In the depths of sin

Roni Ricardo Osorio Maia

The book Nas voragens do pecado (In the Depths of Sin) is a part of the well-known Yvonne Pereira Trilogy, dictated by the Spirit Charles to the medium Yvonne do Amaral Pereira, in which she presents herself as the main character, Ruth-Carolina, one of her past incarnations. The gripping and deeply emotional plot, full of passion, unfolds in the 16th century, during a time of strong Catholic dominance in France. Amid the fervor of that period, there is a clear lack of understanding of the Law of Cause and Effect. What follows is our synopsis of the story, which takes place in France during the winter of 1572.

The narrative begins on October 20, 1572. Ruth-Carolina takes up residence at Louvigny-Raymond Castle, posing as Otília de Louvigny in a premeditated act of revenge. Accompanying her are the servants Lady Blandina D’Alembert, Camillo, and Gregório. The story then flashes back to August 24 of the same year, during the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, orchestrated by Pope Gregory XIII in collusion with the French sovereign government. The Duke of Guise, leader of the Holy League, led the extermination of the Protestant Huguenots. The narrative then returns to October of that same year, when the woman pretending to be Otília accepts the courtship of Louis de Narbonne, the Captain of the Faith.

Before moving forward, it is important to note that the Brethencourt family, philanthropists who lived in northeastern France, on the banks of the Rhine River near the German border were followers of Martin Luther’s teachings. The family’s head was Count Charles Philippe, who had adopted the title La-Chapelle as part of his name. They held worship services based on the Holy Scriptures, grounded in Protestant theology. However, the family was denounced for these practices, and a troop led by Captain Louis de Narbonne raided their countryside estate, wiping out the entire Brethencourt de La-Chapelle clan.

The adopted son of Monsignor de B, Louis de Narbonne was the illegitimate child of King Henry II and a lady of the Court, a fact well known to the widowed queen, Catherine de’ Medici. She was in charge of the kingdom due to the illness of her son, King Charles IX. Narbonne was recruited to lead the troops under the orders of the Duke of Guise, who was a great supporter of violently eliminating the Protestants. In addition to commanding the royal guard, Narbonne studied Catholic theology, becoming a radical adherent of the faith. He was the one who led the cavalry that stormed the La-Chapelle estate, exterminating the entire clan.

Ruth-Carolina, the beautiful youngest daughter of that Lutheran household, was absent during the massacre and was therefore spared. Her brother, Charles Philippe II, hid her in the house of his fiancée, Otília de Louvigny, a mansion located on German lands, across the border and separated by the Rhine River. Her kind-hearted brother had foreseen the tragedy that would befall their family and took action to spare little sister.

Otília fell ill and made a deal with her sister-in-law to take revenge on the Captain of the Faith, revealing to him Narbonne’s past. She then asked Ruth to return to Paris and assume her identity. Taking on the persona of Otília, the young daughter of the La-Chapelle family, who was unknown in the French capital, set out to lure the Captain of the Faith in order to avenge her family’s death. The encounter between them took place during a mass. It is worth noting that Louis was a friend of Arthur, Otília’s brother, but was unaware of her true identity.

At a certain point in the story, Ruth meets Queen Catherine, an impassive and calculating woman, and manages to secure an audience with her. Ruth then reveals her cunning plan, and Catherine de’ Medici agrees to help her. The sovereign arranges for Colonel Arthur de Louvigny to be kept away from the city for a long period, so the impostor can act freely.

Ruth (as Otília) becomes the Countess of Louvigny, gaining access to the Louvre Palace as a member of the queen’s secret service. She informs Catherine of Louis’s lineage, “the bastard of the Valois”, and his connection to King Henry II, a fact the real Otília had known before her disincarnation.

The wedding between Ruth and Narbonne is arranged. Monsignor de B, mentor of the Captain of the Faith, aware of the real Otília’s death, uncovers the Protestant woman’s deception. Ruth is then subjugated by the spirit of Otília de Louvigny. After the wedding, her lady-in-waiting urges them to flee, but to no avail.

During the presentation ball of the Countess of S. — Princess of Narbonne — Ruth’s true identity is exposed by the private officer of the Duke of Guise, Reginald de Troulles. He had previously denounced the Brethencourt de La-Chapelle family. Together with Monsignor de B, he unmasks the impostor. Now married, Ruth receives support from Frederic de G, a family friend. From Germany, he learns of the events and offers to help her. Confronted by Reginald and Monsignor de B, Ruth’s true identity is publicly revealed. As a last resort, she asks the servant Camilo to deliver a letter to the queen, aiming to incriminate Narbonne.

Upon learning the truth about Ruth, Louis de Narbonne does not condemn her, moved by his love for her. After realizing his wife’s deceitful plan, Louis locks himself in the room with her. Ruth persuades him to leave, under the pretense of going to confess at the church. In reality, her plan was to escape and reunite with Frederic de G in Germany.

Narbonne goes to the Louvre Palace carrying a letter from his wife, but the queen orders his arrest. Monsignor de B and Reginald plead on Louis’s behalf, but to no avail. The Captain of the Faith becomes a prisoner, left to die in the foul dungeon beneath the Louvre..

Ruth-Carolina, who despite everything loved Narbonne, regreted her actions and tried to return to Paris. However, threatened by Catherine de’ Medici, she is forbidden from reentering France.

Ten years pass, and the spirit of Louis wanders through familiar places in his homeland. He recognizes his former spiritual family and discovers the kin he had once cruelly destroyed. He receives unconditional forgiveness from his mother, Carolina. By then, Ruth-Carolina had already disincarnated after an illness. In the spirit world, under the care of the matriarch of the La-Chapelle family, Ruth is reunited with Louis de Narbonne. Otília, however, remains far away, engaged in serious reparations. Ruth and Narbonne are then informed of their upcoming reincarnations, meant for redemption.

Dear readers this is a novel rich in essential elements filled with plot twists, dramatic action, and strategic interests, with escalating tension from beginning to end. It presents an engaging narrative that teaches us that only reincarnation, a sacred opportunity granted by the Father, can set straight the paths we have distorted through past transgressions. The characters in this book belong to a spiritual family that has journeyed together since the third century of the Christian Era. Ruth, however, was the only one who had strayed from the Christian principles.