 
 Jes' take one look in dat ah lake. You'll see 'im. 
 Madam C. Oh, oh, then you have seen him ? 
 Jem. Rather reckon ! 
 
 'Cause I's been down below, — a slave, you sees. 
 But now, I's free. 
 Madam C. And I must be your slave ? 
 
 Jem. No ; we's not mean enough to own no slaves, 
 
 (Gesturifig toward Milly.) 
 Madam C. But you'll not drive us to the darkness ? 
 Jem. No. 
 
 We's come away from dah, or 'spected so 
 
 Till we met 
 
 (Jem looks at her sharply?) 
 Madam C. Who ? Oh, take me not 
 
 Jem. For him ? — 
 
 No, I will not. You's kneelin'. 
 Madam C. I will serve 
 
 For all my life 
 
 Jem. De debil ? — better not ! 
 
 (Jem and Milly tur?i to leave at Right Third 
 
 Entrance?) 
 Madam C. I must pay back the service forced 
 from you. 
 
 You will not, cannot, must not cast me off. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 105 
 
 Jem {turning around toward her). 
 
 Dem folks dat's free prefer to choose deir help. 
 Exeunt — Right Third Entrance — Jem and MlLLY, 
 
 hurriedly. 
 Madam C. (to Kraft who seems to desire to linger). 
 Oh, we must overtake them ! 
 
 (She pulls Kraft after her.) 
 Exeunt — Right Third Entrance — Madam C. and 
 
 Kraft. 
 (As they leave, the stage is again illumined with golden 
 
 light) 
 Cecilia (looking after them). 
 
 Who can tell 
 What ages it may take to overtake 
 The wrong one's own wrong lashes into flight ! 
 Cecil. Where are they going ? 
 Cecilia. Earthward, so it seems. 
 
 Cecil. And will she serve her slaves ? 
 Cecilia. Why should she not ? 
 
 Why should not those who were the most op- 
 pressed 
 Have most to serve them where the soul is 
 
 served ? 
 All things inverted and turned inside out, 
 The last in station may become the first, 
 The lowly lordlike and the high the low, 
 The crown'd the chain'd, the crucified the crown'd. 
 Cecil. But how and where can spirits right their 
 wron&r? 
 
106 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecilia. Wherever spirit influences spirit. 
 
 Cecil. Ah, then, through others' lives they work 
 their work ? 
 
 Cecilia. Perchance they may ; perchance they 
 may do more. 
 
 Cecil. Do more ? — What mean you ? — live again 
 on earth ? — 
 Nay, if they shall, they have lived ; yet who ever 
 Met mortal yet whose memory could recall 
 A former state ? 
 
 Cecilia. He might recall a state 
 
 Without its circumstance. To know, bespeaks 
 Experience. To be born with intuitions 
 And insight, is to know. To sun new growth, 
 Why should not all be given an equal chance 
 Unshadow'd by dark memories of the past ? 
 
 Cecil. But if the past were bright ? 
 
 Cecilia. If wholly so, 
 
 Would one need progress ? or could he be cursed 
 With deeper woe than thought that could recall, 
 Enslaved in flesh, a former liberty ? 
 Why tempt to suicide, that, breaking through 
 The lines determining development, 
 May plunge the essence down to deeper depths 
 There planted till new growth take root anew ? 
 
 Cecil. Must all new growth be planted in the 
 earth ? 
 
 Cecilia. Is any germ that grows not planted 
 there ? 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 10; 
 
 Cecil. What trains it then ? 
 
 Cecilia. Tis said that where it falls, 
 
 In age, clime, country, family, fleshly form, 
 The mighty wheels of matter — earth and moon, 
 And sun and planets, all the unseen stars 
 Of all the universe that round it roll — 
 With one unending whirl grind out its fate ; 
 Yet only earthly fate. Tossed to and fro, 
 And torn by care and toil and pain and loss, 
 The spirit knows in spirit it is free ; 
 And, true to its high nature, may pass through 
 The terror of the ordeal with all 
 The finer flour of nature's grain preserved. 
 
 Celia. So though careers are fated, souls are free ? 
 
 Cecil. The consciousness of freedom comes from 
 force 
 Which is of heaven ; the consciousness of fate 
 From that which is of earth ; and both are true ; 
 Or that which makes all feel them both is false. 
 
 Cecil. But if some spirits thus return to earth, 
 Why not all spirits ? 
 
 Cecilia. Who has traced for you 
 
 The history of spirits ? If they came 
 From God, as matter came, why came they not 
 With matter? 
 
 Cecil. What ? — Through beasts and birds, you 
 
 mean ? 
 
 Cecilia. Why not ? — Why should not these have 
 endless life ? 
 
108 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Why, if they have it, should their course be 
 
 checked 
 Ere they attain the highest ? — and, if not, 
 Why should their essence not move up through 
 man ? 
 
 Cecil. Is man the son of beasts ? 
 
 Cecilia. In flesh why not ? — 
 
 But may be born of flesh and of the Spirit. 
 Devoid of spirit, all the body's nerves 
 Are lifeless as the wires, when rent apart, 
 Which once were thrilling with electric force. 
 But ah ! that force, though flown to air, comes 
 
 back 
 To give new life wherever new forms fit it. 
 So, while the whole creation of the flesh, 
 In groans and travails of successive births, 
 Prepares each new formation for its need, 
 Why should not psychic force, the breath of Him 
 In whom all live and move and have their being, 
 With rhythm mightier than the pulse of lungs, 
 Or day and night, or autumn and the spring, 
 Pass up through all the lower ranks of life, 
 Through birth and on through death, from air to 
 
 breath, 
 From breath to air, till, last, it reaches man ; 
 And, taught the lesson there of human hands 
 Which give a mastery over matter, make 
 A fellow worker in creation's work, 
 And of the human voice which, framing words 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 109 
 
 To hold each new conception in control, 
 
 Imparts a mastery over mind, and makes 
 
 A fellow-thinker in creation's thought, — 
 
 Why should not this force, moulded by the hand 
 
 And head, attain in man its final end, 
 
 And dowered with will and reason, freed at death 
 
 From its material framework, hold its mould, 
 
 And reach the last result of all that is, 
 
 Where that which served the serpent is the son, — 
 
 A spirit in the image of the Father ? 
 
 Cecil. These words recall an ancient eastern 
 dream ; 
 And, in one's waking hours, can it be true ? 
 
 Cecilia. Think you a true soul ever served a 
 thought 
 Xot souled in truth, whatever were its form ? 
 
 Cecil. But what then of the Christ? 
 
 Cecilia. Did He not say 
 
 He lived in spirit ere He lived on earth ? — 
 
 Cecil. He said He came for others. 
 
 Cecilia. Do you think 
 
 A spirit such as His would need to come 
 For His own gooa ? 
 
 Cecil. And yet His sacrifice? — 
 
 Cecilia. He sacrificed the spirit-life for life 
 On earth, and life on earth for spirit-life. 
 
 Cecil. And but fulfilled a common role ? 
 
 Cecilia. Not common, 
 
 Did He fulfill our spirit's best ideal ; 
 
no CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 For spirits live in thought. How can they know 
 Of any God beyond their thought of Him ? 
 
 Cecil. But if they know His Son ? 
 
 Cecilia. They know, at best, 
 
 A " Son of Man," as well as " Son of Godw- 
 in spirit one with Him, but not in frame. 
 
 Cecil. And yet a " Saviour " — 
 
 Cecilia. What inspires, but spirit ? — 
 
 Or saves, but inspiration ? He — enough — 
 All must move upward would they find the Christ. 
 {Rismg and pointing upward?) 
 
 Cecil (rising). 
 
 But ought they not to work for others too ? 
 
 Cecilia. In spirit those work most for truth, who 
 most 
 Are true ; for all are led, yet all are leaders. 
 Thus does the line of being bridge the gulf 
 Between the world of worm and fire, — the hell 
 Forever following life not saved on earth, — 
 And that eternal rest where souls, made free 
 From longer craving a material frame 
 Through which to signal their vain selfhood, lose 
 Their lower life to find a higher life, 
 Where now their spirits are at one with that 
 Whose love creates but that it may bestow ; 
 And, even as the Christ is in the Father, 
 So, too, become joint heirs with Him of all things. 
 
 (Cecilia and Cecil move upward, and finally dis- 
 appear?) 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 1 1 1 
 
 Exeunt — Back Center — Cecilia and Cecil. 
 /// the meantime, the following is chanted 
 by a choir, either invisible or visible at 
 the rear of the stage. 
 
 In the world of care and sorrow 
 
 Cloud and darkness shroud the way, 
 But in heaven there waits a morrow 
 
 Where the night will yield to day, 
 Where the spirit-light in rising, 
 
 Yet will gild the clouds of fear, 
 And the shadows, long disguising, 
 
 Lift and leave the landscape clear. 
 
 When the soul, amid that glory, 
 
 Finds its earthly garments fall, 
 Harm and anguish end their storv, 
 
 Health and beauty come to all ; 
 No more fleshly chains can fetter 
 
 Faith that longs to soar above ; 
 None to duty seems a debtor, 
 
 And the only law is love. 
 
 There is ended earthly scheming, 
 
 Earthly struggle sinks to sleep ; 
 Souls have passed from deed to dreaming, 
 
 And they have no watch to keep ; 
 For the world has wrought its mission, 
 
 And the wheels of labor rest ; 
 And the faithful find fruition, 
 
 And the true become the blest. 
 
