Document:

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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.9
                            COGNITRONICS CORPORATION
                          DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN

1.   Purpose

The Director' Stock Option Plan (the  "Plan") is intended to provide incentives
to non-employee directors and officers of Cognitronics Corporation (the
"Company") by more closely aligning their compensation with stockholder value.

2.   Administration

The Plan shall be administered by a committee of not less than two of Company's
directors, chief executive officer or chief financial officer (the  "Committee")
selected by, and serving at the pleasure of, its Board of Directors (the
"Board").  A  director may not serve on the Committee unless he is
"disinterested" for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, (or any successor rule thereto).

The Committee shall have authority, subject to the terms of the Plan, to
interpret the Plan and make all determinations necessary or advisable for its
administration.   The Committee may consult with legal counsel, who may be
counsel to the Company, and shall not incur any liability for any action taken
in good faith in reliance upon the advice of counsel. The Board reserves to
itself the right to exercise any authority granted to the Committee hereunder.

3.   Eligibility

All non-employee directors and officers (individually "Participants",
collectively "Participants") shall be eligible to participate  in the  Plan.
A non-employee director or officer means a director or officer who is neither an
employee of the Company nor any subsidiary of the Company.

4.   Stock

The stock as to which options may be granted shall be the Company's common
stock, par value $.20 per share ("Common Stock"). When options are exercised the
Company may either issue unissued Common Stock or transfer issued Common Stock
held in its treasury. The total number of shares of Common Stock which may
be sold to Participants under the Plan pursuant to options shall not exceed
52,500  shares. If an option expires, or is otherwise terminated prior to its
exercise, the Common Stock covered by such option immediately prior to such
expiration or other termination shall continue to be available under the Plan.

5.   Awarding of Options

Options shall be awarded to Participants as follows:

  (a)   Upon the Effective Date, an option to purchase 2,000 shares of Common
  Stock.

  (b)   On each August 1 subsequent to the Effective Date, an option to purchase
  1,000 shares of Common Stock.

The "Date of Award" of an option shall be the date on which the option is
awarded under the Plan. The award of any option to any Participant shall neither
entitle such Participant to, nor disqualify him from, participation in any other
plan for Participants which provides for the issuance of Common Stock.
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6.   Terms and Conditions of Options

Options shall be evidenced by instruments in form approved by the Committee.
Such instruments shall conform to the following terms and conditions:

  (a)   Option price.   The option price per share of Common Stock shall be the
  Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock  on the Date of Award. "Fair
  Market Value" shall be the closing price of the Common Stock recorded on the
  American Stock Exchange on the Date of Award or the last trading day prior
  thereto.

  (b)   Term and exercise of options.  Each option shall expire no later than
  the fifth anniversary of its Date of Grant and  shall become exercisable on
  the date one year after the Date of Grant, provided, however, that the
  Committee may include in any option instrument, initially or by amendment at
  any time, a provision making any option exercisable at such earlier date, or
  upon the occurrence of such earlier event, as may be specified by such
  provision, if the Committee deems such provision to be in the interests of
  the Company or necessary to realize the reasonable expectation of the
  optionee, but in no event shall any option be exercisable sooner than six
  months from the date on which such option is granted, except when  the
  retirement or death of the optionee  occurs  within such six-month period.
  After becoming exercisable, each option shall remain exercisable until its
  expiration or  termination.  An option may be exercised from time to time, in
  whole or part, up to the total number of shares with respect to which it is
  then exercisable. Payment of the purchase price will be made in such manner
  as the Committee may provide in the option, which may include cash (including
  cash equivalents) or any other manner permitted by law as determined by the
  Committee or any combination of the foregoing.

  (c)  Termination of Participant.  If Participant ceases, other than by reason
  of death or retirement,to be a director or officer of the Company, all options
  awarded to him and exercisable on the date of he ceases to be director or
  officer shall terminate on the earlier of such options' expiration or three
  months after the day he ceases to be a director or officer or as otherwise
  determined by the Committee.  Any option not exercisable on the date of such
  termination shall lapse and be thenceforth unexercisable.

  (d)   Retirement of Participant.  If a Participant retires, all options held
  by him on the date of his retirement shall become exercisable on the date of
  his retirement and shall terminate on the earlier of such option's expiration
  or the first anniversary of the date of his retirement.

  (e)  Death  of Participant. If a Participant dies, all options held by him on
  the date of his death shall become exercisable on the date of his death, may
  be exercised by his estate, personal representative or beneficiary who
  acquires the options by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and
  shall terminate on the earlier of such option's expiration or the first
  anniversary of the date of his death.

  (f)   Assignability.  No option shall be assignable or transferable by the
  Participant except by will or by laws of descent and distribution, and during
  the lifetime of the Participant the option shall be exercisable only by him.
  At the request of a Participant, shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise
  of an option may be issued or transferred in the name of the Participant and
  another person jointly with the right of survivorship.

