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THE LIFE EVERLASTING
A REALITY OF ROMANCE
BY MARIE CORELLI
AUTHOR OF THELMA, ETC.
CONTENTS
AUTHOR'S PROLOGUE I. THE HEROINE BEGINS HER STORY II. THE FAIRY SHIP III. THE ANGEL OF A DREAM IV. A BUNCH OF HEATHER V. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING VI. RECOGNITION VII. MEMORIES VIII. VISIONS IX. DOUBTFUL DESTINY X. STRANGE ASSOCIATIONS XI. ONE WAY OF LOVE XII. A LOVE-LETTER XIII. THE HOUSE OF ASELZION XIV. CROSS AND STAR XV. A FIRST LESSON XVI. SHADOW AND SOUND XVII. THE MAGIC BOOK XVIII. DREAMS WITHIN A DREAM XIX. THE UNKNOWN DEEP XX. INTO THE LIGHT
THE LIFE EVERLASTING
A REALITY OF ROMANCE
AUTHOR'S PROLOGUE
In the Gospels of the only Divine Friend this world has ever had orever will have, we read of a Voice, a 'Voice in the Wilderness.' Therehave been thousands of such Voices;—most of them ineffectual. Allthrough the world's history their echoes form a part of the universalrecord, and from the very beginning of time they have sounded forththeir warnings or entreaties in vain. The Wilderness has never cared tohear them. The Wilderness does not care to hear them now.
Why, then, do I add an undesired note to the chorus of rejected appeal?How dare I lift up my voice in the Wilderness, when other voices, farstronger and sweeter, are drowned in the laughter of fools and themockery of the profane? Truly, I do not know. But I am sure that I amnot moved by egotism or arrogance. It is simply out of love and pityfor suffering human kind that I venture to become another Voicediscarded—a voice which, if heard at all, may only serve to awaken thecheap scorn and derision of the clowns of the piece.
Yet, should this be so, I would not have it otherwise, I have never atany time striven to be one with the world, or to suit my speechpliantly to the conventional humour of the moment. I am often attacked,yet am not hurt; I am equally often praised, and am not elated. I haveno time to attend to the expression of opinions, which, whether good orbad, are to me indifferent. And whatever pain I have felt or feel, inexperiencing human malice, has been, and is, in the fact that humanmalice should exist at all,—not for its attempted wrong towardsmyself. For I, personally speaking, have not a moment to waste amongthe mere shadows of life which are not Life itself. I follow theglory,—not the gloom.
So whether you, who wander in darkness of your own making, care to cometowards the little light which leads me onward, or whether you preferto turn away from me altogether into your self-created darker depths,is not my concern. I cannot force you to bear me company. God Himselfcannot do that, for it is His Will and Law that each human soul shallshape its own eternal future. No one mortal can make the happiness orsalvation of another. I, like yourselves, am in the 'Wilderness,'—butI know that there are ways of making it blossom like the rose!Yet,—were all my heart and all my love outpoured upon you, I could notteach you the Divine transfiguring charm,—unless you, equally with allyour hearts and all your love, resolutely and irrevocably WILLED tolearn.
Nevertheless, despite your possible indifference,—your often sheerinertia—I cannot pass you by, having peace and comfort for myselfwithout at least offering to share that peace and co