 {The stage is darke?ied ; and the curtain that 
 formed the back of Scene First in this Act 
 
 falls upon it.) 
 
H2 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Scene Third. Same as Scene First of this Act. 
 While the stage is still dark, unseen by audience, 
 Enter — Left Second Entrance — Cecil, in 
 dressing-gown covering completely the dress 
 worn by him in the last scene. He re- 
 clines on the bed, as in the First Scene of 
 this Act. 
 
 {The stage is made light.) 
 Enter — Left Second Entrance — Celia, dressed 
 as in Scene First of this Act. In addition, 
 she brings a hat and shawl, which, as she 
 becomes visible to audie?ice, she is seen 
 putting 07i. 
 Celia {arranging her hat a?id shawl). 
 
 'Tis time for me to take my morning walk. 
 I almost fear to leave him ! 
 
 Enter — Right Second Entrance — Jem. 
 {to Jem). 
 
 You will stay 
 While I am gone, and keep good watch of him ? 
 Jem. Yes, Missus, don't you feah. 
 
 Exit — Left Second Entrance — Celia. 
 (Jem looks out after her, then shuts door.) 
 
 I'll watch and pway. 
 I'll watch for dem, 
 
 {pointing toward Right Second Entrance?) 
 
 And pway for dis yeah niggah. 
 Dey wouldn't dare to hahm de Massa now. 
 
CECIL THE SEEK. 113 
 
 What dey would hahm, did I say no, am me. 
 1 He goes to d\igat Second Entrance, and opens door, 
 saving), 
 Now you'll be safe enough. She 'ab gone away. 
 Enter — jRiglit Second Entrance — Kraft, 
 Madam Cecil and two Men, all dressed 
 in out-door costume. All of them except 
 Kraft cross the stage toward the couch. 
 Kraft remains behind, and, taking a 
 bank-note from his pocket-book, says to 
 himself. 
 Kraft. I'm used to courts, and understand the 
 use 
 Of what they term court-plaster. There is 
 
 nothing 
 Can stick together iips inclined to peach 
 Like strong bank-notes. Here, Jem. 
 (Jem moves toward him, Kraft hands him the note?) 
 
 See here. Take this. 
 It ought to keep your mouth shut. 
 Jem {taking money and pocketing it). 
 
 Ay, ay, Massa, 
 And pocket, too, sah. 
 Kraft. You are wise, my man. 
 
 (Kraft crosses to alcove where Madam C. and 
 the two Men have been looking at Cecil. 
 He looks at Cecil, and speaks to them?) 
 Xo doubt ! — You see the man is living still. 
 You both can swear to that ? 
 8 
 
114 CECIL THE SEER.. 
 
 First Man. Oh, yes. 
 
 Second Man. Of course. 
 
 Kraft (to Jem). 
 
 What says the doctor, Jem ? Will he recover ? 
 Jem. I thinks he thinks he will. 
 Kraft (to Madam Cecil.) 
 
 We're safe, at least. 
 
 He's lived now long enough — for that. 
 Madam C. (aside). Yet I 
 
 Could almost pray to know that he were dead ! 
 Cecil (in bewilderment, starting suddenly, and sitting 
 up in the bed). 
 
 And did you think I wished to be alive ? 
 
 Curtain, 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 1 1 
 
 ACT THIRD. 
 
 An interval of two years is supposed to elapse between 
 th: occurrences in Acts Second and Third* 
 
 Scene First : A room in the house of Freeman, who 
 has married Celia, and is living with her in a 
 Northern ''Border " State. Near the center of the 
 room, set with dishes for a meal, is a table. Bread 
 and a pitcher of milk have already been placed on it. 
 Three or four chairs are near the table. At the 
 Left is a closet, and about the room other articles of 
 furniture. Backing, a wall containing a window 
 or door, etc. Entrances by doors at the Right and 
 Left near the Front. 
 
 The curtain rising discloses Jem with overcoat and hat 
 on. standing in front of the table. 
 
 Jem (to himself). 
 
 De station am a mile off. Whah's dedahky 
 Dat wouldn't get hungry 'fore he got dat fah ? 
 {taking bread from table and putting it in his pocket.) 
 Dev wouldn't want to see me stahve ; not dey ! 
 Xaw dwy up, no ! 
 
 {taking up milk pitcher ', and looking at if.) 
 
 Why, 'sakes alive ! dah's massa — 
 And what's he call me calf faw ? 
 
Ii6 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 {pouring out a tumbler-full of milk, drinking it, 
 t/ie?i hiding the tumbler in the closet.*) 
 
 Dat am good. 
 Dis dahky's glad dat Massa Cecil's comin'. 
 But Massa Cecil, — wondeh how he'll take 
 To seein' dat Miss Cecil, Missus Fweeman. 
 It 'peahed as how he liked dat ah young gal. 
 And, when ole' Missus Cecil, she got out 
 And mawwied Massa Kwaft, why, me and Milly, 
 We 'spected Massa Cecil 'd like to get 
 As fuh de oder way wid his Miss Celia.— 
 But Massa Fweeman 's got her, got her tight. 
 Enter — Left — Freeman and Celia, the latter with 
 
 tray contai?iing more dishes for table. 
 Freeman (to Jem). 
 
 It's time to go, Jem. 
 Jem. Go ? — I's goin', — gone ! 
 
 Exit — Right — J em. 
 Celia {arranging the dishes on the table, and suspi- 
 ciously examining the bread-plate and milk- 
 pitcher, while shaking her head at the departing 
 Jem). 
 Faith's looking well ? 
 Freeman {seating himself in one of the chairs, and 
 taking a newspaper from his pocket and unfold- 
 ing it). 
 
 Much as she did of old, 
 But paler — that is, till she chanced to see me. 
 Celia. And then ? 
 
CECIL THE SFER 
 
 117 
 
 Freeman. She flushed. 
 
 Celia. It needed but a spark 
 
 To kindle the old fire. 
 Freeman. In her? — or me ? — 
 
 I saw no light. I only thought of ashes. 
 Celia. I know her nun's veil seemed a shroud to 
 
 you. 
 Freeman. Vour white one, Celia, when I married 
 you, 
 
 Seemed like an angel's. Now that it's been 
 dropped, 
 
 I'm sure it was. 
 Celia. I thank you. Yet, at times, 
 
 I fear 'twas pity led you to propose. 
 Freeman. Was it your pity led you to accept ? 
 Celia. You know you thought that I had closed 
 the door 
 
 To every other suitor by my act 
 
 In closing it on all except us two 
 
 When we were nursing Cecil. 
 Freeman. And you know 
 
 You thought that I had closed the door on Faith, 
 
 Pecause of that which Father Hycher said. 
 
 But — nonsense ! — what if pity were a motive ? 
 Celia. Pity is but a sadder kind of love — 
 Freeman. Xo love at all. But as a motive to 
 it — 
 
 A door to open, — why complain of it, 
 
 If only opening where we wish to go ? 
 
nS CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 (Celia, having endzd arranging the things on the 
 table, stands back looking at it). 
 And all is ready — is it ? — for our guest ? 
 
 Celia. To think that Cecil should be here, and 
 well ! 
 
 Freeman. And such a note as his too ! Why, a 
 boy, 
 A boy in love, could not more gracefully 
 Let tumble forth from his embarrassed lips 
 The whole sweet contents of his blushing cheeks, 
 Than he did, pelting, helter-skelter, out 
 Those metaphors at us, to vent his joy 
 In welcoming our own ! 
 
 Celia. 'Twas strange he felt so ! 
 
 Freeman. Why, no ; I'm worthy of you ; you of 
 me ; 
 And both of us of Cecil's interest. 
 He knows how we two nursed him. Now, at last, 
 His voyage at an end, his health restored, 
 It ought to give him joy, and pride as well, 
 To learn how we, through love for him, at first, 
 Have come to love each other. Every soul 
 Is proudest of the good itself has fathered. 
 
 Celia. Of course ; and Cecil has so kind a heart ! 
 But I must go, and get the breakfast ready. 
 
 Freeman (rising and taking Celia's hand). 
 But, first, my Celia, let me break my fast. 
 
 (kisses her.) 
 One kiss of yours could make the thrilling lips 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 119 
 
 Go fluttering all day long like Cupid's wings 
 To bear sweet words of love to all they meet. 
 
 Exit — Left — Celia. 
 (Freeman's eyes follow her as she disappears.) 
 I told no lie. She lights my life with love. 
 But, oh, had she been Faith, 'twere filled with 
 
 bliss ! — 
 Poor Celia, she shall never learn the truth. 
 She thinks my nature water. I did once : 
 If any face looked love upon its depths, 
 I thought they might be filled with that alone. 
 But, ah, my heart's a photographer's glass 
 Whereon the image once impressed remains ; 
 And Celia's face is always framed in Faith's. 
 I fear 'tis for the frame, I love the picture. 
 {looking out of the baek window nearest the Right.) 
 Why, Cecil here already ? — must be he — 
 (Freeman opens the door at the Right.) 
 Enter — Right — Cecil followed by Jem. Both 
 wear out-door costumes, Cecil an over- 
 coat. He also carries a cane and limps. 
 As he enters, he and Freeman shake 
 hands. 
 A hearty welcome, friend ! I saw you coming. 
 How well you look ! You are well too, not so ? 
 Cecil {removing his hat, which Jem takes). 
 
