The advocate., 1895-05-29

ney TO me this has long ceased to be a matter Of
speculation. Iknow-know by actual experience
that man may hold converse with immortals."
"Whatl Is it true, then, what the people ssyP-
that you"
"No, my dear Sydney. practice no black art.
But, by an upright life try to keep in touch with
the higher and purer beings who are about US all,
and yesrn for our companionship while we repel
them by our ncredulitY and our foolish fears. Not
black art but the cultivation of the ruest friend
ships mortals can enjoy-that is what, thank God /
have learned to practice"
"It is mysterious" said Sydney, in smazement at
this unsuspected phase of the Hermits character.
"Whst you say about the graduated continuity Of
species sounds reasonsble but as Hume has OBJ
served in treating of idealism an argument may be
unanswerable and unconvincng. Pardon my curl
osity but how came you by the knowledge that such
communication with the other side of death is prac
ticableP'
"Mr. Cottle and you are both rebels, and there
fore, presume an unsafe rebel may trust you with
dangerous bit of personal history"
Job and Sydney declared their abundant ability to
keep a secret; whereupon the Hermit proceeded:
"SOon after l had taken my degree and become a
fulhedged surgeon, went out to India from Eng
W
tain events and certain intelligence from home,
which need not tarry to speak Of more fully, made
me miserable man, and left my own countrymen
and wandered alone far into the interior After
some weeks I entered the territory of highly in
telligent and kindly tribe whose language l could
not speak; but the people made me welcome and
gave me to understand that they wished me to re-
main with them, which l did. l lived among them
several years, acquired their language, became fs-
miliar with their expressions at the hands of the
East India Company, and finally, having been
made their chief, or rsjsh, led them against the
English who invaded the peaceful territory. We
were successful in several battles, but strong force
came against us at last and we were overcome and
compelled to fly. My followers collected their fam
lies and their scanty belongings, and being familiar
with the country we were able to elude the English
army sent in pursuit and to make good our escape
to a mountainous region far away from the haunts
of our Western enemies at last left the people to
whom l was attached because of yearning that
compelled me to return to England; but on the way
thither learned that my leadership of tribe in re-
belion against British rule known, as was also
my identity, and that l could not count upon an
hours safety in my native land; so went to France
and from there took passage for this country, finally
settling where you find me- This is my political Sc.
cret.
"The people of India have been regarded by West
ern peoples as heather, and ignorant saVages but
some of the nations of that vast region have liter
ature which, in point of antiquity, makes the West
ern learning seem of yesterday. 1t is, however, In
the higher Wisdom-s wisdom which makes man /
akin to the godsthst they are farthest in advance
of the nations of this side of the earth There are
n
'adepts,' and who make their homes in almost in |
accessible mountain retreats. These men can, at /
WILL throw themselves into peculiar kind Of trance
which resembles death, and in this state release the
body which they claim every human
being possesses and send it to the remotest part
of the earth with messages to other peoples and can
make that body visible and real to the distant per-
son visited, so that it shall act and speak as the
adopts VerV self BV certain coursa of liFa and