第章

Schlossenger，whowastravelingoverthecountryafewyearsago。

IwasresidingatthattimeinFallsCity，Neb。，aplaceofafewthousandpopulation。FortwowintersIhadtraveledsomeasamagician，sowhenthemediumcametotown，andbegantoperformhismiracles，certainmembersofthecommunitysuggestedhavingmewitnessoneofhisseances，thinkingIwouldbeabletodiscoverwhetherhistestsweregenuine，orwhethertheywereperformedbytheaidoftrickery。Accordingly，oneevening，aprominentphysicianinvitedme，withcertainrelativesandfriends，toattendaseancegiveninhisparlors。

WhenwearrivedIwasintroducedtothemedium，anelderlygentlemanwithalongwhitebeard，andwearingglasses。Heappearedtobeslightlydeaf，asheplacedhishandtohisearandhadmynamerepeated。Hewasintroducedtotheremainderofthecompanyenmasse，thenamesofthevisitorsnotbeinggiventohim。

Themediumsoonannouncedthat“hismissiononthisearthwastoabsolutelyprovetohumanitytheimmortalityofthesoul。“Henowofferedtogivesometeststothosedesiringit，andaskedforasmalltablewhichwasplacedinanadjoiningroom。Heinvariablyheldhishandtohisear，tocatchwhatwasbeingsaid，beingapparentlyquitedeaf。Healsousedthissameexpedientwhenlisteningtothevoicesoftheunseenspirits，andreportingtheircommunications。

Myfatherandanothergentlemanwereselectedforthefirsttest，astheywereconsideredveryskepticalinsuchmatters。AstheyretiredtoaclosedroomIdidnotseetheexperiment，butwillgivesomepartsofitasreportedtome，fartheron。Inashorttimetheyreturnedtotheparlor，engagedinadiscussionoverthematter；andmyfatherremarked，“Idonotknowhowyougotyourinformation，butIfeelcertainitwasnotfrommybrother，orhewouldhavegivenacertainpointcorrectly。“Themediumthensaid，“IfIwilltellyouwhereyourfatherdied，andthediseasehediedof，willyoubeconvinced？“Myfatherreplied，“IsupposeIwillhavetobe，ifyoucandothat。“

Theythenretired，andthemediumsucceededpartiallyintheexperiment；andwouldhavecertainlysucceededentirely，hadmyfatherfollowedhisinstructions。Iwilldescribewhatwasreportedtomeofthistest，fartheron。

Inowofferedmyselfforatest。Iretiredtotheroomwiththemedium，andincidentallyofferedhimonedollarandfiftycents，thesamemyfatherhadgivenhim；butherefusedthemoney，saying：

“Yourfatherisnotconvinced，andIwillnottakeanymoremoney。“

Henowtookasheetofpaperfromatablet，anddrewfivestraightlinesacrossit，spacingthesheetintosixspacesaboutequal。

Nexttakingmyhand，andlookingearnestlyintomyface，hesaid：

“PromisemethatifIsucceed，youwillnotmakelightofthis。

Promiseme，forthisisverysacredtome。“Ididso。Henowdirectedmetowritenamesinthespacesonthesheet，anynamesI

pleased，writingbutonenameineachspace。Allthenamesweretobeoflivingorfictitiouspersonsexceptone，thisonetobethenameofsomeoneIhadknownwhowasthendead。Hesaid，“Befairwithme，andIwillscratchoutthedeadperson’sname。“Thesewerehisexactwords，thereforeIinnowaytriedtohidemywritingfromhim，althoughhestoodatadistanceanddidnotappeartowatchme。Itookapencilandbeganwritingthenames；

beingunpreparedIhadtothinkofthenamesIwishedtowrite。I

desiredtoselectnamesofpersonslivingatadistance，sothathecouldinnopossiblemannerknowthem。WhileIwaswritinghetalkedincessantly，whichinspiteofmyselfdividedmyattention。

Atthesametimehekepturgingmetowrite，andimmediatelyafterurgingme，wouldbegintalkingrapidlyonsomespiritualisticsubject。Iremembersaying，“Youmustgivemetimetothink。“I

thoughtIusedgreatcare，soastowriteeachnamewiththesameprecision，andtriedtobetraynoemotionwhenwritingthedeadperson’sname。Iselectedthename“CoraHolt“forthedea