The nature of the peculiarities--anatomical, physiological or psychical, or perhaps all three combined--that distinguish a medium from other human beings is not yet known, and no means of inspection as yet exist by which to be certain that any particular person is or is not a medium. Actual experience is the only guide. This, of course, leaves the door open to the fraudulent assumption of mediumship. But the occurrence of fraud and imposture does not affect the existence of genuine mediums. In every profession are to be found similar examples of deceit. Have not all educated persons heard of “pious frauds” perpetrated by the holders of high religious office? Are there not many instances of ignorant, venal and deliberately unjust judges? Do statesmen and politicians always reject bribes and act solely for the good of their countries? Does a physician invariably admit his inability to understand a complaint; and do general practitioners in every case administer real medicines instead of the proverbial “bread pills” and “coloured water”? Do manufacturers and traders deal solely in unadulterated goods? When these questions can be satisfactorily answered it will be time enough to put the entire profession of mediums in the pillory; and until then all reasonable men and women will be content to recognise that in mediumship, as in other pursuits, we must expect to meet with both the worthy and the unworthy. What, perhaps, is not yet fully recognised is that mediums are much more numerous than would appear to be the case if regard be had solely to the professional class, that is, to the persons who practise mediumship as a means of livelihood. There are many amateur “mediums”; and there are also many other individuals who are conscious of possessing what are spoken of as “psychic powers,” and yet either do not allow the fact to become known or confine the exercise of their powers to the development of communications in their own private surroundings. Hence, if every professional medium without exception were shown to be a fraud--which is not the case now, and never has been the case at any time--there would still remain an abundance of trustworthy experiential and experimental evidence establishing the reality of speaking with the dead. For instance, the Mrs. Kennedy who plays such an important part in the story of “Raymond” is not a professional medium at all; she is the wife of a London physician, leads the life of an ordinary private English lady moving in good society, and is not paid for any aid she may render to friends who are desirous of “communicating.” So, too, the medium, Miss Goligher, who assists Dr. Crawford is a young lady of private social position, who gives her services with the approval and aid of her family and without fee or reward, except, of course, such moral satisfaction as may arise from the consciousness of being engaged in a work likely to benefit mankind.