Year: 1860

I
from him; so it was decided among them
that the subject should never be referred
to in any manner, but that his supposition
should be encouraged by a tacit acknowl-
edgment of its truth


He soon renewed his investigation in
galyanism with increased ardor, and with
the exception of his professional visits,
shut himself out entirely from the world
He now passed every minute of his spare
time in his dreary attic, and light might
be seen there at a late hour in the night


About this time he became acquainted
with Mr.. Evans, who held some situation
in Newgate prison. This gentleman like
himself, was an ardent student in all that
| is strange and bizarre in nature, and Stew
art found him man after his own heart
Mr.. Evans was almost always at the sur
geons, excepting when his duties called
him away. They pursued their expert
ments in silence, and often in that secret
chamber grew pale at the wonderful discov-
cries they made.


One day Evans called upon Mr.. Stewart
earlier than usual, and evidently had some
thing to say to him.


Stewart said Evans, when he entered
the surgery where he was waiting for him,
Il have got good news for you Three
men are to be hanged tomorrow. | have
the promise Of the body of one of them,
and have given orders to have it conveyed
here


That is good news, indeed, replied the
surgeon; 'we shall be able to attest the
problem whether it be possible to restore
life


[ have little doubt we shall be success
ful. Our previous experiments have al
most demonstrated that fact What, after
all, is death by hanging? Merely the sus-
pension of the hearts action by cutting off
the supply ofoxygen required by the blood
Now, if we can only bring the galvanic
battery to bear on the nervous centres, it
seems very evident that this subtle fluid
has the power of so exciting the nervous
system that the phenomenon which We call
life will be re- established


You are right, Evans. Those are my
views, and tomorrow we shall be able to
prove whether they are correct or not


Get your professional visits over early.
[ shall be here at half past nine at the fur
thest. The men are to be hanged at eight.
They will hang an hour Then one of the
bodies will be delivered over to me- 1t
will scarcely take me half an hour to bring
it from Newgate here.


Have no fear; | will be at home. By
the by, you must be careful to see that the
criminal has not his neck broken. Such
an accident would Of course render our ex-
periments entirely nugatory'


Il will see to that. Good-byfor the pres
ent. | shall not be with you this evening;
you will have everything in readiness. The
experiments ought to be made as soon as
possible after death


: 1 will devote this evening to necessary
preparations


The two friends shook hands and part
ed.


Mr.. Stewart did not even wait till even
ing, but at once retired to his attic and
soon got everything in readiness He was
in state of nervous excitement, for he is
about to prove the truth or falsity of the
great dream Of life. 1t is true he had ex-
perimented many times on the dead body,
but the person to whom he had applied
his galvanic battery had died either by vio-
lence or some disease, and all that he had
been able to effect was merely muscular
movement in the bodies. Now, however,
an opportunity was offered which might
never occur again. A man who lost his
life from no organic disease, from no yio-
lence in which blood was spilled, he regard
cd hn l. L. -
the truth of his theory.
The surgeon retired to bed that night
anxious and excited 1t was in vain he
closed his eyes to sleep, He could think
of nothing but his coming experiments.
At last, towards morning, he fell into an
easy sort OF slumber, in which he dreamed
Of all he was about to do. In his imagi-
nation he saw the body before him, and
saw the body rise from the table hale and
hearty man. In the midst of his vision
he awoke. 1t was broad day light, and the
clock of neighboring church struck sew
en-.


He hurried on his clothes, partook of
hearty breakfast, and made some indispen-
sable calls. When he reached home again
it was nine o'clock He at once proceed
ed to the attic and gave the finishing touch
to his preparations. He fixed long, wide
board within convenient distance of his
battery, laid out two or three scalpels, and
saw that there was sufficient supply of
acid.


AS the time approached for his grand
experiment, he became more calm and col
lected, and by the time the cab drove up
to the door not single nerve of his body
trembled. 4 49,.


He saw them from the window lift a
heavy box out of the cab and convey it in
to the hail. He then heard them slowly
and laboriouslY carry IL Nm stairs. and In a