  (g)   Other provisions.  Instruments evidencing options may contain such other
  provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee deems advisable,
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  including a requirement that a Participant represent to the Company in
  writing, when an option is awarded, or when he receives shares on its
  exercise, that he is accepting such option, or receiving such shares (unless
  they are then covered by  a Securities Act of 1933 registration statement),
  for his own account for investment only.  All certificates representing shares
  issued under the Plan may bear a legend deemed appropriate by the Committee
  to confirm an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
  Act of 1933.

7.   Capital Adjustments

The number and price of shares of Common Stock covered by each option, the total
number of shares that may be sold under the  Plan, and the maximum number of
shares that may be sold, issued or transferred to a Participant, shall be
proportionately adjusted to reflect, as deemed equitable and appropriate  by the
Committee, any stock dividend, stock split or share combination of  the  Common
Stock or recapitalization of the Company.  To the extent deemed equitable and
appropriate by the Committee, subject to any required action by  stockholders,
in any merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution, any
option granted under the Plan shall pertain to the securities and other property
to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the option
would have been entitled  to receive in connection with such event.

8.  Change of Control

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof, in the event of a Change
in Control, as hereinafter defined, all options held by a Participant shall
become exercisable on the date of the Change in Control.

"Change in Control" means an event in which:

  (a)   the stockholders of the Company approve (i) any consolidation or merger
  of the Company or any of its subsidiaries where the stockholders of the
  Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not,
  immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own, directly or
  indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than 50% of all votes to
  which all stockholders of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the
  consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any) would
  be entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote in an election of directors
  or where the members of the Board, immediately prior to the consolidation or
  merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, constitute
  a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation issuing cash or
  securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent
  corporation, if any), (ii) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one
  transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any person
  as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or
  (iii) any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

  (b)   persons who, as of the effective date hereof, constitute the entire
  Board (as of the date hereof the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason
  to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided, however, that any
  person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or
  nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, is approved by a vote
  of at least a majority of the then Incumbent Directors (other than an election
  or nomination of a person whose assumption of office is the result of an
  actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of directors
  of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Securities
  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the "Exchange Act")),
  shall be considered an Incumbent Director; or
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  (c)   any "person", as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
  Exchange Act (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee
  benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any entity
  organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the
  terms of such plan), together with all "affiliates" and "associates" (as such
  terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person,
  becomes the "beneficial owner" or "beneficial owners" (as defined in Rules
  13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
  of the Company representing in the aggregate 20% or more of either (i) the
  then outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) the combined voting power of
  all then outstanding securities of the Company having the right under ordinary
  circumstances to vote in an election of directors to the Board ("Voting
  Securities") (in either such case other than as a result of acquisitions of
  such securities directly from the Company).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a "Change in Control" will not have occurred for
purposes of clause (c) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by
the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock or other
Voting Securities outstanding, increases (i) the proportionate number of shares
of Common Stock beneficially owned by any person to 20% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding or (ii) the proportionate voting power represented
by the Voting Securities beneficially owned by any person to 20% or more of the
combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities; provided,
however, that if any person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence
thereafter becomes the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock
or other Voting Securities (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend
or similar transaction), then a "Change in Control" will have occurred for
purposes of clause (c).

9.   Term; Amendment of Plan

The Board or the Committee may discontinue the Plan at any time and may amend it
from time to time.  No amendment or discontinuation of the Plan shall adversely
affect any award previously without the Participant's written consent.
Amendments may  be  made without stockholder approval except as required to
satisfy  Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor
rule) or other regulatory requirements.

10.  Effective Date

The Plan is in accordance with a Resolution of the Board duly adopted and
approved by unanimous written consent on September 17, 1998 (the "Effective
Date") and a Resolution of Stockholders on May 13, 1999.

11.  New York State Law

The Terms of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.<PAGE>          1

                                                  Exhibit 10.1(a)

                LOAN AGREEMENT - FIFTH AMENDMENT

      This Loan Agreement - Fifth Amendment (hereinafter referred
to as "Fifth Amendment") is made and effective as of the 30th day
of  March, 1998, by and between Hecla Mining Company, a  Delaware
corporation, whose address is 6500 Mineral Drive, Coeur  d'Alene,
Idaho 83815-8788 (hereinafter referred to as "Hecla"), and ConSil
Corp., an Idaho corporation, which has an address at 6500 Mineral
Drive,  Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815-8788 (hereinafter referred  to
as "ConSil").

