“You will please not to speak while this trick is being performed,” the juggler said; “harm might come of it. Watch the ground near her feet.” A minute later a dark object made its appearance from the ground. It rose higher and higher with an undulating movement. “By Jove, it is a python!” the Doctor whispered in Bathurst’s ear. A similar exclamation broke from several of the others, but the juggler waved his hand with an authoritative hush. The snake rose until its head towered above that of the girl, and then began to twine itself round her, continuously rising from the ground until it enveloped her with five coils, each thicker than a man’s arm. It raised its head above hers and hissed loudly and angrily; then its tail began to descend, gradually the coils unwound themselves; lower and lower it descended until it disappeared altogether. It was some time before anyone spoke, so great was the feeling of wonder. The Doctor was the first to break the silence. “I have never seen that before,” he said, “though I have heard of it from a native Rajah.” “Would the sahibs like to see more?” the juggler asked. The two Miss Hunters, Mrs. Rintoul, and several of the others said they had seen enough, but among the men there was expressed a general wish to see another feat. “I would not have missed this for anything,” the Doctor said. “It would be simple madness to throw away such a chance.” The ladies, therefore, with the exception of Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. Doolan, and Isobel, retired into the house. “You must all go on one side now,” the juggler said, “for it is only on one side what I am now going to do can be seen.” He then proceeded to light a fire of charcoal. When he had done this, he said, “The lights must now be extinguished and the curtains drawn, so that the light will not stream out from the house.” As soon as this was done he poured a powder over the fire, and by its faint light the cloud of white smoke could be seen. “Now I will show you the past,” he said. “Who speaks?” There was silence, and then Dr. Wade said, “Show me my past.” A faint light stole up over the smoke--it grew brighter and brighter; and then a picture was clearly seen upon it. It was the sea, a house standing by itself in a garden, and separated from the water only by a road. Presently the figure of a girl appeared at the gate, and, stepping out, looked down the road as if waiting for someone. They could make out all the details of her dress and see her features distinctly. A low exclamation broke from the Doctor, then the picture gradually faded away. “The future!” the juggler said, and gradually an Indian scene appeared on the smoke. It was a long, straight road, bordered by a jungle. A native was seen approaching; he paused in the foreground. “That is you, Doctor!” Mr. Hunter exclaimed; “you are got up as a native, but it’s you.” Almost at the same moment two figures came out from the jungle. They were also in native dress.