strength returns and the new life begins. This leads
us to the consideration of heaven and hell. Hell, I
may say, drops out altogether, as it has long dropped
out of the thoughts of every reasonable man. This
odious conception, so blasphemous in its view of the
Creator, arose from the exaggerations of Oriental
phrases, and may perhaps have been of service in a
coarse age where men were frightened by fires, as wild
beasts are seared by the travellers. Hell as a
permanent place does not exist. But the idea of
punishment, of purifying chastisement, in fact of
Purgatory, is justified by the reports from the other
side. Without such punishment there could be no
justice in the Universe, for how impossible it would be
to imagine that the fate of a Rasputin is the same as
that of a Father Damien. The punishment is very
certain and very serious, though in its less severe
forms it only consists in the fact that the grosser
souls are in lower spheres with a knowledge that their
own deeds have placed them there, but also with the
hope that expiation and the help of those above them
will educate them and bring them level with the others.
In this saving process the higher spirits find part of
their employment. Miss Julia Ames in her beautiful
posthumous book, says in memorable words: "The
greatest joy of Heaven is emptying Hell."

Setting aside those probationary spheres, which
should perhaps rather be looked upon as a hospital for
weakly souls than as a penal community, the reports