"The beast is retribution for the sins of men!" Father Beacom said, raising his voice.  "The only real defense is to forsake the material world for Justicia!" 

Felmer's curiosity showed him what appeared to be a relatively normal "junk collection": a wooden chair with a cracked leg, a clay jug, a small crate with drying herbs laid on top, and an oil lamp with a sooty chimney was about all he could see without opening the crates.