 Oh, yes. 
 Freeman {noticing that Cecil limps). 
 Lame yet ? — 
 
120 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. Shall always be. One foot 
 
 Was caught inside the grave. I pulled away ; 
 But drag the foot-stone. 
 Freeman {helping Cecil take off his overcoat): 
 
 Not the head-stone though ! 
 Cecil. I hope not. 
 
 Freeman {handing Cecil's overcoat to Jem, who 
 takes it in addition to the hat). 
 
 Here, Jem, take these out with you. 
 (Freeman turns to get a chair for Cecil.) 
 Jem (aside, as he stands near the Left E?itrance). 
 I'd like to see what Massa Cecil '11 do 
 When he finds out Miss Celia's Missus Fwee- 
 
 man. 
 I knows, from what he say, dat he don't 'spect it. 
 Exit — Right — Jem. 
 Freeman {placing a chair behind Cecil). 
 
 Sit here. 
 Cecil {sitting in the chair and lookmg around the 
 room). 
 I thank you. — What a pleasant home ! 
 You've heard, have you, of late, about my wife ? 
 Freeman. Not since she married Kraft. 'Twas 
 
 mean in her. 
 Cecil. Oh no ; not that ! 
 Freeman {sitting in chair). 
 
 But getting her divorce 
 
 Was so unjust 
 
CECIL THE SEER. i 2 1 
 
 Cecil. Kraft managed it, of course. 
 
 I had deserted her. 
 Freeman. You could not help it. 
 
 Cecil. No; thanks to her— and heaven ! But let 
 that rest. 
 When one has seemed to sleep the sleep of death — 
 You know I thought me dead — 'tis not so sad, 
 On waking, to begin one's life anew. 
 Freeman. And we too thought you dead. 
 Cecil. I acted so ? 
 
 Freeman. You acted not at all. You did not 
 
 stir. 
 Cecil. No wonder ! Had you seen what I saw 
 then, 
 Your senses would have been as hushed as mine. 
 Freeman. What was it ? 
 Cecil. I scarce know — a vision — dream — 
 
 Perhaps a trance. — Some day I'll tell you it. 
 Freeman. If dreams came true, a man might prize 
 
 them more. 
 Cecil. At times, they do come true. Mine will. 
 The power 
 That handles Kraft can make that devil spin 
 Like potter's clay to work out his designs. 
 It all was prophesied. 
 Freeman. Was prophesied ? 
 
 Cecil. Yes, — in my vision, — all about — your mar- 
 riage. 
 Freeman. My marriage ? 
 
122 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. Yes, and then such joy for me ! — 
 
 I know 'tis coming. 
 Freeman. So ? — I envy you. 
 
 Cecil. I thought me dead. I woke and all was 
 life. 
 
 Above, I saw the stars ; far east, the dawn. 
 
 If earth rolls on, it yet will bring full day. 
 Freeman. And bright may heaven make it ! 
 Cecil. That it will. 
 
 Eirth is a field where hidden treasure lies. 
 
 All search it, and their searching wakes their 
 thoughts, 
 
 And draws out their desires, and aims their acts. 
 
 At last, they look and live for that alone 
 
 Which lures beneath appearances. Few find it. 
 
 The few that do, find that which makes the 
 world 
 
 Worth living in, and worth yon circling dome, 
 
 The crown God made it, jeweled with his stars. 
 Freeman. And you have found it ? 
 Cecil. Freeman, yes, I have; 
 
 And know why sometimes earth seems holy 
 ground, 
 
 And those that tread it Godlike. 'Tis the face 
 
 Behind the veil that then shines dimly through 
 it. 
 
 But wait. I must not tell you. In our souls, 
 
 Far down within, are depths like sunken seas, 
 
 So dark ! — yet only when concealed from light 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 123 
 
 And from the face of love they else might image. 
 
 Mine hold such. You should know of these, to 
 know 
 
 My coming joy; yet need not. Soon you'll 
 guess it. 
 Freeman. Your mood alone can make one guess 
 enough 
 
 To offer his congratulations now. 
 (Freeman rises. So does Cecil, and they shake 
 Jiarids.) 
 
 Tis time though that your coming were an- 
 nounced. 
 
 There's one here will be but too glad to see you. 
 Exit — Left — Freeman. 
 Cecil {reseating himself ). 
 
 How kind his welcome is ! 'Tis worth some loss 
 
 To know we own some friends. — And Faith, too, 
 Faith,— 
 
 She too, he says, will be so glad to see me. 
 
 I always liked her; and I always knew 
 
 The two were lovers, and they knew I knew it. 
 
 This must have been the reason why his note 
 
 Made such a mere brief mention of his mar- 
 riage ; 
 
 As if, forsooth, I knew the news already. 
 
 I thought I must have missed one letter from 
 him. 
 
 But no : what need of sending me her name ! — ■ 
 
 Who could she be but Faith ! — This very room 
 
124 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Seems like her. There's no setting that becomes 
 
 A jewel of a woman like a home, — 
 
 A loving home like this. Thank God, some 
 
 souls 
 Need not to die before they find their mates. 
 And I shall not. — Ah, when that shot was fired 
 That almost freed my soul, you, Celia, thought 
 I sank unconscious. No, no ; not before 
 Heaven let me hear this much : " He's dead for 
 
 me, 
 The only man I ever loved is dead ! " 
 Then came my dream. — But you, you are so 
 
 young, — 
 May deem yourself too young for me ! Yet 
 
 there's 
 No risk of losing you. I'll show my spirit ; 
 And with that spirit which is one with mine, 
 You'll recognize it. Then I'll thank my stars 
 For cloud and storm and flash that struck me 
 
 down, 
 And heaven in life that followed death in life. 
 Enter — Right Second Entrance — Celia. 
 
 {She carries another dish for table. As she en- 
 ters, before she is where she can speak to 
 Cecil, he says, aside.) 
 What? — Celia here ? And I was never told it ? — 
 
 (rising to greet her.) 
 Why, Freeman said that I should find a friend. 
 I have — the friend to whom I owe my life. 
 
CECIL Til/-: SEER. 125 
 
 CELIA {placing the dish on table, and shaking hands 
 with him). 
 
 Had it been lost, it would have been for me. 
 Cecil. Now that 'tis saved, let it be saved for you. 
 Celia. For me and all who love you. 
 Cecil {aside). Ah, who love! 
 
 (Jo Celia.) 
 
 I would that I could always stay with you. 
 Celia. You would not go away ? 
 Cecil. What, would you wish me 
 
 To make my home with you ? 
 Celia. • Of course. — Why not ? 
 
 Cecil. But I must work. 
 Celia. And one can practice law 
 
 In any place ? 
 Cecil (taking her hand). 
 
 Shall I begin it here ? 
 Celia. Begin and keep on too. 
 Cecil. I think I will. 
 
 Celia. 'Twould please us so ! 
 Cecil. And could you ever think 
 
 That I could feel at home away from you ? 
 Celia. How kind in you to say that ! — Then you'll 
 live 
 
 Right here with me and Freeman ? 
 Cecil. You and Freeman ? 
 
 Celia. Why, certainly ! — He'll want it, too. 
 Cecil. I see. — 
 
 You two together saved my life, of course. 
 
120 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Celia. Of course we saved it, if it could be 
 
 saved. 
 Cecil. And so you live with him ? 
 Celia. Yes, that's the reason. — 
 
 It was our mutual interest in you. 
 
 Enter — Left — Freeman. 
 {Just as he enters, Celia, bowing to Cecil and 
 gesturing toward the table, indicates that 
 she must prepare for the meal, and moves 
 toward the Left.) 
 Freeman {holding newspaper in hand, and bringing 
 it to Cecil). 
 Oh, here's the morning paper ! Would you like 
 it? 
 
 Exit — Left — Celia. 
 (Cecil bows, takes paper from Freeman, and 
 sits in chair. Freeman returns to 
 closet near L^eft, and, while carrying on 
 the following conversation, finds there a 
 small bottle, which, when presently he 
 leaves the room, he takes with him.) 
 Cecil. She says that I'm to live with you and 
 
 her. 
 Freeman. Yes, we had hoped so. 
 Cecil (looking at Celia's retreating form). 
 
 Freeman, this is bliss ! 
 Freeman. Yes, we are very happy. 
 Cecil. That we are ! — 
 
 Men do not often wed their own ideals. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 127 
 
 Freeman. I know. I've thought the whole thing 
 through ; and yet, 
 Without that, life can have some brightness left. 
 
 Cecil. Without that ? — You mistake my meaning, 
 Freeman. 
 I'm not to live without that. No, indeed ! 
 She loves me, Freeman. There's no doubt of it. 
 
 Freeman. Who ? 
 
 Cecil. Celia ! 
 
 Freeman. Celia ? 
 
 Cecil. Celia, yes. — Why not? 
 
 Freeman. You mean ? — 
 
 Cecil. Oh, yes, you think that she's too young ! 
 
 But, Freeman, love is of th' eternities, and knows 
 Xo youth, nor age. 'Tis like the air of heaven 
 That tosses in its play the dangling fringe 
 Athrill with grace about our outward guise, 
 And runs its unseen fingers through our hair, 
 And brushes to a glow our flushing cheeks, 
 But has more serious lasting moods than these. 
 It is the substance of the breath we breathe 
 That keeps the blood fresh, and the heart in 
 
 motion ; 
 And, e'en when these give out, it still is there 
 To buoy us up and bear on high the spirit. 
 
