“_Sixth Theory._—The actions of a separate order of beings living on this earth, but invisible and immaterial to us. Able, however, occasionally to manifest their presence, known in almost all countries and ages as demons (not necessarily bad), gnomes, fairies, kobolds, elves, goblins, Puck, etc. (One of the claims of the kabalists.) “_Seventh Theory._—The actions of departed human beings. (The spiritual theory par excellence.) “_Eighth Theory._—(The psychic force) ... an adjunct to the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh theories.“ The first of these theories having been proved valid only in exceptional, though unfortunately still too frequent cases, must be ruled out as having no material bearing upon the phenomena themselves. Theories the _second_ and the _third_ are the last crumbling entrenchments of the guerilla of skeptics and materialists, and remain, as lawyers say, ”_Adhuc sub judice lis est_.” Thus, we can deal in this work but with the four remaining ones, the last, eighth, theory being according to Mr. Crookes’s opinion, but “a necessary adjunct” of the others. How subject even a scientific opinion is to error, we may see, if we only compare the several articles on spiritual phenomena from the able {48} pen of that gentleman, which appeared from 1870 to 1875. In one of the first we read: ... “the increased employment of scientific methods will promote exact observations and greater love of truths among inquirers, and will produce a race of observers _who will drive the worthless residuum of spiritualism hence into the unknown limbo of magic and necromancy_.” And in 1875, we read, over his own signature, minute and most interesting descriptions of the materialized spirit—Katie King![113] It is hardly possible to suppose that Mr. Crookes could be under electro-biological influence or hallucination for two or three consecutive years. The “spirit” appeared in his own house, in his library, under the most crucial tests, and was seen, felt, and heard by hundreds of persons. But Mr. Crookes denies that he ever took Katie King for a disembodied spirit. What was it then? If it was not Miss Florence Cook, and his word is our sufficient guarantee for it—then it was either the spirit of one who had lived on earth, or one of those that come directly under the sixth theory of the eight the eminent scientist offers to the public choice. It must have been one of the classes named: “Fairies, Kobolds, Gnomes, Elves, Goblins, or a Puck.”[114] Yes; Katie King must have been a fairy—a Titania. For to a fairy only could be applied with propriety the following poetic effusion which Mr. Crookes quotes in describing this wonderful spirit: “Round her she made an atmosphere of life; The very air seemed lighter from her eyes; They were so soft and beautiful and rife With all we can imagine of the skies; Her overpowering presence makes you feel It would _not be idolatry to kneel_!”[115]