"No. I've gone farther than that. I took this body when its original occupant was done with it," he said. "Murray--wait--let me explain. I'm a physician like yourself." "You?" I exclaimed, none too politely, I fear, in the face of this additional surprise. Croft's lips twitched. He seemed to understand and yet be slightly amused. "Yes. That's why I was able to assure you I knew how long the body I occupy now could endure a cataleptic condition last night. I am a graduate of Rush, and I fancy, fully qualified to speak concerning the body's needs. And--" He paused a moment, then resumed: "Frankly, Murray, I find myself confronted by what I think I may call the strangest position a man was ever called upon to face. Last night I recognized in you one who had probably far from a minor understanding of mental and spiritual forces. Your ability to force my return at a time when I was otherwise engaged showed me your understanding. For that very reason I asked you to return to me here today. I would like to talk to you--a brother physician; to tell you a story--my story, provided you would care to hear it. Most men would call me insane. Something tells me you, who devote your time to the care of the insane, will not." He paused and sat once more staring across the sunlit landscape which, after the storm of the night before, was glowing and fresh. After a time he turned his eyes and looked into mine with something almost an appeal, in his glance. In response, I nodded and settled myself in my chair. * * * * * "I'm not going to deny a natural curiosity, Dr. Croft," I said, since, to tell the absolute truth, I was anxious to get at the inward facts underlying the entire peculiar affair. "Then," he said in an almost eager fashion, "I shall tell you--the whole thing, I think. Murray, when Shakespeare wrote into one of his character's mouth the statement that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of, he told the truth. Mankind in the main is like a crowd storming the doors of a showhouse sold out to capacity and unable to accommodate any one else. Mankind is the crowd in the lobby, shut out from the real sights back of the veiling doors which bar their perception of what goes on within. Mankind stands only on the fringe of life, does not dream of the truth. Only here and there is there one who _knows_. It was one such who first directed my mind toward the truth. "Murray"--he paused and once more fastened me with his gaze--"I am going to tell that truth to you.... But first--in order that you may understand, and believe if you can, I shall tell you something of myself."