 Freeman. Oh, yes ! — but Celia ? — 
 
 Cecil. Celia is my love. 
 
 Freeman. Your love, eh ? — Has she told you 
 that ? 
 
128 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. She has. 
 
 Freeman. Told you she loves you ? 
 Cecil. Is it past belief ? 
 
 Freeman. Well— yes — I think it is. 
 Cecil. Oh, you know not 
 
 What's in a woman's heart ! 
 (Cecil looks down at his papa-, as if reading?) 
 Freeman {aside). 
 
 It may be not. 
 I purpose to find out, though. — Is he mad ? 
 Am I mad ? — My sole proof that I am not, 
 Lies in my thinking that I may be so. — 
 I'll cultivate this thinking and keep sane ; 
 And if it be a cool head takes the trick, 
 I'll find what trick is here. 
 
 (Freeman opens door at the Left?) 
 Enter — Left — Celia. 
 {She carries something else for the table?) 
 Cecil {seeing Celia coming). 
 
 Here she comes. — 
 She'll tell you it herself. 
 Celia {placing what she brings on the table, then 
 busying herself with arranging things on it). 
 I'm coming now, 
 To stay with you awhile. 
 Cecil {to Celia). 
 
 To be with those 
 W T ho really love one, is a new delight. 
 You said you loved me, Celia. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 129 
 
 Celia. Why, of course — 
 
 Just as I always have, and always must. 
 Of course I do. 
 Exit — Left — Freeman, lifting his hands in a be- 
 
 wildered way. 
 Cecil (aside, as Celia turns away for something). 
 Of course ! 
 (then n ot icing that Freeman had left?) 
 
 Why, there. He's gone. — 
 Humph ! Who could wonder that he thinks it 
 
 strange. 
 I wonder Celia fails to think so too. 
 It proves how well our natures mate each other. 
 
 (to Celia.) 
 Look — Freeman's left us, Celia. — Have a care. 
 To love too much may make him envious ; 
 And chewing on the cud of jealousy 
 Is not a pleasant practice for one's friends. 
 For though you give them naught to work upon, 
 So much the more the grinders work away 
 And grind themselves the sharper, — ay, and grind 
 The words that pass them too — made sharp as 
 
 arrows 
 To pierce the soul they hit. 
 Celia. No fear of him ! — 
 
 We both of us love you. 
 Cecil. I'll punish him ! 
 
 When he comes in, I'll send him after Faith. 
 Celia. Xo ; you must not do that. 
 Q 
 
130 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. Oh, yes, I shall. 
 
 Celia (taking a seat 011 the opposite side of the table 
 from him). 
 
 You would not dare. — 
 Cecil. Not dare ? — Ha, ha, ha, ha ! 
 
 Celia. No, no ; I beg you not to 
 
 Cecil. Nonsense, Celia ! 
 
 Celia. You must not. 
 
 Cecil. Must not ? — And you really mean it ? — 
 
 Oh, well, if you're in earnest, I will not. 
 
 But, bless me, if I see the reason why. 
 Celia. He loves Faith. 
 Cecil. Yes ; and where would be my joke, 
 
 Unless he loved her ? 
 Celia. There was so much love, 
 
 I sometimes think that he is sad about it. 
 Cecil. What ? what ? — not happy in his married 
 
 life ? 
 Celia. Oh, one could not say that. He's very 
 
 kind. 
 Cecil. Yes, yes ? — and she ? — is she not kind to 
 
 him ? 
 Celia. Who ? Faith ? 
 Cecil. Yes, Faith. 
 
 Celia. He never hears from her. 
 
 Cecil. W T hat ? — Are they separated ? 
 Celia. Separated ! 
 
 She went — you hadn't heard it ? — to a convent. 
 Cecil. She did ? — Poor Freeman ! — When was that ? 
 
CECIL THE SEEK. 131 
 
 Celia. Last year. 
 
 Cecil (in a perplexed way). 
 
 But when was Freeman married ? 
 Celia. Why, last March. — 
 
 He wrote you all about it. 
 Cecil {startled). 
 
 No ; not all, — 
 Not half a page. 
 Celia (surprised). 
 
 Why, twenty pages, friend ! — 
 We both wrote twenty ; and you never got them ? 
 Cecil. Why, no ; you see I hadn't heard of 
 Faith— 
 
 (hesitatingly.) 
 And you now — you are living with him here ? 
 Celia. Yes, living ! — Did you think that we were 
 
 boarding ? 
 Cecil {aside). 
 
 What horror haunts me ? — But I must not show 
 it. 
 {slowly, and struggling to conceal emotion?) 
 You know — it seems — so strange — when — he 
 loved Faith. 
 Celia. What? — That he married me ? — He told 
 me all ; 
 But Faith seemed dead. 
 Cecil {controlling himself). 
 
 And he's a kind man, Celia : 
 Celia. Yes, very kind. 
 16 
 
132 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. Forgive me, will you, Celia ? 
 
 You see that I have always loved you, Celia, — 
 Just as a father loves a child, you know ; 
 And if my love be anxious for you, Celia, 
 Enter — Left — Freeman. 
 (He is not observed by Cecil or Celia. He re- 
 places in the closet the little bottle taken 
 from it, when on the stage the previous 
 time. While doing so, he evidently hears 
 the follow i7ig conversation?) 
 You will not think it strange ? 
 Celia. There's not a throb 
 
 In all my heart, but you've a right to know it. 
 Cecil. Your heart is satisfied ? 
 Celia. Yes, yes, my love 
 
 Is deep and true. No wife could love one more. 
 Exit — Left — Freeman. 
 Cecil. Then you have two friends, — him and me. 
 You stand 
 Between us. 
 Celia {rising). I must go now. 
 Cecil {rising). Yes, my daughter ! 
 
 Exit — Left — Celia. 
 (standing, and looking after her retreating form). 
 So close the clouds of heaven upon my dream ! — 
 Not God, — the devil — he, he rules the world ! — 
 If so, I'll rule it with him. — But no, no ! — 
 Oh, what a universe of agencies 
 Are centered in one life that may be both 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 13? 
 
 The God and devil of the soul it loves ! 
 Yet wits were given one to outwit the world. 
 If Celia be what I have dreamed she is, 
 The world must work its work upon her will 
 Without one touch of mine, or hint, or sigh, 
 To make her life more tempted or less true. — 
 Oh, cursed world, in which forswearing love 
 Is our best proof that we would foster it ! 
 But wait ! — What moves me ? — Am I but a fool 
 Controlled by dreams ? — No, no ; I had a 
 
 dream ; 
 But this, at least, is none, — that each who aids 
 An angel upward for himself prepares 
 Angelic friendship ; and if there be spheres 
 Where spirit can reveal itself to spirit, 
 And sympathy be sovereign, there must be 
 One soul supremely loved. 'Twas no mere 
 
 dream. 
 High, knightly chivalry whose love protects, 
 Thy knightly honor is the sacred thing 
 Of which thy pride is conscious. But — oh 
 
 God !— 
 To be just on the threshold of all bliss : 
 And fail. — Fail ? — No. Let Freeman have her 
 
 now 
 A few brief years. — I'll dream with her forever. 
 
 En tcr — R igh t — J em. 
 Ah, what is that ? — Who's there ? — Well, Jem, 
 
 what now ? 
 
J 34 
 
 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Jem. Some white folks heah as wants to speak wid 
 
 you. 
 Cecil (in surprise). 
 
 With me ? — I've no objection. — Bid them enter. 
 Enter — Right — as Jem holds open door, Three 
 Gentlemen. They wear overcoats and 
 hold tlieir hats in their hands. Cecil ex- 
 changes bows with them, and motions to- 
 ward the chairs. 
 You'll sit, not so ? 
 First Gentleman. No, thanks. We have no time. 
 Our party's first convention meets to-morrow. 
 The news is ominous. We may have war. 
 We came as a committee to request 
 To hear from you. 
 Cecil. To hear from me ? — and why ? 
 
 First Gent. You've suffered from the wrongs of 
 slavery 
 That we oppose. 
 Cecil. But I'm a stranger here. 
 
 First Gent. Good reputation is to good men 
 what 
 Fine fragrance is to flowers. Its charms for sense 
 Are scented by imagination too, 
 Which will not rest till eyes have seen their 
 source. 
 Cecil. You do me too much honor. 
 First Gent. Honor us ; 
 
 And let us see and hear you. 
 
CECIL THE SEEK 
 
 35 
 
 Cecil. If my words 
 
 First Gent. The words of men whose deeds have 
 proved them true 
 Are also true. 
 Cecil. Thanks. If you think them so, 
 
 They may at least command your interest. 
 And he whose words can hold the world to 
 
 thought 
 Has heaven's own warrant that he should be 
 
 heard. 
 Yes ; I will come. 
 First Gent. Thanks. 
 
 Second Gent and Third. Thanks. 
 
 (All move toward Left Second Entrance. Jem 
 who is nearest it opens door there. Cecil 
 and Gents exchange bows.) 
 Cecil. I'll see you out. 
 
 Exeunt — Right — Three Gents, Cecil and Jem. 
 
 Scene Second : An open field or village green. Back- 
 ing in the distance, village houses, and beyond them 
 hill scenery. Extending diagonally across stage 
 from the place of the Right Third Entrance toward 
 that of the Back Center, a cottage fronted by a porch, 
 the latter being a platform elevated a foot or two 
 above the rest of the stage. At the Left of the stage 
 are trees and a tent, apparently one of a soldiers' 
 encampment beyond it. 
 
