Page:The torrent and The night before.djvu/54

 Signs of a hundred beers and whiskies Flashed from the walls above, and the mirrors And glasses behind the bar were lighted In some strange way, and into my spirit A thousand shafts of terrible fire Burned like death, and I fell.—The story Of what came then, you know.

But tell me, What does the whole thing mean?—What are we— Slaves of an awful ignorance?—puppets Pulled by a fiend?—or gods without knowing it? Do we shut from ourselves our own salvation,— Or what do we do!—I tell you, Domine, There are times in the lives of us poor devils When heaven and hell get mixed:—though conscience May come like a whisper of Christ to warn us Away from our sins, it is lost or laughed at,— And then we fall. And for all who have fallen— Even for him—I hold no malice, Nor much compassion: a mightier mercy Than mine must shrieve him.—And I,—I am going Into the light?—or into the darkness? Why do I sit through these sickening hours, And hope?—Good God! are they hours!—hours? Yes!—I am done with days. And to-morrow— We two may meet! To-morrow! To-morrow!