There was a fine, scarcely perceptible satire in his manner; he glanced at the tall oaken clock that stood in one corner of the room--its hands pointed to eleven. "Now, Mr. Alwyn," he went on, "I think we have talked quite enough for this evening, and my advice is, that you retire to rest, and think over what I have said to you. I am willing to help you if I can,--but with your beliefs, or rather your non-beliefs, I do not hesitate to tell you frankly that the exertion of MY internal force upon YOURS in your present condition might be fraught with extreme danger and suffering. You have spoken of Truth, 'the deathful Truth'; this being, however, nothing but Truth according to the world's opinion, which changes with every passing generation, and therefore is not Truth at all. There is another Truth--the everlasting Truth--the pivot of all life, which never changes; and it is with this alone that my science deals. Were I to set you at liberty as you desire,--were your intelligence too suddenly awakened to the blinding awfulness of your mistaken notions of life, death, and futurity, the result might be more overpowering than either you or I can imagine! I have told you what I can do,--your incredulity does not alter the fact of my capacity. I can sever you,--that is, your Soul, which you cannot define, but which nevertheless exists,--from your body, like a moth from its chrysalis; but I dare not even picture to myself what scorching flame the moth might not heedlessly fly into! You might in your temporary state of release find that new impetus to your thoughts you so ardently desire, or you might not,--in short, it is impossible to form a guess as to whether your experience might be one of supernal ecstasy or inconceivable horror." He paused a moment,--Alwyn was watching him with a close intentness that bordered on fascination and presently he continued, "It is best from all points of view, that you should consider the matter more thoroughly than you have yet done; think it over well and carefully until this time to-morrow--then, if you are quite resolved--" "I am resolved NOW!" said Alwyn slowly and determinately. "If you are so certain of your influence, come! ... unbar my chains! ... open the prison-door! Let me go hence to-night; there is no time like the present!" "To night!" and Heliobas turned his keen, bright eyes full upon him, with a look of amazement and reproach--"To night' without faith, preparation or prayer, you are willing to be tossed through the realms of space like a grain of dust in a whirling tempest? Beyond the glittering gyration of unnumbered stars--through the sword-like flash of streaming comets--through darkness--through light--through depths of profoundest silence--over heights of vibrating sound--you--YOU will dare to wander in these God-invested regions--you a blasphemer and a doubter of God!"