Evening star., 1896-10-31

As stood, with feeingsa that no pen
can portray. before tiny open grave into
which the casket enshrinihg all that loved
had Just been lowered, 1 saw among the
sad faces gathered there one-had it risen
| from the earth? Was 1t another Illusion ?
1t was the face of Runestane. AT any other
moment should have sprung at his throat
He was STOPPING, and as he rose he cast
| a little clod of earth upoaS the coffin Hands
| were outstretched to check him. voices were
| raised In protest; but his rang loud above
| them all.
The girl is not deadr he cried Raise
| UP the casketr -
They shrunk back: they thought him mad.
Il tell you she is not dead" he shouted
! BE quick: already she is waking from her
| trance" His face was livid DO not
make me murderer" he cried. and press
| ed forward.
| A sudden recollection surged through nv
| brain. L sprang TO his aid, and together
we lifted up the casket.
You must open it, he said. "she must
! see you first"
{ Others were. helping now. with shaking
hands. and the lid was soon off. l bent
| over my loved one; her face showed color
and her lips were parted. Her eyelids
| futtered; then they opened wide. She
| saw me-knew me.
We did not wait for her to realize her
Srewsome surroundings. Lifted in loving
| hands she was quickly borne to a quiet
consciousness came gradually back,
watched beside her-and with me was
Runestane. Only once. however, did he
speak to her, and that was before she
The spell is ended" he said, in that
slow, droning voice that so well remem-
bered. THE spell is ended; live, and be
| happy. . .......
And may God forgive me-" he added,
"fer this rash and criminal experiment"
Runestane remained only long enough to
| make certain of Elsie's safety and sanity.
This is no place for me-" he said Il
shall remember it always with remorse and
horror. l could not blame you if you
sought my life. Yet you must know that l
am no crazy charlatan. but deep student
Of these obscure phenomena of hypnotism
and suggestion. My true name Is well
known to the world, but 1 dare not tell it,
Like the medieval student of forbidden
magic. was lured on by the fascination
OF these unwarranted experiments, until
was almost ready to stultify my soul to
satisfy my thirst for further knowledge
l shall brave such risks this no more
You wonder. doubtless, why did not
come to your aid before such desperate
pass was reached. The truth is. l dared
not. To enable you fully to understand the
matter long course of abstruse study
would be necessary; but, in brief l had
made an impression in the unconscious
substratum of her mind SO deep and of
such nature that neither l nor any other
could reach 1t until its term was run. 1t
than species of psychological al viyisection.
Thank God that her life is not upon nv
soul. Had you interrupted me that night
Dy entering the room one moment sooner
the impression would have been left in,
complete; and in that case there would
have been no possible awaking. It would
have been death, indeed.
cannot ask you to forgive me-" he
concluded. but my shadow shall never
again cross your path"
Happy. indeed, is my home: no SORROW
has ever yet crossed its Threshold sRnt
my sweet wife triftes no more with the per
ilous, mysteries OF hypnotism, nor Tennis
the spirits of Halloween
i, ,tt i'n1 THE" END