"Oh, certainly not--I have seen the thing twenty times," said Mr. Legare. "And I indorse your declarations, sir; you were right. There was no deception--there is none! It is a purely mechanical phenomenon! But, listen! Spiritual powers reside in mechanical forces. Every year we live elucidates this mystery, though none but the deepest thinkers see this truth in all its importance. Look you! a savage thinks that there is a diabolism in the self-action of a watch--in the reflection of a looking-glass. We think both mysteries to be simple mechanical combinations! Pray look at the lock before us. I observe that it is Harmon's patent. Poor Harmon, a demented machinist, scarcely knew what he would be at, and so undertook to make an invaluable improvement in the common door-lock. This is one of his; its intricate machinery has got out of order, and hence 'the fantastic tricks before high heaven' that these rooms have witnessed! I am about to take off the lock, to prove what I have stated, as well as to remedy the evil." "Oh, sir, that has been tried--I have seen it done--hope nothing from that!" exclaimed Mr. Legare. "Patience, my dear sir!" said Frank Howard, taking up the tools with so much of the air of a man accustomed to the handling of them that old Mr. Legare winced and fidgeted. But Frank speedily took off the lock, and brought it to us for inspection. "Here! you notice that nothing seems amiss," he said. "Nothing in the world--I told you that before," replied Mr. Legare. "Furthermore, if now I were to turn the key, it would remain turned." "Certainly, while the lock is off the door, it looks exactly right, and behaves exactly right; but just put it on the door and lock it, and in from ten to thirty minutes, more or less, it will fly open." "Exactly; that is what I am about to explain," said Frank Howard, taking up a flat, smooth piece of board, and laying it upon the table; and then he took the lock, laid it on the board, screwed it tightly, turned the key and said: "It is not the circumstance of this lock being attached to the door that has caused it to act in this manner; for I will prove to you that if the same lock be screwed tightly to any other resisting object--as, for instance, this board--it will act in the same irregular manner. Watch it now, and you will see." We did so, and in a few minutes we saw the catch fly back, as before. "I will tell you the reason," said Mr. Howard, unscrewing the lock from the board and inviting us to look on.