                    RECITALS AND DEFINITIONS

      WHEREAS,  Hecla and ConSil entered into that  certain  Loan
Agreement  dated  June 28, 1996, as amended  February  19,  1997,
April  16,  1997, August 1, 1997 and October 1, 1997 (hereinafter
referred  to, as amended, as the "Agreement") pursuant  to  which
ConSil  borrowed  certain  funds from  Hecla,  and  Hecla  loaned
certain  funds  to  ConSil,  all  on  the  terms  and  conditions
contained in the Agreement;

      WHEREAS, Hecla and ConSil wish again to amend the Agreement
with  this Fifth Amendment, on the terms and conditions specified
herein;

      NOW,  THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and  the
following   mutual   promises,  covenants,   considerations   and
conditions, the parties, intending to be legally bound, do hereby
agree as follows:

                            AGREEMENT

      1.   Amendment  of Principal Amount of Loan;  Interest  and
           ------------------------------------------------------
Term:
----

        Section  1  of  the  Agreement shall be deemed  to  read  in  its
entirety as follows:

           Until further notice, and on the condition that ConSil
     not  be in default with respect to any of the terms of  this
     Loan  Agreement,  or  with respect to any  outstanding  note
     evidencing  any  advance made hereunder,  Hecla  shall  make
     available  to  ConSil  a loan not to  exceed  SEVEN  HUNDRED
     TWENTY   FIVE   THOUSAND  DOLLARS  ($725,000)   (hereinafter
     referred to as the "Principal Sum"), on which Principal  Sum
     ConSil   shall  pay  interest  thereon  from  the  date   of
     advancement  of  such funds, at the prime rate  of  interest
     specified in the Wall Street Journal, plus one and  one-half
     percent (1.5%) per year until paid, (hereinafter referred to
     as  the  "Loan"), which Loan shall be repaid  on  demand  by
     Hecla, but in no event later than March 31, 1999.

      2.   Execution of Replacement Note, Assignments  and  Other
           ------------------------------------------------------
Certificates.
------------

        ConSil   shall  execute   a   replacement   note substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A,  together with a certificate
of its corporate Secretary certifying that:

          (i)  the individuals executing this Fifth Amendment and
          all documents delivered in accordance herewith were the
          duly appointed officers of ConSil, authorized to
          execute and deliver the same; and

          (ii)  all  representations, warranties  and  conditions
          precedent  set  forth in the Agreement are  and  remain
          true, accurate, correct and fulfilled as of the date of
          the delivery of this Fourth Amendment.

       3.   Entire  Agreement.
            -----------------

        This  Fifth  Amendment  and  the Agreement  shall  constitute
the entire  agreement  between  the parties with respect to the transactions
contemplated herein  and therein,  and  any prior understanding or
representation  of  any kind  preceding  the date of this Fifth Amendment
shall  not  be binding on either party except to the extent incorporated
in this Fifth Amendment and the Agreement.

                               -1-

<PAGE>          2

       4.   Consideration.
            -------------

       The  consideration  for  this  Fifth Amendment  shall  be
deemed to be the  extension  of  additional credit  and  additional
time for repayment, all as  specified  in Section  1 of this Fourth
Amendment, the receipt and adequacy  of which ConSil and Hecla
hereby expressly acknowledge.

      5.   Loan  Agreement  Effective and  Otherwise  Unaffected.
           -----------------------------------------------------

        Hecla  and  ConSil  expressly  acknowledge  and  agree  that
the Agreement  is  in full force and effect, no default has  occurred
and  except  as  expressly amended by this Fifth  Amendment,  the
Agreement   shall  govern  the  terms  and  conditions   of   the
transactions contemplated herein and in the Agreement.

      IN  WITNESS WHEREOF duly authorized officers of the parties
executed this Fifth Amendment on the date first above written.

CONSIL CORP.                  HECLA MINING COMPANY

By  /S/ Michael B. White           By   /S/ John P. Stilwell
   --------------------------           ---------------------------
Name: Michael B. White                  John P. Stilwell
Title: Vice President                   Vice President
                                        Chief Financial Officer

                              ATTEST:

                                    /S/ Nathaniel K. Adams
                              -----------------------------------
                                   Nathaniel K. Adams
                                   Assistant Secretary

                               -2-

<PAGE>          3

STATE OF IDAHO      )
                    )    ss.
COUNTY OF KOOTENAI  )

      On this thirtieth day of March, in the year of 1998, before
me,  the  undersigned, a Notary Public in and for  the  State  of
Idaho,  personally  appeared John P. Stilwell  and  Nathaniel  K.
Adams, known or identified to me to be the Vice President and the
Assistant  Secretary, respectively, of HECLA MINING COMPANY,  the
officers   who  executed  the  instrument  on  behalf   of   said
corporation,  and  acknowledged  to  me  that  such   corporation
executed the same.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my notarial seal the day and year in this certificate first above
written.

                              /S/ Tami D. Hansen
                              -----------------------------------
                              Notary Public
                              Residing at Newman Lake, Washington
                              My Commission Expires:  9/12/2003

STATE OF IDAHO      )
                    )    ss.
COUNTY OF KOOTENAI  )

      On  this thirtieth day of March in the year of 1998, before
me,  the  undersigned, a Notary Public in and for  the  State  of
Idaho,  personally appeared Michael B. White, known or identified
to  me to be the Vice President of ConSil Corp., the officer  who
executed  the  instrument  on behalf  of  said  corporation,  and
acknowledged to me that such corporation executed the same.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my notarial seal the day and year in this certificate first above
written.

                              /S/ Tami D. Hansen
                              ----------------------------------
                              Notary Public
                              Residing at Newman Lake, Washington
                              My Commission Expires:  9/12/2003

                               -3-

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