The herald., 1894-08-05
bed, all wondering how he wouH con-
vince me that was hypnotized

bed, all wondering how he wouM con
vince me that was hypnotized
intended to tlun in at once; but, tt
my dismay, I could not do So I tried
to undress but / as by some strange
force lmpelled to open my trunk ant
take from it curior IS old hunting lnift
I once frequently used as property >
Eever use it now. l exerted all the
VIII power possess,sd and endeavoreo
to replace the weapon, for a sense oi
impending danger wras upon me- but
my will seemed paralyzed, and 1 care.
fully drew the knife from its sheath,
feeling its keen edge with my thumb.
By the same mysterious infirsace
was next forced to remove my slippers
and creep stealthily to my sisters bed
room. A hundred times tried to re-
trace my steps, but still the awful force
impelled me forward until SILENTLY
entered Vere's chamber. Closirg the
door noiselessly behind me, ad' RANGED
in semidarlness, but the light OF the
shaded lamp on the dressing table
showed me that my sister was sleeping
peacefully, though there were traces Of
recent teaas upon her pale face.
Every detail of the room is stamped
upon my memory, and l remembtT no.
ticing that the fingers of the tiny clock
on the n.antslshelf pointed to 10 min
utes to 2.
Good heavens thought, why
am / here? What dreadful influence is
it that deprives me Of my will?''
Then in flash l knew that my pur-
pose was Kaurtler-to murder my own
sisterl
''Why does shesnot awake?" Thought
in my agony. 'NWhy does not her hus-
band save her from this death and me
from this cir1nes
Her husband. That was the solution
of the mystery. Ee had hypnotized me
after all, and I was the agent of his
will. But why was to kill his wife,
nay darling sister We're?
Then l remembered the words he had
whispered to me during my brief hyp-
motto sleep.
"You doubted my power, ," he said or
rather hissed. "Fo@l! But greater fool
to think to win Alchia. She is for me-
do you hear?-for me. Your pulling,
white faced sister m4lst be removed, and
you shall do it. Yes you shall kill her
and suffer for the crime, leaving me
free for love-and Alefzla."
All was plain to me-. I knew that
was compelled to shed my innocent sis
ter's blood. All this 1 knew, yet had no
power to stay my own murderous hand.
Think of my position. and imagine. if
you can, tho mental agony endured.
Advancing closer to the bedside and
carefully drawing back the coveGlet, l
raised the knife to strike. Then the lit
tie clock on the mantekhelf chimed 2.
had regmined my will With cry
of infinite relief flung the knife from
me and rushed out of the room. Hather-
leigh was still seated beside the fire
when burst, breathless, into the smok-
ing room.
l called him by name. But he,return-
ed no answer. He was dead.
No doubt my brother-in-law had died
at o'clock precisely, his death being
due to the intense excitement conse-
quent upon the strain he had, by hyp-
nothing me, put upon himself. If SO,
the reason Of my sudden recovery of
will power is plain enough, for with his
death his influence over my will natur-
ally ceased. Anyhow am more than
thankful that something between heav-
en- and earth, until then undreamed of
in my philosophy, saved me from COM
mitting a crime Of which my moral in
nocence would have availed me little in
a court Of justice.
What became of the Senorita Alcida?
Oh, she is now my wife. London Tit
Bits.