The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-24
For tho National Era
coPYRIGHT SECURED BY THE AUTHoR.l
MARK SUTHERLAND:
OR,
P0WER AND PRINCIPLE
BY EMMA d. r.. N. soUTHwoRTH.
CHAP. VII.
Reaction.
For the National Era.

CHAP. VII.
Reaction
Pray Heaven for frmness thy whole soul TO bend
To this thy purpose--to begin, pursue
With thoughts ali fixed and feelings purely kind
Strength TO complete, and with delight review,
And grace TO give the praise where all Is due
CharieS Wikeor
1t was over. Until this, he had not realized
his true position Nay, no did not fully realize
il now He sat, as one stunned in the seat into
which he had dropped when the door closed
behind her. Until now, he had been elevated
by a high enthusiasm in his purpose, and sup
ported by firm faith in her sympathy and Co
operation-a faith the strength Of which he
had not known until it was stricken from him,
and he was left weaker than child.
Why! it really had not seemed so great a
sacrifice TO resign wealth and position with her
smiles and words-with her cordial, affection
ate concurrence. And how often the picture
had glowed before his imagination, as he re.
called her kindIing cheek and kinding eye
and fervent admiration, while reading with
him of some heroic deed Of self-devotion in an
other. And when he thought Of oil that earnest
enthusiasm with himself for it's object--tor-
give him, it was no better than lovers aspi-
ration, perhaps but all his sonl took fire at
the image, and all things seemed easy 10 do, to
be, or TO suffer, for such an uDspeakable joy |!
That he should be her Curtius, her Bayard, her
Hampden, Sydney, her heroi And until now
be had believed this and had lived and acted
under a strange illusion. And if for an instant
his faith in her had ever been shaken, it was
merely as the Christian believers trust il
shaken, only 10 strike its roots the deeper after
the jar.
But now----oh this was indeed the bitter
ness of death In the first stunned moment
after his fall from such height Of confidence
and Joy, into such q depth Of desolation and
wretchedness, he could scarcely believe in his
misery, far lcss analyse il and detect ts hidden
and bittersst element. And ttis was It's bitterest
element--the ascertained unworthness Of his
India! her utter unworthiness This was the
weapon that had felIed him TO the earth. This
was the fang Of the adder, struck deep in his
heart, and poisoning all his soul with what :
With distrust !---dstrnst of her, Of himself, Of
all men and women! As yet, all this he felt,
without acknowledging nay, without percsiv.
ing II. He rat there.as one in trance. And
ths hours that passed over him were ~ q
blank.
He was aroused by psychological disturb
ance. IL was the advent OF the Temper To his
soul-the Tsmpter, with his hopeful, consoline
suggestions, insinustioor, and sophistries.
Why should he immolsts himself upon the
altar Of , principle that ons.half the Christian
world would consider mere madness! And
how IT. after ell, II scas madness' How il he
YVES selfdeceivcd f-actuated by fanadcism,
and NOT by legitimate herosm. She whose
whole soul he'd glowsd at the mere mention Of
= deed Of true uisgnanimity--s whose sppro.
baton hid been the ardently. desired reward Of
his saeri6ce--the object Of his young heart.
passionate aspraton--bow had she regarded