This feeling, however, gradually wore away in some measure as she became more accustomed to his presence, and as her sister, and later her mother, became interested in his theories, she began to tolerate with more patience his teaching of spiritism. He held frequent seances in the neighborhood, and many of the families about her had become more or less interested in the doctrines, few of them openly opposing them and their teacher, except her handsome brother-in-law, Mark Cramer. He was outspoken in his condemnation of both the man and his _ism_. One mild November afternoon, when the sisters and mother were together at Lissa’s home, the name of a sister who had died in infancy was mentioned. “If,” said Alice, “there is any truth in Professor Russell’s communications, I would like to have him bring me word from Elsie. No one here, not even Mark, knows of her having existed, as we so rarely mention her.” Lissa assented, and observed that it was the anniversary of her death, the thirteenth of November. Before they had finished their conversation upon the topic they were startled by a rap at the outer door and Lissa opened it to see the ubiquitous Professor himself, who, after shaking hands with the sisters and Mrs. Clyne, seated himself, and without asking for either Nathan or Mark, observed suavely: “As both of your husbands are to be at home to-day, I called to see if we might not invite in some of the neighbors and hold a seance this evening.” “But Nathan is absent,” said Lissa, “and will not be home until Saturday.” “And Mark is out upon the plains, forty miles from here,” added Alice. The Professor smiled indulgently. “They are both coming home and will be here before evening,” he said with an air of assurance. The three women exchanged glances. Was this but talk, or did he have the power of unveiling the future as well as the past? Or did he clairvoyantly see Nathan and Mark directing their course thither-ward? “You speak with conviction, Professor,” Lissa at length replied. “Have you received intelligence from the absent ones which is not known to us?” “That which I see, ye cannot now perceive,” the man said sententiously. “Yet the time is coming when you as well shall have the power to lift the veil which hides the dreaded unknown and learn the mysteries which are only revealed to those who are willing to seek in the right manner and submit themselves to the spirit influences which surround them. You can never know, Mrs. Clyne, the peace you will experience when you have ceased to resist and rebel against the gentle influences which seek only to promote your happiness and well-being. There is one angelic form now hovering about you and anxiously striving to win recognition from those so near and dear to her when on earth.” “Can you tell her name,” questioned Lissa, as the man, with his eye fixed upon the opposite wall, paused and seemed wrapped in thought.