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{{Style P-No indent|expressions.<ref>Blavatsky, op. cit.</ref> Light on the Path was finished and published in London (by Reeves & Turner, 196, Strand) in the early part of 1885, after H. P. B.’s departure for India. It is described on the title-page as “ A Treatise written for the Personal Use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern Wisdom, and who desire to enter within its Influence"; a Triangle appears in place of the author, and to this is added: “Written down by M. C., A Fellow of The {{Page aside|429}}Theosophical Society.” This first edition consists of only 31 small pages, embodying the two sets of 21 rules each, and is bound in a grayish binding.}}
{{Style P-No indent|expressions.<ref>Blavatsky, op. cit.</ref> Light on the Path was finished and published in London (by Reeves & Turner, 196, Strand) in the early part of 1885, after H. P. B.’s departure for India. It is described on the title-page as “A Treatise written for the Personal Use of those who are ignorant of the Eastern Wisdom, and who desire to enter within its Influence”; a Triangle appears in place of the author, and to this is added: “Written down by M. C., A Fellow of The {{Page aside|429}}Theosophical Society.” This first edition consists of only 31 small pages, embodying the two sets of 21 rules each, and is bound in a grayish binding.}}


It appears that H. P. B. did not actually see this booklet until it was given to her by Arthur Gebhard in the summer of 1886, when she had returned to Europe and was living at Wurzburg.
It appears that H. P. B. did not actually see this booklet until it was given to her by Arthur Gebhard in the summer of 1886, when she had returned to Europe and was living at Wurzburg.
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{{Page aside|430}}
{{Page aside|430}}
Even H. P. B. herself considered the sentence first quoted as dangerous, and spoke of Rule 20 as one “whose Occult venom and close relationship to Tantrika Black Magic has never been suspected by the innocent and sincere admirers of this otherwise priceless little book, the main body of which only was dictated by a true Adept, and the rest added from the inner consciousness of Miss Mabel Collins. ...”<ref>Letter of H. P. B. to J. R. Bridge, sometime in 1889. Of. The Theosophical Forum, Point Loma, Calif., Vol. XXII, September, 1944, pp. 419-20.</ref>


Early in 1887 another priceless booklet from the pen of Mabel Collins, ostensibly from the same source, although, perhaps, not under the same degree of inspiration, made its appearance. It was entitled Through the Gates of Gold: A Fragment of Thought.<ref>Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, 1887. 111 pp.; 2nd ed., London: Ward and Downey, 1887. 152 pp.; also J. M. Watkins, 1901.</ref> Its pages contain some profound occult truths and most valuable hints.
When the second edition of this booklet was published, Mabel Collins added to it a brief prefatory Note which said:
“Once, as I sat alone writing, a mysterious Visitor entered my study unannounced, and stood beside me. I forgot to ask who he was or why he entered so unceremoniously, for he began to tell me of the Gates of Gold. He spoke from knowledge, and from the fire of his speech I caught faith. I have written down his words; but alas, I cannot hope that the fire shall burn as brightly in my writing as in his speech.
{{Style P-Signature|M.C.”}}
In a letter to the Editor of The Path, dated from London, July 17, 1887, Mabel Collins says that she intends to add the same Note to subsequent editions of The Idyll of the White Lotus and Light on the Path, to counteract the mistaken impression on the part of some readers that this Note constitutes a separate claim for the “ Gates of Gold ” alone. She says:
“...........That book and the ‘Idyll of the White Lotus’ were written in the same manner. As to ‘Light on the Path’ that is a collection of axioms which I found written on the walls of a certain place to which I obtained admission, and I made notes of them as I saw them. ...”<ref>The Path, Vol. II, Sept., 1887, p. 188.</ref>
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The active association of Mabel Collins with the Theosophical work was but of short duration, and consisted mainly in her being Co-Editor of Lucifer with H. P. B. herself, from the time of its starting, in September, 1887, to approximately late Fall of 1888. Sometime during the year of 1888, differences began to develop between H. P. B. and Mabel Collins, and the latter fell gravely ill. The complete story of these difficulties is not easy to ascertain at this late date. It is reasonable to assume, however, that they were largely due to the unstable temperament of Mabel Collins, her characteristics as a strong “sensitive,” with mediumistic tendency, and also most likely to her own occult tests and trials, as a would-be disciple, as well as to the personal idiosyncrasies of H. P. B. herself, which no honest student will deny.