 Entrances : Right Second between trees, Right 
 
136 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Upper from a door opening from the cottage on to the 
 
 porch; Back Center from behind the cottage ; Left 
 
 Second, Third and Upper, fro?n behind trees, or the 
 
 tent. 
 
 As the curtain rises, Soldiers and Populace are 
 
 seen grouped at the Left. 
 
 {They sing as follows .•) 
 
 The trumpet calls to action 
 
 Through all the threatened land 
 No more is heard of faction. 
 The time has come to band. 
 What soul can see 
 The state in fear and fail to be 
 Beneath the flag, enrolled with all 
 That heed the trumpet's call ? 
 
 No patriot he, whose soul can see 
 The state in fear and fail to be 
 Beneath the flag, enrolled with all 
 That heed the trumpet's call. 
 
 The best of men are brothers. 
 
 The worst can be a foe ; 
 And not for self but others, 
 True men to battle go. 
 No longer meek, 
 Where wrong is strong and right is weak, 
 Or aught has brought the base to band, — 
 They're there to lend a hand. 
 
 No true man he, whose soul can see 
 The state in fear, and fail to be 
 Beneath the flag, enrolled with all 
 That heed the trumpet's call. 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 137 
 
 Who, think you, live in story 
 
 That live for self alone ? 
 Who care to swell his glory 
 That cares not for their own ? 
 In every strife 
 That stirs the pulse to nobler life, 
 'Tis he that has the thrilling heart 
 Who plays the thrilling part. 
 No hero he, whose soul can see 
 The state in fear, and fail to be 
 Beneath the flag, enrolled with all 
 That heed the trumpet's call. 
 
 Exeunt — Left — Soldiers and Populace. 
 
 Enter — Back Center — Cecil, in out-door costume. 
 
 Enter — Right Second — Faith, dressed as a nun. 
 Cecil {to himself). 
 
 These clouds of war break like a thunder-clap 
 
 Amid clear skies of summer ; but will bring 
 
 Our plant of freedom to a finer fruitage. 
 {suddenly observing Faith.) 
 
 Faith Hycher ? 
 Faith. Yes — on business. 
 
 Cecil. With me ? 
 
 Faith. Old friends of ours are here — have interest 
 
 In land near by us. Being of the south 
 
 They came to place it where they might not lose it. 
 
 They've been arrested. People deem them spies. 
 Cecil. Who are they? 
 Faith. Why, my mother, Father Hycher, 
 
 Lowe, Blaver, Kraft 
 
138 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. His wife too ? 
 
 Faith. Yes. 
 
 Cecil. Humph, humph ! 
 
 Faith. Their holdings were not small. The time 
 was short. 
 
 All came here who might need to sign their papers. 
 Cecil. And what can I do ? 
 Faith. Say you know them — you 
 
 And Freeman. 
 Cecil. You ve seen Freeman, then ? 
 
 Faith {hesitating). No — I ■ 
 
 Cecil {kindly). 
 
 I understand you, Faith. 
 Faith. 'Twas not his fault : 
 
 I was deceived. 
 Cecil. By whom ? 
 
 Faith. By Father Hycher. 
 
 Cecil. And yet you wish to help him now ? 
 Faith. I do. 
 
 Cecil. As I should help the Krafts ? — We'll work 
 together. 
 
 Faith, you and I have loved supremely, — yet 
 
 Our love has loved another. — Could this be 
 
 Of that form which we walked with in our 
 dreams ? 
 
 Faith. Why 
 
 Cecil. Did you ever think that all our dreams 
 
 Are in ourselves ; and this form too may be there ? 
 
 They say that human brains, ay, all our frames 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 139 
 
 Are doubled. — If so, why? — For use? — then 
 
 whose ? — 
 Who is it twins existence with us here ? 
 Can it be our own real, live, better self 
 Which under consciousness we vaguely feel 
 Dreams while we wake and wakes the while we 
 
 dream, 
 Recalls what we forget, incites, and is 
 Less form than spirit, but, because a spirit, 
 Heaven's representative, our guardian, guide, 
 And all that tells of God ? You know all praise 
 The men dependent only on themselves. 
 Yet why ? — Is it so noble to be free 
 From love, or wish for love ? Or own these men 
 A subtle consciousness of nobler love 
 Which, in the spirit-life, is all in all ? 
 Know they that earthly forms which seem divine 
 But image that within which is divine ? — 
 You think you wedded to the church. — I'm not. 
 Yet, Faith, the bonds that bind us may not 
 
 differ.— 
 I'll help your friends. When needed, call upon me. 
 Faith. You're kind. 
 Exit — Right — after exchanging bows with Cecil, 
 
 Faith. 
 Cecil {to himself as he stands near this Entra?ice, 
 and dose to the pore fi). 
 
 For her, for me, for all whose paths 
 Of honor and of sympathy divide, 
 
140 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 One choice alone remains — to dwell content 
 
 With loneliness, and one's ideal, and God. 
 Enter — Right Upper — coming suddenly from the 
 
 cottage 011 to the porch , Celia. 
 Celia (to Cecil). 
 
 Save, save my husband ! 
 Cecil. Save from what ? 
 
 Celia. From death, 
 
 From certain death. 
 Cecil. To march to war is not 
 
 To march to certain death. 
 Celia. My throbbing heart 
 
 Would spend its blood in blushes for my shame 
 
 Till it forgot to give my being life, 
 
 If, by a single sigh, I durst keep back 
 
 One soldier from the ranks of this just war. 
 Cecil. What mean you, then ? 
 Celia. That he has volunteered 
 
 To act as spy, and in the very town 
 
 W T here he has lived, is known, and hated too. 
 
 He can but be detected. 
 Cecil. You are right. 
 
 I see him coming. 
 (pointing to the Left. — Celia looks at him, in- 
 quiringly.} 
 
 You had better leave us. 
 Exit — Right Upper — Celia. 
 Enter — Left Second — Freeman, dressed as an officer, 
 (to Freeman). 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 141 
 
 Your wife says you have volunteered to act 
 
 As spy, where you are sure to meet with death. 
 Freeman. I may succeed. 
 
 Cecil. You scarce can hope to do so. 
 
 Freeman {with assumed indifference). 
 
 And what if not ? 
 Cecil. Then you are not the man 
 
 To trust on such a mission. 
 Freeman. Not ? — How so ? 
 
 Cecil. No man, if wise, will waive from what he 
 plans 
 
 The prospect of success. If you attempt it, 
 
 I'll find a way to stop it. 
 Freeman. You're officious. 
 
 Cecil. One needs to be at times ; and now your 
 life 
 
 And Celia's happiness are both at stake. 
 Freeman. Not Celia's happiness. 
 Cecil. What do you mean ? 
 
 Freeman. I mean, since men have talked so much 
 against 
 
 Our owning blacks, the time is coming fast 
 
 For some to talk against our owning whites. 
 Cecil. And what suggested this ? 
 Freeman. You know — you know. 
 
 We've both seen men and women treat their 
 peers — 
 
 In wedlock, yes, but also out of it — 
 
 As if they owned them ; and society 
 
142 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Approved, enforced their course. Mere selfish- 
 ness 
 Has been enthroned so long in men's affairs, 
 That naught seems worthy of respect to some 
 Of which it only is not king and guide. 
 Cecil. And, pray, too, what of that ? 
 Freeman. If Celia find 
 
 More joy in your society than mine, 
 Then let her find it. Did I marry her 
 To limit her delights ? 
 Cecil. Why, Freeman, friend, 
 
 Look here at me — You are an upright man, 
 (placing his hand on Freeman's shoulder?) 
 And so am I. Upon my soul, I hoped 
 You had forgotten, or not understood 
 The words I used. But, ere I knew you married, 
 Was it — with all that she and I had been — 
 So strange that I should have — those — whims of 
 mine ? 
 Freeman. She told you that she loved you. 
 Cecil. Yes, she did : 
 
 But as a daughter. 
 
 (Freeman looks incredulous?) 
 I am not the man 
 You should distrust. 
 Freeman. Who knows what men can be, 
 
 Till pierced where they are tenderest ! 'Twas the 
 
 fleet 
 Achilles could be wounded in the heel ; 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 143 
 
 And some have heads, and some have hearts to 
 hurt. 
 Cecil. I say she said she loved me as a daughter. 
 
 I quote her very words. 
 Freeman. She said no more ? 
 
 Cecil. When speaking of her love, she said no 
 more. 
 
 She gave no slightest hint that meant not that. 
 Freeman. Yet you love 'her? 
 Cecil. In the degree I do, 
 
 I'll guard her honor as I would mine own ; 
 
 And guard her love too. She has told me all. 
 
 She loves you as a true and faithful wife. 
 
 So let me save you for her. Be no spy, 
 
 But soldier, captain, general, — who knows 
 
 What fortune may await the tide of war ! 
 Freeman. And you ? 
 Cecil. Why, Freeman, I'm no man to play 
 
 A second fiddle to your tune ot love — 
 
 With instrument all broke beyond repair, 
 
 Make discord of the music of your life. 
 
 I promise you to leave here. 
 Freeman. Leave your home ? — 
 
 You have no other. 
 Cecil. Some will open for me. 
 
 (j>oi?iting toward the tent.) 
 
 There were one here, did my infirmities 
 
 Xot keep me from the army. 
 
