WRECKS. AND CATASTROPHES 109

The result astounded him, and he at once put his
vessel about and stood off from the coast, though it
was not until morning came that he realized bow
close he had been to an appalling disaster.

Often, however, a catastrophe is karmic in its
nature, and consequently cannot be averted; but it
must not therefore be supposed that in such cases
no help can be given. It may be that the people
concerned are destined to die, and therefore cannot
be saved from death; but in many cases they may
still be to some extent prepared for it, and may
certainly be helped upon the other side after it is
over. Indeed, it may be definitely stated that
whenever a great catastrophe of any kind takes
place, there is also a special sending of help.

Two recent cases in which such help was given
were the sinking of the "Drummond Castle" off
Cape Ushant, and the terrible cyclone which de-
vastated the city of St. Louis in America. On both
these occasions a few minutes' notice was given, and
the helpers did their best to calm and raise men's
minds, so that when the shock came upon them it
was less disturbing than it might otherwise have
been. Naturally, however, the greater part of the
work done with the victims in both these calamities
was done upon the astral plane after they had left
their physical bodies; but of this we shall speak
later.