thoroughly well comprehended by
scientists of to-day, and may be acquired by almost any one to some
extent, just as any one is susceptible to hypnotic influence, to a
greater or less degree according to the conditions. I believe that
there is no person living who cannot be hypnotized, by some living
person, however well he may resist all others. Or in other words,
there be some individuals so little susceptible to outside
suggestions, so self-reliant, and so strong in their own ego, that it
would be extremely difficult to produce true hypnosis in them. Yet the
phenomenon is possible with even these, provided the hypnotizer be one
who is a past-master in methods, and possesses the most effective
power of conveying suggestion.

Such a man was Dr. Medjora. Never yet had he met a human being who
could resist him, if he exerted himself. He was a master of methods,
possessing a knowledge of the minutest details of the psychological
aspect of the subject, and therefore the most powerful hypnotizer of
the age, perhaps. One fact he had long recognized. That just as one
individual is more susceptible than another, so an individual who
might resist at one time, would be perfectly docile at another. So
much depends upon the mental attitude of the subject. One of the
favorable states is abstraction, for in such a condition the mind is
off its guard, so to speak, and it may be possible that, by a sudden
shock, the suggestion to sleep, might be conveyed and be obeyed.

Thus he was glad to note that Leon was losing himself in thought,
because it would give him an opportunity to hypnotize the lad, and if
he could once be thrown into that state, hypnosis could be re-produced
thereafter very readily. It would only be necessary for the Doctor to
suggest to Leon, while asleep, that he permit himself to be hypnotized
in the future, and the possibility of resistance would be destroyed.

Therefore the Doctor watched Leon, as a cat does a bird when seeking a
chance to seize and destroy it. Several times he was about to make the
attempt, but he hesitated. That he did so annoyed him, for it was a
new experience to him to doubt his ability to accomplish a purpose.
But, truly, he questioned the wisdom of what he meditated, in spite of
the fact that he knew this to be a rare opportunity, which would never
occur again. The boy would never, after this night, be so intoxicated
by Nature as he was at this time. Even though Leon were, as the Doctor
b