Evening journal., 1892-12-14
KAMA RUPA.

IL was at the close OF an interesting
| discussion Of Theosophical matters that
my friend made the remark:
"Well, won't say there is nothing in
it, but in my opinion it is altogether too
abstruse and complicated for universal
comprehension and adoption. A re-
llgion to obtain among the masses must
be simple and easily understood, and
there never win be one SO fitting as that
of the Christ. Still, there is one thing
Theosophy teaches in which am firm
believer, and in that but one Of thou
sauds. That is the principle of Kama
Rupa, or the survival after death of
the evil spirit which has animated de-
praved man or woman in life.
| This spirit fingers about the scene of
Its earth life, seeking to influence others
| TO wickedness, or it seeks out the lowest
haunts of vice and degradation where
evil natures gather, and tastes and
habits similar to its own are gratifed.
Sometimes it is attracted to nature
essentially wicked, but weak, and enters
in and dwells with it. Sometimes the
influence 10 only felt, and again the
demon spirit is 50 Indignantly strong as
to be at times visible. l had a con-
vincing experience last summer He
paused and looked at me, a somber light
in his fine eyes.
"Tell it, (" insinuatingly.
"You will not believe it, and will dish
it up for the delectation of your news
paper readers"
"Of course"
You are honest at any rate. Well,
you shall have the facts. | am not sure
it will not be a relief to talk about it.
Last summer l, in company with sew
eral others, took possession of an old
manor house, romantically situated on
high point Of the Maryland sidesoE
Chesapeake bay. None Of us had been
in that locality before, and had gone on
the recommendation Of Roger Kent, a
real estate agent in whose hands the
property was for rent or sale.
"The party consisted of thirteen, but
this was not noted until after our ar
rival there. There were my father and
mother, the Kents pere and mere),
Roger and his sister Hope, who was my
| promised wife; my cousins Rose and
Haydn Upton and two young married
couples, named jackson and Cairns.
These with myself made up the party.
and you might search the world over and
not find such another happy one as that
when the steamer deposited it at the
foot of the bluff that lovely July day.
"We all lived on the same street at
home, and had been friends and neigh.
bors all our lives. Father and Mr.. Kent
had been partners in business for thirty
years Each knew the other to be a
man Of the strictest integrity, and moth
ing had ever come between them.
worshiped Hope Kent and she seemed 10
return my love. Roger was very much
inlove with Cousin Rose, and her brother
was very plainly smitten with my sweet
heart, though this last gave me not one
pang Of jealousy, such confidence had
in her. The two other couples We're
models of connubial happiness, never
quite content when out Of each others
sight.
Everybody was pleased with their
new quarters and predicted a most en-
joyable summer. 1t was a huge, ram
bling old lhbnse afull Of crooked passages
and winding stairs, and upon our ar
rival we scattered over it, each selecting
the room that took his fancy. There
were half a dozen parlors and sitting
rooms, but the one that pleased us most
for a general place Of assembly fronted
on the bay, as we never tired of watch
ing the blue sparkling water. The room
was scantily furnished, as was the whole
house, in fact, but there was a charm
about the queer, old time belongings 70
which we modern men and women We're
peculiarly susceptible.
"On the north Of the room four long
windows afforded a glorious view, while
on the east the same number let in the
morning sunshine. On the south a
heavily drafed archway led into the
library, raj ner gloomy apartment, but
it soon came to be much frequented be-
cause of the rows of old, old books still
upon its shelves. Opening from this
was a bedroom, SO horribly gloomy with
its black furniture and trappings that
we involuntarily shuddered on crossing
its Threshold, and not one of the COM
| pany would consent to occupy it. There
seemed something eerie in its mustv
! atmosphere, and all confessed to a feel
ing of relief when the door was closed
and locked behind us, never to my
knowledge to be reopened during our
day.
Il am thus particular in describing
this part Of the house because Of what
followed. For a time all went well.
We younger ones sailed on the bay,
picnicked in the wood back of the house
and made excursions to various points
Of interest. Everybody seemed ideally
happy The only jar was felt BY myself,
when Haydn Upton was too graciouslv
smiled upon by my divinity, or in his
case when was in first favor, as was
my right.
"The elders seemed equally happy and
content in their quieter modes Of pass
ing away the long, drowsy summer
hours. The first sign of the presence Of
the serpent in our Eden was on return.
ing one day from an excursion found
my father and Mr.. Kent engaged in
heated argument. Both men were an
cry, but on my inquiring as to the cause