Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28

face
Alden .anxiousiy pinched her skin,
ana applied half dozen other tests
Ihere was no nervous reaction what
ever He ran to his desk for his steth-
oscope.
Her heart is all right. She is
breathing very lightly. so family that
you can hardly detect 1t. he said final
~. But there is nothing wrong"
Nothing wrong. Why doctor
you're numbering my child before my
eyes"
" BE calm. Mrs. Maynard Your tiauCh-
ter's astral body has left US and she
mean much to her he answered stead
fly.
What do you mean"
Il believe that she has sent her soul
IN search of the persons who are per
scouting her. You know that she is
inc victim OF terrible conspiracy
You have lost two other daughters in
the same way-perhaps your husband
died at their hands"
HIS voice was resonant with mastery
he fairly Numbered at her. as he add
Now, you must helm me and helm
Miss Myra for her own sake The time
mas come for to face the truth
without fear. BE quiet. until we got
some sign from her"
Mrs. Maynard looked at him pitcous-
~, FOR the mother instinct was strong
er IMAM logic. more urgent than
thoughts for the future Yet there was
the professional force in his command
the insistence OF the physician. the
earnestness. indeed, Of a greater emo
tion than mere scientific interest Her
intuition told her that Pavson a,dcn
cared more for her daughter than even
he would admit. And so she resigned
herself to the inevitable with n blind
iaith IN his ability to save the stun
ton but nature was not TO he denied
The shock of Myras appearance. in
us CHASTITY replica OF the same fat.
which had overtaken the other two
sisters AT her age. the mental suffer
Ing which the family tragedies had
kept continually in her mind combin
ed TO bring "a swapping Of the overtax-
ed nerves.
She tainted. and the physician ran to
her side.
He placed her in another chair. and
administered first aid, torn between
conflicting emotions
had he been studying the face OF
ms subject he might have noticed
about this time tremendous CULVER
ing OF the muscles which indicated that
the soul-tourney was not all placid,
The Black Order. in which IL seemed
continual watchfulness was the rule
OF It's evil genius. was In session.
incident to instructions from their
ruler. the celebrants were heavily
hooded in the black masks Only tho
TWO small eye-holes betrayed anv e.
preston Of humanity in the somber-
CARRIED figures which sat motionless
about the center disc. No man knew
his nefghbor, for there were more mem
bers than the thirteen who usually
formed its meeting quota. The Leader
OF ceremonies was refill!ne the trinod
zane with fresh incense. The pungent
Fapor arose in grotesque puGs and
sinuous curves to the sooty ceiling.
suddenly one of the group. with a
Frunt OF mingled fright and amaze
pointed toward the smoke above the
braziar.
The black cloud had become hazv
gray in spots and had assumed n
startling shape.
The figure OF young girl. with
Aands aHrightedly clasped. was discern
ible in the shadowy contours. Her
ment.
one by ono the brethren OF the un-
noiv community drew attention TO the
strange phenomena. Used as they
were TO strange occurrences. still here
was something which passed their un-
outstanding. And yet the cvcr-prescnt
fear of the masters punishment filed
their tongues,
But one of them. the last of the
circle TO be appraised, sprang un-
steadily to mis- feet.
lie advanced toward the incense
tripod. and drew back his black hood.
the better to see the astonishing
vision
At first an exclamation of horror
escaped his lips. and then he cried out
stridently:
by the left hand of Satan. II is
Myra Maynard herselfw
His companions rose excitedly. as
the apparition faded into the darker
shades of smoke.
He rushed toward the curtains TO
the inner chamber.
Master. Master! must speak to
you"
The angry voice replied from within:
Enter. Varney! But l forbade con-
versauon. and I commanded all the
brethren to wear their hoods
Arthur Narney. pressing his hand TO
his forehead. the victim OF two oddly
pitchy grotto The spectral head
shone Indignantly at him. as its blue
light fused with the red glow which
gradually disclosed the features OF the
ruler.
Master: She is here. We all saw
Myra materialize in the incense smoke!
What does 1t mean?"
A laugh Of eXultation more horrid
than even his baleful tones OF threat
ening. Kissed through the evil poten-
tate's lips.
How did you see Ito" he spoke
eagerly.
"She faded into the smoke: l could
have sworn that it was her flesh and
blood. and yet she disappeared once
more"
at is her astral body. varney!
Hasten! Tell the brethren to reci.e
the death mantra! Chant and will in
unison to break the astral thread. We
have victory in our grasp!
Varney turned to obey; then his
heart impulse asserted itself again.
"Oh. Master! Can she not he spared
for me? I love her!" he begged.
Fool! Do you know that she can
he yours for thousand thousand
years after we have taken her soul
away. Obey! You learned the penalty
once before"
Varney hesitated. and head dropping.
he returned to his fellows He repeat
ed the command: Chant and will in
unison to break the astral thread"
Then, under the guidance OF the
leader, they swayed back and forth.
Kissing the cabalistic phrase OF occult
death.