 {Shouts are heard at the Left.) 
 8 
 
144 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Enter — Left — A guard of Soldiers headed by 
 an Officer, and conducting Blaver and 
 Miss Primwood — now Madam Blaver 
 — Lowe and Madam Lowe, Father Hy- 
 cher, Kraft and Madam Cecil — now 
 Madam Kraft — Father Hycher and 
 Widow Hycher, attended by Faith. 
 Populace follow. 
 Freeman (in evident astonishment). 
 
 Who are they ? 
 Cecil. I think you know them. 
 Freeman (noticing Father Hycher). 
 
 Father Hycher ?— I'll 
 Get even with him. 
 Cecil. No ; there's no such thing 
 
 As getting even with a low-lived soul, 
 Without degrading one's own self. 
 (to the Officer.) 
 
 And what 
 Of these ? 
 Officer. They're spies. 
 Other People. To shoot. 
 
 Others. They've land, as well, 
 
 To confiscate. 
 Officer (to Cecil). They tell us that you know 
 
 them. 
 Cecil. Why, yes ; and Freeman too. — Ah, Madam 
 Blaver ! 
 (Cecil and Freeman shake hands with Miss 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 145 
 
 Primwood — now Madam Blaver — with 
 Madam Lowe, Widow Hycher, Lowe 
 and Blaver, but not with the others. 
 
 Cecil continues to the Officer, gestur- 
 ing toward the ladies, including Madam 
 Cecil — now Madam Kraft.) 
 Our war is not with ladies, I believe ? 
 
 (The Officer apparently agrees with him.) 
 Father Hycher. I am a clergyman. 
 Cecil. Tis true ; and we ?— 
 
 (looking for assent to Freeman.) 
 Freeman. Of course, we have no strife here with 
 
 religion. 
 Lowe. I am a friend. 
 Cecil. He is. 
 
 Lowe. With me the chief 
 
 Consideration is religion. 
 Blaver. And I 
 
 A prohibitionist. Our pleas were all 
 Based on religious grounds. 
 Officer. And what of that ? 
 
 Freeman (laughing). You fail to catch its bear- 
 ing ? — When we make 
 Them take an oath of loyalty, they'll keep it. 
 (The prisoners make startled signs of dissent.) 
 Cecil. There's this' much to be said too : as a 
 rule 
 The friends are on our side ; and are not fighters. 
 So too with prohibitionists. 
 
1 46 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Freeman {to Cecil, in a laughing way). 
 
 For once, 
 Religion, friend, has helped them in their 
 practice. 
 Officer {taking Kraft roughly by the shoulder). 
 
 But here's a different case. 
 Cecil. I grant it, yes. 
 
 Officer. We know him, and his party. 
 Madam Cecil- Kraft {to Cecil). Could I speak 
 
 A moment with you ? 
 Cecil. Oh, yes, if it please you. 
 
 (Cecil and Madam Cecil- Kraft, walk to one side.) 
 Madam C. You know my father died. 
 Cecil {iiodding toward Kraft). Before you mar- 
 ried ? 
 
 (Madam C. nods in assent?) 
 A happy man ! 
 Madam C. He left a fortune to me. 
 
 'Tis in this land here. 
 Cecil. And in Kraft's name ? 
 
 Madam C. Yes. 
 
 {hesitatingly, after pausing a mome?it?) 
 
 There was an informality 
 
 Cecil. In what ? 
 
 Madam C. My marriage. 
 
 Cecil. I should think so ! — What of that ? 
 
 Madam C. Why, I would deed you half my 
 ownings here, 
 Could it 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 147 
 
 Cecil. Be set aside by me ? 
 
 Madam C. With you — 
 
 Your help. 
 Cecil. No, thank you — not for all you own. 
 Madam C. And you would have me lose it, would 
 
 you ? 
 Cecil. You 
 
 Forget my losses. 
 Madam C. (pretending to misunderstand him, and to 
 relent toward him). 
 
 And you really miss me ? 
 Cecil. That's not worth speaking of — but 
 
 Kraft ? 
 Madam C. {disparagingly). Oh, he ! — 
 Cecil. He treats you as you might have judged 
 
 from Celia ? 
 Madam C. {sarcastically^. 
 
 And Celia treats you as you might have judged — 
 Cecil. From other women ?— No ; all cooing doves 
 
 Have not one color 
 
 Madam C. Only cawing crows. 
 
 Cecil. You know some think it sin to shoot at 
 
 crows. 
 Madam C. And manly sportsmen never aim at 
 
 doves. 
 Cecil. When things are very far removed from us, 
 
 It is excusable if we mistake them. 
 Kraft {coming forward, followed by Freeman). 
 But surely you will help us? 
 
148 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Cecil. Surely ? — why ? 
 
 (piotioning toward Madam C). 
 You have relieved me here, and therefore think 
 That one good turn deserves another ? 
 Kraft. But 
 
 You know I'm not a spy. 
 Cecil. How do I know it ? 
 
 Kraft. My character 
 
 Cecil. What character ? — You think 
 
 My character is one to forge a lie 
 To save a man like you ? 
 Kraft. What — you would not ? 
 
 Madam C. Why, all our property is here ! 
 Kraft. And you 
 
 Would have me shot ? 
 Cecil (to Freeman). 
 
 There's an idea there. — 
 Might do it kindly — in a better cause 
 Than his past deeds deserve. 
 Freeman. I see. 
 
 (to the Soldiers.) 
 
 Say, friends, 
 We're here to save the lands of loyal men. 
 All loyal men about us are enlisting. 
 If Kraft has loyalty, he'll do the same. 
 (The Soldiers make signs of approval?) 
 (to Kraft.) 
 What say you ? 
 
149 
 
 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 K r a ft (hesitatingly). 
 
 Had I — a — commission 
 
 Ik i eman. That 
 
 Would prove the one who gave it you a fool. 
 Cecil (to Kraft, putting his hand on Freeman's 
 shoulder). 
 Places of trust are only for the trusted ; 
 And high commissions but for men with mis- 
 sions. 
 What say you — prison or private ? — Make your 
 choice. 
 Kraft {abjectly). 
 
 Why. if I must 
 
 Cecil. 'Tis well to learn you must. 
 
 Enter — Left— hurriedly, Two Gentlem ex. 
 (Commotion among the Populace near them and fol- 
 lowing them?) 
 Populace. Hurrah ! 
 
 Enter — Right Upper — evidently attracted by 
 the eommotion, Celia, followed by Jem 
 and Millv, and stand on the porch. 
 First Gentleman - (to Cecil). They've nominated 
 
 you. 
 Cecil. For what ? 
 
 First Gent. For representative at Washington. 
 Second Gent, {shaking hands with Cecil). 
 
 And I congratulate the district too. 
 Cecil. But I'm a stranger. 
 First Gent. No, your record's known. 
 
I S° 
 
 CECIL THE SEER. 
 
 Second Gent. The only home you have now must 
 be here ; 
 For here they brought and nursed you, when so 
 ill. 
 First Gent. And when the factions could not else 
 agree, 
 They all could join on you. 
 People. Hurrah ! hurrah ! 
 
 Second Gent. And nomination here is sure elec- 
 tion. 
 People. Hurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah ! A speech ! a 
 
 speech ! 
 Cecil (asceiiding the porch, where he stands with 
 Celia at his Right). 
 This is no time for words or peaceful work ; 
 But one whose forced infirmities prevent 
 His bearing arms and marching to the front, 
 May choose the course that you commend to him. 
 {Cheers from the crowd. Cecil gestures toward the 
 Soldiers.) 
 But do not think you only move to war ; 
 Or deem that I stay here to dwell in peace. 
 To men whose purposes, like ours, are pledged 
 To work out high designs, all life on earth 
 Is girt with warfare, where the light of heaven 
 That brings each new clay's liberty and truth 
 Contends with darkness, and there is no peace. 
 Our very bodies are but phantoms formed 
 Of that same darkness that we must oppose ; 
 
CECIL THE SEER. 151 
 
 So we must fight, if nothing else, ourselves. 
 Ay. whether we may march our frames to greet 
 The cannon's mouth, or duty's commoner call, 
 Go where death threatens soon, or seems to 
 
 tarry, 
 One destiny, at last, awaits us all : 
 Upon life's little stage the play will close, 
 The curtain drop, and leave the actor dead. 
 Yet, soldiers, what care you, or what care I ? — 
 The souls that fight for truth, beyond these 
 
 scenes, 
 Find life that does not end in tragedy ; 
 For all our world is but a theater 
 Outside whose walls, where shine the stars of 
 
 heaven. 
 The actors with their roles and robes laid by 
 May all meet smiling in the open air. 
 And now — to play our several parts — 
 
 {bowing to those before him, then turning to Celia and 
 taking her hand.) 
 
 Farewell. 
 {Blast of bugles, as the Soldiers yW/ into line, with 
 K RAFT well guarded.) 
 
 Curtain. 
 End. 
 
From the press of the Arena Publishing Company 
 
 Huuo Dramas for the Library Corner, 
 
 Walter 
 Warren 
 
 Pricey doth, $1.25. 
 
 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. A Drama. 
 
 Printed on beautiful paper, wide margins, and richly 
 i bound. 
 
 Walter Warren has struck boldly into the most am- 
 bitious field of poetical literature, and he has produced 
 three dramas which will obtain a wide reading among 
 1 people who read and study the best in contemporary 
 literature. 
 
