Sentence:  The task of recalling him from the vagrancy into which he always sank when he had spoken, was like recalling some very weak person from a swoon, or endeavouring, in the hope of some disclosure, to <WSD>stay</WSD> the spirit of a fast-dying man. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.