In July, 1888, H. P. B. had to step in as an anonymous co-author of the story “The Blossom and the Fruit,” which was then running serially in Lucifer over the signature of Mabel Collins. All went smoothly with the story until near the end when H. P. B. observed that the author was beginning to mislead her readers. She saved the situation in the last chapters so skilfully that it is impossible to detect the complete change from the false dénouement Mabel Collins was leading up to. The last two installments of this story are signed “ Mabel Collins and – –.”<ref>For further data concerning this story, vide pp. 91-93 in the present Volume.</ref>
In October of the same year H. P. B. assumed sole Editorship of Lucifer, publishing an Editorial Notice to this effect,<ref>Vol. II, p. 136.</ref> though Mabel Collins’ name remained on the cover until February, 1889.
After the starting of the Esoteric Section, which had been openly organized in the Fall of 1888, H. P. B. refused at first to accept Mabel Collins as a probationer therein, until the latter implored her to do so. On the evidence of several contemporary co-workers, Mabel Collins was not what might be termed a student of Theosophy, knew in reality very little about the teachings, and had no real understanding of the purposes and aims of H. P. B.’s work. She was placed on probation, and within a very short time failed dismally, on the strength of H. P. B.’s own words to this effect.<ref>Preliminary Memorandum to E.S. Instructions No. 111.</ref> She was subsequently expelled from the E.S.
It must be said in this connection that towards the beginning of the year 1889, Mabel Collins experienced, it would seem, a complete {{Page aside|432}}change of heart and went so far as to deny any special inspiration in regard to her mystical works, stating at the same time that any claim to this effect was made at the request of H. P. Blavatsky. She fell under the insidious influence of Professor Elliot Coues, of Washington, D. C., whose personal ambitions in his Theosophical work finally led to his expulsion from the Society. Acting under this influence, Mabel Collins in July, 1889. brought suit in England against H. P. B. for libel. When the case came for trial in July, 1890, a certain letter written by Mabel Collins was shown by H. P. B.’s attorney to the counsel for Mabel Collins, who thereupon asked the Court to dismiss the case, which was done.<ref>The Path, Vol. V, August, 1890, p. 154.</ref>
To the period of her life outlined above belong several other novels which came from Mabel Collins’ pen in rapid succession, such as: The Prettiest Woman in Warsaw. London: Ward & Downey, 1885. 3 vols. 8vo.; also New York: G. Munro, 1886, and Lovell Co., 1888.—Lord Vanecourt’s Daughter. London: Ward & Downey, 1885; New York: Harper & Bros., 1886.—Ida·. An Adventure in Morocco. London: Ward & Downey, 1890. 8vo; also New York: Lovell Co., 1890.—The Confession of a Woman. New York: Lovell Co., 1890.—A Debt of Honour, ibid., 1891; London: Remington & Co., 1892.—The Story of an Heiress. New York: U.S. Book Co., 1892.—Suggestion. A novel. New York: Gestefeld & Co., 1892. She also produced two unfriendly parodies of things Theosophical entitled Morial the Mahatma, New York: Gestefeld & Co., 1892. 270 pp.; and The Mahatma: A Tale of Modern Theosophy. London: Downey, 1895; published anonymously.