 The story of Columbus has been the subject of many a novel 
 during the past two or three years, and now it is brought again 
 before the public in the form of a spirited drama in five acts. 
 Mr. Walter Warren makes a psychologic rather than historic — 
 though not unhistoric — study of the character of Columbus, as 
 manifested and developed in connection with his experiences 
 before, during and after his discovery of America. In drama- 
 tizing the story in this fashion, one gains a better insight into 
 the personality of Columbus than is possible from the merely 
 abstract narratives. Its many parts are practically arranged for 
 amateur theatricals. — The Boston Herald. 
 
 Price, cloth, $1.25. 
 THE AZTECS. 
 
 Printed uniform with " Columbus the Discoverer," and 
 richly bound. A fine library volume. 
 
 Mr. Walter W T arren is a man evidently warm in sympathy for 
 his kind. His play is gorgeous with the local color of Mexico 
 in the fifteenth century, and replete with fine thoughts, which, 
 however, he acknowledges might not have come to Aztecs, 
 although again, he alleges they might. Its plot is a noble con- 
 ception. — 77/i? Commonwealth, Boston. 
 
 This is a drama dating back in history to the fifteenth century, 
 when the Aztecs in Mexico began to reach out and overrun the 
 land and introduce the peculiar religion of the time. The lead- 
 ing characters are Monaska, a young Mexican of noble blood; 
 Kootha, a crippled Teztucan; Ilaijo, the chief priest; Wapella, 
 a Teztucan warrior; Waloon, a Teztucan maiden of rank; with 
 other maidens, "Virgins of the sun." These maidens of the 
 sun were virgins taken from their homes, educated in convents, 
 and intended for the king's palaces and seraglios. The design 
 of the drama is to introduce the character of the peculiar religion 
 of this ancient race and the manners and customs of daily life. 
 . . . There are gleams of large intelligence and civilization 
 among the ancient Aztecs, and the reader will be interested in 
 the story. — Chicago Inter- Ocean, Aug. 18, 18Q4. 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent postpaid by 
 
 Arena Publishing Co., Boston. Mass. 
 
From the press of the Arena Publishing Company. 
 
 " a \z Hit of the year: 
 
 Helen H. 
 Gardener 
 
 Chicago Times 
 
 Rockford (111.) 
 Republican 
 
 % 
 
 The Literary Hit 
 of the Season 
 
 Price, paper, 50 cents ; cloth, $1.25. 
 
 AN UNOFFICIAL PATRIOT. 
 
 Have you read Helen H. Gardener's new war story, "An 
 Unofficial Patriot 1 '? No? Then read what competent 
 critics say of this remarkable historical story of thy Civil 
 War. 
 
 " Helen H. Gardener has made for herself within a very few 
 years an enviable fame fur the strength and sincerity of her 
 writing on some of the most important phases of modern social 
 questions. Her most recent novel, now published under the title 
 of ' An Unofficial Patriot,' is no less deserving of praise. As an 
 artistic piece of character study this book is possessed of supe- 
 rior qualities. There is nothing in it to offend the traditions of 
 an honest man, north or south. It is written with an evident 
 knowledge of the circumstances and surroundings such as might 
 have made the story a very fact, and, more than all, it is written 
 with an assured sympathy for humanity and a recognition of 
 right and wrong wherever found. As to the literary merit of 
 the book and its strength as a character study, as has been said 
 heretofore, it is a superior work. The study of Griffith Daven- 
 port, the clergyman, and of his true friend, ' Lengthy ' Patterson, 
 is one to win favor from every reader. There are dramatic 
 scenes in their association that thrill and touch the heart. 
 Davenport's two visits to President Lincoln are other scenes 
 worthy of note for the same quality, and they show an apprecia- 
 tion of the feeling and motive of the president more than histori- 
 cal in its sympathy. Mrs. Gardener may well be proud of her 
 success in the field of fiction." 
 
 " Helen Gardener's new novel, ' An Unofficial Patriot,' which 
 is just out, will probably be the most popular and salable novel 
 since ' Robert Elsmere.' It is by far the most finished and 
 ambitious book yet produced by the gifted author and well de- 
 serves a permanent place in literature. 
 
 " The plot of the story itself guarantees the present sale. It 
 is ' something new under the sun ' and strikes new sensations, 
 new situations, new conditions. To be sure it is a war story, and 
 war stories are old and hackneyed. But there has been no sugIi 
 war story as this written. It gives a situation new in fiction and 
 tells the story of the war from a standpoint which gives the book 
 priceless value as a sociological study and as supplemental 
 history. 
 
 " The plot is very strong and is all the more so when the 
 reader learns that it is true. The story is an absolutely true one 
 and is almost entirely a piece of history written in form of fic- 
 tion, with names and minor incidents altered." 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent postpaid by 
 
 Arena Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. 
 
From the press of the Arena Publishing Company. 
 
 Fiction : Social, Economic anb Reformatiue. 
 
 E. Stillman 
 Doubleday 
 
 A story of the 
 Struggles of 
 Honest Industry 
 under Present 
 Day Conditions. 
 
 Charles S. 
 Daniel 
 
 K Story of the 
 Transformation 
 of the Slums' 
 
 Price, paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.25. 
 
 JUST PLAIN FOLKS. 
 
 A novel for the industrial millions, illustrating two stu- 
 pendous facts : — 
 
 1. The bounty and goodness of nature. 
 
 2. The misery resulting from unjust social conditions 
 which enable the acquirer of wealth to degenerate in 
 luxury and idleness, and the wealth producer to slave him- 
 self to death, haunted by an ever-present fear of starva- 
 tion when not actually driven to vice or begging. It is an 
 exceedingly interesting book, simply and affectingly told, 
 while there is a vast deal of the philosophy of commun- 
 ism in the moralizing of Old Bat. All persons interested in 
 wholesome fiction, and who also desire to understand the 
 conditions of honest industry and society-made vice, 
 should read this admirable story. 
 
 Price, paper, 50 cents ; cloth, $1.25. 
 Al : A Social Vision. 
 
 One of the most ingenious, unique and thought-provoking 
 stories of the present generation. It is a social vision, and in 
 many respects the most noteworthy of the many remarkable 
 dreams called forth by the general unrest and intellectual activ- 
 ity of the present generation. But unlike most social dreams 
 appearing since the famous "Utopia" of Sir Thomas More, 
 this book has distinctive qualities which will commend it to 
 many readers who take, as yet, little interest in the vital social 
 problems of the hour. A quiet humor pervades the whole vol- 
 ume which is most delightful. 
 
 The brotherhood of man and various sociological and philan- 
 thropic ideas, such as the establishment of a college settlement 
 and the social regeneration of Old Philadelphia, are a few of 
 the topics discussed in " Ai," a novel by Charles Daniel, who 
 calls it "A Social Vision." It is alternately grave and gay; and 
 the intellectual freshness reminds one constantly of Edward 
 Everett Hale's stories, with which "Ai" has much in common. 
 This is a clever book, and, what is much more important, one 
 whose influence is for good. — Public Ledger. 
 
From the press of the Arena Publishing Company. 
 
 Che Latest Social Uision. 
 
 Byron A. 
 Brooks 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 Star 
 
 Chicago Times 
 
 Review of 
 Reviews 
 
 Lyman Abbott's 
 Paper, The 
 Outlook 
 
 Nashville, Tenn. 
 Banner 
 
 Price, paper, 50 cents ; cloth, $1.25. 
 EARTH REVISITED. 
 
 The New Utopia, " Earth Revisited," is the latest social 
 vision, and in many respects the most charming work 
 of this character which has ever appeared. In it we see 
 the people, the state and the church under true civilization, 
 and the new psychology is introduced in such a manner 
 as to interest students of psychical research. 
 
 Here are a few press opinions : — 
 
 " As a story, it is very interesting." 
 
 " Worthy of consideration for its study of the social and other 
 questions involved." 
 
 "The story is written in an autobiographical form and pic- 
 tures the social, industrial, religious and educational America of 
 1992. As a work of fiction the volume embodies in a fanciful 
 way a view expressed in the closing words : ' To live is to love 
 and to labor. There is no death.' The style is clear and direct." 
 
 " Mr. Brooks is an earnest man. He has written a religio- 
 philosophical novel of life in the coming century. The hero of 
 this story has lived the life of the average man and at length, 
 when he rinds himself dying, he wishes that he might have a 
 chance to live his life over. The wish is granted and he is born 
 again on the earth a century later. Social and scientific and 
 religious evolution have in a hundred years contrived to make an 
 almost irrecognizable world of it. Human nature is changed ; 
 altruism is fully realized; worship has become service of man; 
 the struggle for wealth and social rank has ended. Mr. Brooks' 
 book is worth reading by all sincere people, and in particular 
 by those interested in Christian socialism and applied Christian- 
 ity." 
 
 " If you should happen to pick up Byron A. Brooks' ' Earth 
 Revisited ' and read the first chapter, the chances are that you 
 would follow the story on to the end, even if you had other 
 things on hand spoiling for your attention. Summed up, 
 ' Earth Revisited ' is a wild though delightful story, short 
 enough to be filled from end to end with throbbing interest and 
 long enough to fully round off the things that are introduced." 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent postpaid by 
 
 Arena Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. 
 
From the press of the Arena Publishing Company. 
 
 Iujo Nouels of Absorbing 3nterest. 
 
