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THE FAITH HEALER
even have his own flesh and bones wif 'im!
Beeler. What's that?
Uncle Abe. (Holds up his right hand, which he eyes with superstitious interest.) Put dis hyar han' right frough him!—Shore's you're bo'n. Right plum' frough 'im whar he lives.
Culpepper. Mediæval! Absolutely mediæval!
Littlefield. Not a bit of it. It's up to date, and a little more, too.
Culpepper. I'm astonished that you take this situation flippantly.
Littlefield. Not for a minute. My bread and butter are at stake. (Wickedly.) Yours too, you know.
(Mrs. Beeler enters, alone, from the hall. She is in a state of vague alarm. Her husband hastens to help her.)
Mrs. Beeler. What is it? What is the matter? I thought I heard—
(She breaks off, as a murmur of voices rises outside. There is a sound of stumbling and crowding on the outer steps, and violent knocking. The outer door is forced open, and a crowd of excited people is about to pour into the room. Beeler, the Doctor, and the Preacher are able to force the crowd back only after several have made an entrance.)
Beeler. Keep back! You can't come in here.
(As he pushes them roughly back, excited voices speak together.)
Voices in the Crowd. Where is he?—They say he's gone away. We seen his boy makin' for the woods.—Oh, it's not true! Make him come out.
Beeler. Curse you, keep back, I say!
(Rhoda has entered from the hall, and Martha from the kitchen. The two women support Mrs. Beeler, who remains standing, the fear deepening in her face.)
A Voice. (On the outskirts of the crowd.) Where's he gone to?
Beeler. He's here. In the next room. Keep back! Here he comes now.
(Michaelis appears in the hall door. There is a low murmur of excitement, expectation, and awe among the people crowded in the entrance. Beeler crosses to help his wife, and the other men step to one side, leaving Michaelis to confront the crowd alone. Confused, half-whispered exclamations:)
Voices in the Crowd. Hallelujah! Emmanuel!
A Negro. Praise de Lamb.
A Woman. (Above the murmuring voices.) "He hath arisen, and His enemies are scattered."
Michaelis. Who said that?
(A woman, obscurely seen in the crowd, lifts her hands and cries again, this time in a voice ecstatic and piercing.)
A Woman. "The Lord hath arisen, and His enemies are scattered!"
Michaelis. His enemies are scattered! Year after year I have heard His voice calling me—and year after year I have said, "Show me the way." And He showed me the way. He brought me to this house, and He raised up the believing multitude around me. But in that hour I failed Him, I failed Him. He has smitten me, as His enemies are smitten.—As a whirlwind He has scattered me and taken my strength from me forever. (He advances into the room, with a gesture backward through the open door.) In yonder room a child lies dead on its mother's knees, and the mother's eyes follow me with curses. (At the news of the child's death, Mrs. Beeler has sunk with a low moan into a chair, where she lies white and motionless. Michaelis turns to her.) And here lies one who rose at my call, and was as one risen; but now—(He breaks off, raises his hand to her, and speaks in a voice of pleading.) Arise, my sister! (She makes a feeble gesture of the left hand.) Rise up once more, I beseech you!
(She attempts to rise, but falls back helpless.)
Beeler. (Bending over her.) Can't you get up, Mother?
(She shakes her head.)
Michaelis. (Turning to the people.) Despair not, for another will come, and another and yet another, to show you the way. But as for me— (He sinks down by the table, and gazes before him, muttering in a tragic whisper.) Broken! Broken! Broken!
ACT THIRD.
The next morning, just before sunrise. Both door and windows are open, and a