He remembered how, in the atmosphere it had created--an intoxication, a soothing exhilaration and pervasive thrill--he had saved so many of his followers.

Since then the temptation had come upon him often when trouble weighed or difficulties surrounded him--accompanied always by recurrence of fever--to resort to the insidious medicine.

Though he had fought the temptation with every inch of his strength, he could too well understand those who sought for "surcease of pain".
"Seeking for surcease of pain, Pilgrim to Lethe I came; Drank not, for pride was too keen, Stung by the sound of a name!" As the plough of action had gone deep into his life and laid bare his nature to the light, there had been exposed things which struggled for life and power in him, with the fiery strength which only evil has.
The western heavens were aglow.

On every hand the gorse and the may were in bloom, the lilacs were coming to their end, but wild rhododendrons were glowing in the bracken, as he stepped along the road towards the place where he was born.

Though every tree and roadmark was familiar, yet he was conscious of a new outlook.