It has been asserted by James Morgan Pryse,<ref>The Canadian Theosophist, Vol. IX, September, 1928.</ref> that H. P. B., when speaking to him in London on the subject of Mabel Collins, harboured no bitterness towards her, but of course regretted the breakdown and defection of a promising pupil and an accomplished writer. When he saw Miss Collins, sometime after H. P. B.’s passing, he assured her that the latter had cherished no grudge against her, and that Mrs. Besant would welcome her return to the Movement. After first having spoken quite harshly of H. P. B., Miss Collins soon changed her attitude, and accepted Pryse’s assurances; she appeared to Pryse to be as repentant as H. P. B. had been forgiving. Mabel Collins was re-instated in the Society but did not stay in it very long.
In later years, there came from her pen a number of novels and other smaller booklets, several of them of a mystical trend. The latter ones, though falling short of those she had produced under special inspiration, contain nevertheless some beautiful thoughts. {{Page aside|433}}They should be read, however, with great caution, lest the student accept as truth various imaginative accounts which do not present in a trustworthy manner the occult precepts and teachings of genuine esoteric schools. With the exception of one or two already mentioned, they are:
Juliet’s Lovers. London: Ward & Downey, 1893. 3 vols. 8vo.— Green Leaves. London: Kegan Paul & Co., 1895. 8vo. (Cf. The Theos., Vol. XVI, p. 528).—The Story of the Tear. London: George Redway, 1895. The strange ideas contained in this booklet brought forth a very emphatic protest from the pen of Annie Besant in the pages of Lucifer (Vol. XVII, pp. 435-36), a protest we feel fully justified, as these ideas are not consonant with genuine training for discipleship.—Pleasure and Pain. London: Isis Pub. Co., 1897.—The Star Sapphire. A novel. London: Ward & Downey; New York: Roberts Bros., 1896. 8vo.; also 1902.—A Cry from Afar. To students of Light on the Path. London: Theos. Publ. Soc., 1905. 8vo. 54 pp.; also 1913 and 1954.—Illusions, ibid., 1905. 8vo. 71 pp.—Love’s Chaplet, ibid., 1905. 8vo. 64 pp.—The Awakening, ibid., 1906. 8vo. 102 pp.— The Builders, ibid., 1907. 70 pp.—“The Disciple,” The Theosophist, 1907-08.— One Life, One Law, ibid., 1909. 8vo.—Fragments of Thought and Life, ibid., 1908. 8vo. 121 pp.—The Transparent Jewel. On the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali. London: Rider & Co., 1912. 8vo. 142 pp.—The Story of Sensa. An Interpretation of The Idyll of the White Lotus. London: Theos. Publ. Soc., 1913. 8vo.; also New York: Lovell Co., 1913.—The Crucible, ibid., 1914. 8vo. 125 pp.—As the Flower Grows. Some Visions and Interpretations. London: Theos. Publ. Soc., 1915. 8vo. 112 pp.—Our Glorious Future. An Interpretation of Light on the Path. Edinburgh: Theos. Bookshop, 1917. 8vo. 115 pp.—The Locked Room. A true Story of Experiences in Spiritualism. London: Theos. Publ. House, 1920, 8vo. 176 pp.
Mabel Collins wrote also in collaboration with Helen Bourchier The Scroll of the Disembodied Man. London: J. M. Watkins, 1904. 8vo. 38 pp.;<ref>Cf. The Theos., Vol. XXV, pp. 567-68, for an analysis.</ref> and with Charlotte Despard a work entitled Outlawed, dealing with the woman suffrage question. London: Henry J. Drame, 1908. 8vo. 314 pp.
She had left with Maud Hoffmann, A. P. Sinnett’s executrix, the MSS. of a mystery play in three acts, adapted from The Idyll of the White Lotus. This play, entitled Sensa, was published in 1950 by the Theosophical University Press, Covina, Calif.
For the last twelve years of her life Mabel Collins lived with Mrs. Catherine Metcalf, and for several years suffered from heart trouble. She passed away March 31, 1927.
