"Ajar, the high priest, who was standing beside me, said, ’You are conscious that the spirit of Mintor the priestess has left her body for a time, and passed to some other sphere?’ "And I answered, ’Yes, I saw it pass upward.’ "’It is confusing,’ he replied, ’to use the word see, for the eye, which is an organ of the body, receives no impression from the spiritual form. The spiritual perception we call _viam_, and the verb _view_ with us is used for all impressions which reach the mind independently of the bodily organs. I am glad that you possess this gift so far developed, as there are but few present who have yet attained the power, except under certain favourable conditions. Those who are worthy to wear the white robe have each some special spiritual gift, but these gifts vary greatly. Some can converse with those at a distance; some _view_ what is passing in the world around; others, as in the case of Mintor, can leave the body and pass into the spirit-world. This is the most coveted of all gifts, as from those who possess it we can learn new wisdom. The founder of our faith had still a greater power. He could, on leaving the body, dissolve it into gaseous form, and his spirit, whithersoever it went, was able to draw from nature the needed material, and to take human form wherever or whenever it pleased; but since he left us, few have been able to do this, and never with safety, for under certain conditions they lost the power, and having as it were no root upon the earth, their spirits were drawn to other spheres and returned no more. The cause of this is, we know, physical weakness, and he who shall again succeed must possess a body equally developed with his spirit; such a one I believe you to be, and it is possible you may succeed, should you be willing to undergo the training that is necessary. But we expect to receive from Mintor, when her spirit returns, some guidance on the matter.’ "Having said this, he took me by the hand and led me up to the place where the body of the girl lay as though in deep sleep; then all those present knelt down and seemed to be engaged in prayer. "’The strength of the prayers of all present are with thee,’ he continued. ’Kneel down and take both of Mintor’s hands in thine; see whether it may be possible for thy spirit to join hers in the life beyond, for in the spirit kingdom only can that knowledge be received which can give power over the world of matter.’ "I did as bidden, and the light seemed to become more and more powerful, then all grew dark, but through the darkness I heard a voice saying, ’Come.’ A great pain passed over my body and I was free.