"There is none," Eve assured him. "These deaths were caused by supernatural means, they were the vengeance of certain Powers of Darkness." "Oh, come now, Eve," expostulated Braye, "don't get off that stuff to the Doctor. Keep that for our own circle. You know these fatalities _couldn't_ have been caused by a ghost!" "What, then?" "I don't know. Fright, perhaps, or over-apprehension because of the warnings. Auto-suggestion, if you like, and so indirectly the result of the spooks, but not the direct work of a disembodied spirit." "It _was_, all the same!" and Eve left the room and went to sit by Norma. But the girls were not in sympathy. Their conversation resulted in disagreement, and, at last, in Norma's bursting into tears and running upstairs. She sought Milly, and found her prostrated by Landon's news. But she was trying to be brave, and earnestly endeavouring to preserve her self-control. "I know every one thinks I'll go to pieces," she said, pathetically, "and make more trouble for you all,--but I won't. I've promised Wynne I'll be brave and if I can't keep quiet and composed, I'll stay in my room, and not upset the crowd." "You're all right, Milly," Norma reassured her, "you let yourself go all you want to. Don't overdo your restraint. I'll look after you." "Yes, do, Norma. Don't let Eve come near me. I can't stand her!" "Why? You mustn't be unjust to Eve. She behaved splendidly at that awful time." "Yes, I know. But if it hadn't been for Eve we never would have come up here at all." "Oh, Milly, that isn't fair! We all agreed to come here. It wasn't Eve's doing any more than mine!" "Yes, it was. But, look here, Norma, tell me truly. What do _you_ think killed Mr. Bruce and Vernie?" "I don't know, Milly, dear. You know I do believe in psychics and in spiritism and in the return to earth of the souls of people who have died, but--I _can't_ believe that any such spirit would kill an innocent child, or a fine old man. I can't _believe_ it!" "But why not, Norma? If you believe in the return to earth of good spirits, why not bad spirits, as well? And if so, why couldn't they kill people, if they want to?" "You sound logical, Milly, but it's absurd." "No, it isn't. You and Eve believe in good spirits and in their power to do good. Why not, then, in bad spirits and their power to do evil?" "Let up, Milly," begged Landon, who stood near by. "She's been going on like that, Norma, ever since I told her. Can't you explain to her----" "Explain what?" "Lord! _I_ don't know! But make her see how impossible it is that the ghost of that woman who killed her husband here so long ago, should have any reason to do away with two modern present-day people!" "But I _want_ to think so, Wynne," and Milly's eyes stared with a peculiar light. "I'd rather think they were killed by that ghost than by a person,--wouldn't you?" "What do you mean, Milly? Murdered?"