"Don't be over-confident, or you will invite disaster," said the doctor dryly. "There is much doing of which you know nothing. That is why I am here to aid you, my friend. I cannot do everything, as a great deal has to be done by you and Alice with what intuition and strength you possess. With Alice the ordeal has already commenced." Montrose started to his feet. "Is she in danger?" he asked excitedly. "If so, I must go back to Tremore at once." "There is no need. What she has to do must be done alone, and you would do her more harm than good by going to her assistance. Hitherto I have protected her with my strength, which has increased her own. Now for a certain time that strength has been withdrawn. Narvaez will know the moment I cease to guard her." "What will he do?" demanded the young man, clenching his fists. "Nothing that physical strength can deal with, so don't get ready to fight, my friend. Narvaez will not hurt the girl, but he will endeavour to learn from her something he has long wished to know. It is necessary that he should know and that his pupil should know also. Therefore, for a time he is permitted to work his will. There! There! He will only make use of her clairvoyant powers, so she will suffer little." "I don't want her to suffer at all." "Unless she does in some degree, she will not progress." "Narvaez is such a beast." "No. He is only a man blinded by pride in his intellectual knowledge. You must pity him for his blindness and do your best to help him. Hate only ceases when Love is used to vanquish it. Calm yourself, Montrose. What must be must be if the Will of God is to be done." "I wish you hadn't told me," cried the young man, greatly agitated. "That is a weak thing to say. I told you purposely, so that you may develop faith and patience. Can you not trust me?" "Yes! Yes! Yes!" "Then show it by waiting quietly here until I tell you to return to Tremore, my friend. This is the time of preparation to meet and baffle the trouble I warned you against. Stand in the strength of Christ and not in your own strength. He never fails those who trust in Him. To-morrow morning you must come with me to early celebration. By partaking of the Body and Blood of The Blessed One"--Eberstein made the sign of the cross--"you will gain the necessary strength to stand up bravely against the Powers of Darkness." "Narvaez?" Eberstein bowed his stately head. "God pity him and save him," he murmured, with infinite compassion. CHAPTER XV THE TRANCE