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Our appraisal of the mistakes and most unfortunate actions on the part of Mabel Collins should at all times be tempered by the realization that she was a very unusual type of a “sensitive,” endowed with at least some degree of clairvoyant consciousness, and a strongly marked duality. Such people are apt to go to extremes, and to make serious blunders mainly due to their uncontrolled imagination. They are also frequently open to impressions coming from sources that are misleading and treacherous. Her life-story, however, should teach us that it is not invariably the immaculate persons who are selected to perform some specific work for the good of the human race. The self-righteous students of Theosophy who have upon occasion dwelt very harshly upon her failings, would have judged her more charitably if they had really known the many difficult karmic drawbacks and conflicting influences against which she had to contend.
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'''Corelli, Marie (pseud, of Mary Mackay, 1864-1924)'''. *The Romance of Two Worlds. New York: H.M. Caldwell, 1887. 324 pp., ill.; 30th ed., 1910.
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'''Cory, Isaac Preston (1802-1842)'''. English miscellaneous writer. Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge; B.A., 1824; M.A., 1827. Died at Blundestone, Suffolk, April 1, 1842. Author of the rare work: *Ancient Fragments of the Phoenician, Chaldean, Egyptian, Tyrian, Carthaginian, Indian, Persian, and Other Writers. With an Introductory Dissertation. London: William Pickering, 1828. 8vo.; 2nd enl. ed., ibid., 1832. lix, 361 pp. Greek, Latin and English texts. To this work is added his “Inquiry into the Method, Objects, and Result of Ancient and Modern Philosophy, and into the Trinity of the Gentiles.” The 3rd ed., edited by E. Richmond Hodges (London: Reeves and Turner, 1876), is much less valuable as it lacks the “Chaldean Oracles” and the “Inquiry.” Cory published also a Chronological Inquiry into the Ancient History of Egypt, 1837, and a Practical Treatise on Accounts, etc., 1839.
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'''Courtney, Herbert L'''. *The New Gospel of Hylo-Idealism or Positive Agnosticism .... repr. from “Our Corner.” London: Freethought Publ. Co., 1888. 8vo. 23 pp.
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'''Crawford, F. Marion (1854-1909)'''. *Mr. Isaacs, a Tale of Modern India. London: Macmillan & Co., 1882. 8vo. 316 pp.—*Zoroaster. London: ibid., 1885. 8vo.
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'''Curtius, Georg'''. German classical philologist, b. at Lübeck, April 16, 1820; d. at Hermsdorf bei Warmbrunn, Aug. 12, 1885. Held philological appointments at Prague, Kiel and Leipzig, between the years 1849 and 1862. Contributed notably to the science of comparative philology, his philosophical theories exercising a widespread influence at the time. He was a brother of Ernst Curtius (1814-96), well-known archaeologist and historian, and tutor to {{Page aside|435}}Emperor Frederick III when a boy. The chief works of Georg Curtius are: *Grundzüge der griechischen Etymologie. Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 1858-62; 5th ed., 1879. Transi, into English by A. S. Wilkins and E. B. England, as *Principles of Greek Etymology. London: J. Murray, 1875 and 1886.—Griechische Schulgrammatik, 1852, passed through 20 editions, and has been tr. in English.— Die Sprachvergleichung in ihrem Verhältniss zur Classischen Philologie, 1845; Engl. tr. by F. H. Trithen, 1851.{{Vertical space|}}
'''Decharme, Paul'''. French professor and hellenist, b. at Beaume, Dec. 15, 1839; d. at Vaudréxnont, 1905. After prelim, studies joined the Ecole d’Athènes, becoming later Prof, of Greek language and literature at Univ, of Nancy. Head of this Dpt., 1883-86. Taught Greek poetry at Univ, of Paris, 1887. Works: *Mythologie de la Grèce antique. Paris: Garnier frères, 1879. 8vo. xxxv, 644 pp.; 2nd rev. and corr. ed., ibid., 1886. xxxvii, 693 pp.—Les Muses, etc., 1869.—La critique des traditions religieuses chez les grecs, 1904.— Contributed to the Dictionnaire des ant. grecs et romaines of Daremberg and Saglio, and to the Revue de Vhistoire des religions.
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