"It is signed 'McLeod,' and under it are two words, 'Loggy' and 'Mother,' each in different handwriting." "Give it to me!" cried Kate, deeply moved. "And here is the wineglass," replied Weissmann, extracting from among the books a beautiful piece of antique crystal. Kate took it reverentially, as if receiving it from the hand of her dead mother. "How came that here?" "You recognize it? It was not left here by mistake?" "Oh no. There are only four of them left and I keep them locked away. I have not had them out in months." Clarke smiled in benign triumph. "That is why they brought it--to show you that matter is an illusion and to prove that dematerialization and transubstantiation are facts. That was the bell we heard." "Morton, what do _you_ think? How could--" But Morton was bending above Viola and did not heed his sister. The girl's eyes were opening as from natural slumber, and he said, gently: "I hope you are not in pain? We will release you in a moment." [Illustration: "THE GIRL'S EYES WERE OPENING AS FROM NATURAL SLUMBER"] She smiled faintly as she recognized him. "My arms are numb, and my feet feel as if strips of wood were nailed to my soles," she answered, wearily, "and my head is aching dreadfully; but that will soon pass." "She always complains of her feet," the mother explained. "She can't walk for quite a little while afterwards." "You poor thing!" exclaimed Kate. "You are a martyr--that's what you are." Viola looked up with sweet and anxious glance. "Did anything happen? Did your friends come to you, Mrs. Rice?" "No, but several voices spoke to Morton." "I'm sorry no one came to you. I've been a long way off this time," she continued, with dreamy, inward glance, "into a beautiful country from which I hated to return. I wouldn't have come back to you at all only a thread of light tied my soul to my body and drew me down to earth in spite of myself." "What was it like--that far country?" asked Morton. She pondered sleepily. "I can't tell you--only it was very beautiful and I was happy. Every one lived in the light with nothing to fear. I had no memory of the earth--only of my body which I was sorry for. There was no death, no cold, no darkness up there. I was very happy and free." "You should be free and happy here," answered Morton, gravely. "Come, doctor, can't we free her now?" "Yes, you may do so," he replied, still busy with his note-book. The young host, with a feeling of having been unnecessarily brutal, ripped the tape loose from the floor, and Kate slipped the loops from Viola's ankles. Then, leaning on her hostess's arm, she rose slowly, smiling brightly, her weakness most appealing. "I hope a great deal happened--it means so much to me. I want to talk, but I can't now, my head is too thick. You must tell me all about it pretty soon." "A great deal happened--you are quite clear of any connection with it."