 Eibert 
 Hubbard 
 
 Syracuse Herald 
 
 Boston Times 
 
 The New York 
 Voice 
 
 Detroit 
 News-Tribune 
 
 firs. 
 S. M. H. 
 Gardner 
 
 Price, paper, 50 ecnts ; cloth, $1 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 S- 
 
 In •• Forbes of Harvard" Mr. Elbert Hubbard has pro- 
 duced a work which has won the unqualified praise of all 
 lovers of clean, wholesome and elevated fiction. Below 
 v/e give some critical opinions of this most delightful 
 work. 
 
 " ' Forbes of Harvard.' A delicate and artistic piece of work, 
 full of high-toned sentiment, good-natured and finely shaded 
 character drawing." 
 
 "The book has a flavor of Concord, and the influence of 
 Emerson, the Alcotts and Thoreau is felt throughout it. It is 
 philosophical, moral, religious and social in its bearings, but no 
 one of these matters is given undue precedence." 
 
 " The author of ■ Forbes of Harvard ' has succeeded in doing 
 what very few writers have done. He has told a bright, clever 
 story by means of a series of letters. Instead of describing his 
 characters he has let them reveal themselves in their epistles." 
 
 " • Forbes of Harvard ' is a series of letters written by differ- 
 ent persons, one of whom is at Harvard, and tells in an inter- 
 estingly vivid way a neat and good story, sure to be read with 
 pleasure." 
 
 Price, paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.25. 
 THE FORTUNES OF flARGARET WELD. 
 
 A novel dealing with the relation of the sexes in a bold 
 but delicate manner. 
 
 This book tells the story of a good woman who made a 
 grave mistake. It touches our hearts like an old sorrow, 
 and we go with Margaret on her tortuous earth journey ; 
 we partake of her ambitions and her joys ; we know the 
 bitterness of her portion, and we, too, catch glimpses and 
 feel somewhat at the last of her serene peace. A lofty 
 purpose runs throughout the pages. A just tribute is in- 
 directly paid to the Quakers, the only sect who having 
 power never persecuted ; the people who made the only 
 treaty that was never sworn to and yet never broken. The 
 world will be better for this book. 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent postpaid by 
 
 Arena Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. 
 
A Bundle of New Books. 
 
 A ISfeui Booh of Social Thought Just Published. 
 
 B.O. Flower 
 
 The Social 
 Factors at Work 
 in the Ascent of 
 Man 
 
 Rev. 
 
 Minot J. 
 
 Savage 
 
 A New World, a 
 New God, a New 
 Humanity 
 
 The New Relig- 
 ious Thinking 
 deals only with 
 Verities 
 
 Price, paper, 25 cents ; cloth, $1.00. 
 
 The New Time : A Plea for the Union of 
 the floral Forces for Practical Progress. 
 
 This new work, by the author of "Civilization's In- 
 ferno," deals with practical methods for the reform of 
 specific social evils. The writer does not bind together a 
 mere bundle of social speculations, that would seem to 
 many to have only a remote and abstract relevance to 
 everyday life. He deals with facts within every one's 
 knowledge. "The New Time" brings its matter di- 
 rectly home to every man's bosom and business — follow- 
 ing Bacon's prescription. 
 
 It is published especially to meet the wants of those 
 who wish to apply themselves to and interest their friends 
 in the various branches of educational and' social effort 
 comprised in the platform of the National Union for Prac- 
 tical Progress ; but, from its wide sweep of all the factors 
 in the social problem, it will also serve to introduce many 
 readers to a general consideration of the newer social 
 thinking. 
 
 Price, paper, 50 cents ; cloth, $1.00. 
 
 The Irrepressible Conflict between 
 Two World=Theories. 
 
 Five lectures dealing with Christianity and evolutionary 
 thought, to which is added " The Inevitable Surrender of 
 Orthodoxy." By the famous Unitarian divine, advanced 
 thinker and author of "Psychics: Facts and Theories." 
 Mr. Savage stands in the van of the progress of moral, 
 humane and rational ideas of human society and religion, 
 which must be inextricably commingled in the new think- 
 ing, and a. stronger word for moral and intellectual free- 
 dom has never been written than " The Irrepressible 
 Conflict." We are now going through the greatest revo- 
 lution of thought the world has ever seen. It means 
 nothing less than a new universe, a new God, a new man, 
 a new destiny. 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers or sent postpaid by 
 
 Arena Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. 
 
A Bundle of New Books. 
 
 ilarion D. 
 
 Shutter, 
 
 D. D. 
 
 Wit and Humor 
 are sometimes 
 
 confused with 
 Buffoonery. 
 They, however, 
 are to be found in 
 the highest works 
 only, and they 
 are subtly 
 present in the 
 highest 
 
 Thomas 
 
 Alexander 
 
 Hyde 
 
 Published only in cloth ; price, $1.50. 
 
 Wit and Humor of the Bible. 
 
 A literary study. Many writers have written instructive 
 commentaries upon the pathos and sublimity of the Bible, 
 but the literary elements comprised in the title of this 
 interesting and revealing work have rarely been men- 
 tioned. Dr. Shutter has here entered into a field which 
 before was untraversed. This side of sacred literature has 
 been long neglected, probably because in so many minds 
 wit and humor are somehow associated with mere ribaldry 
 and irreverence. This is a grave mistake. Wit and 
 humor are too fine, and have their origin in emotions too 
 human and ennobling, to serve the purposes of coarse and 
 mean,, degraded natures. In human nature, the sources 
 of laughter and tears lie close together; we need not, 
 therefore, be surprised to find wit and humor in the Bible, 
 in which every human passion is mirrored, in which the 
 whole philosophy of life is to be found, with some con- 
 solation and sympathy for every mood of humanity. This 
 book of Dr. Shutter's is the work of one who loves and 
 knows the Great Book thoroughly and reverently. 
 
 Cloth . Price , post-paid, $1.25. 
 
 Christ the Orator I or, Never Han Spake 
 
 Like This Man. 
 
 This brilliant work, the only one of its kind which has 
 been given to the world, is a monograph upon the third 
 side of Christ's nature — the expressional. The Rev. 
 Thomas Alexander Hyde, the author, is a vivid and vigor- 
 ous thinker, and before the publication of this book, 
 which has made his name as familiar in the religious world 
 as that of any contemporary religious teacher, he had 
 made a reputation as the author of " The Natural System 
 of Elocution and Oratory. 1 ' "Christ the Orator' 1 has 
 already awakened widespread interest, and received high 
 endorsement from leading editors, preachers, scholars and 
 thoughtful laymen everywhere, representing every phase 
 of Christian thought. Its earnest spirit, sympathetic and 
 finished style and lofty purpose, render it a welcome guest 
 in every family. 
 
 Mr. Hyde is a vivid writer and a vigorous thinker. His 
 mind evidently does not run in the old theological grooves, 
 though we conclude that he is sufficiently conservative. His 
 attempt to prove Christ an orator is at least unique. His book 
 is suggestive, full of bright and beautiful sayings, and is quite 
 worth a careful reading. — New York Herald. 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent postpaid by 
 
 Arena Publishing Co. , Boston % .If ass. 
 
A Bundle of New Books. 
 
 A Remarkable 
 Volume showiru 
 the Identity of 
 all Religions in 
 the Creeds 
 
 Rev. 
 S. Weil 
 
 Comfort and 
 Hope from 
 beyond the 
 Bourne 
 
 A Book for 
 Sincere and 
 Earnest Sceptics 
 
 The Higher Life 
 Here and Now 
 
 Price, paper, 50 cents ; cloth, $1.50. 
 
 The World's Congress of Religions. 
 
 To meet the general demand, the Arena Publishing 
 Company has, with the consent of the Parliament Publish- 
 ing Company, issued this popular work, which gives the 
 proceedings of the opening and closing sessions of the 
 council verbatim, thus giving the reader a perfect picture 
 of one of the most unique spectacles man has ever wit- 
 nessed — a picture in which the representatives of earth's 
 great religions united in welcome greeting and loving fare- 
 well. These two great gatherings are given verbatim, 
 while in twenty-nine interesting chapters are given abso- 
 lutely verbatim reports of the greatest and most represen- 
 tative papers or addresses which were delivered — the 
 papers which most clearly set forth the views, aims and 
 mission of the great faiths, and which are immensely val- 
 uable as contributions to the present literature of the 
 world. It is important to remember that these addresses 
 are in full and exactly as given. An impressive introduc- 
 tion has been written for this volume by Rev. Minot J. 
 Savage. 
 
 Price, paper , 50 cents ; cloth, $1.25. 
 
 The Religion of the Future. 
 
 This is a work of great value, written by one of the 
 keenest, most powerful and most truly religious minds of 
 the day. It is particularly a work which should be put 
 into the hands of those who have freed themselves from 
 the dogmas of orthodoxy and from the dogmas of mate- 
 rialistic science. It is a profoundly religious book. It 
 demonstrates most indisputably to the unbiased mind the 
 existence of a moral as well as a material cosmos. The 
 book is addressed principally to sceptics who are seeking 
 after truth. "The Religion of the Future" deals with 
 that something lying behind the sympathy and interaction 
 of mind and body at which natural science stops. It 
 brings forward data to prove that this arbitrary invalidat- 
 1 ing of modern science is itself invalid. 
 
 This book starts with the axiom that the mental world 
 is the realm of cause, of which the material world is the 
 evanescent effect — that there is a " Power not ourselves 
 which makes for righteousness." The chapters reveal a 
 new method in psychic and spiritual research. 
 
 For sale by all newsdealers or sent postpaid by 
 
 Arena Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 1