Sentence:  During the rest of the summer my scholarly <WSD>mania</WSD> for making plaster casts and spatter prints of Catskill flowers and leaves was all but surpassed by the constantly renewed impressions of Jessica that my mind served up to me for contemplation and delight . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action