that no other
exists?"

"Are you not satisfied? What mortal man can explain the facts on any
foundation of human knowledge?"

"Consider how limited human knowledge is," said Mannering, "and grant
that we have not exhausted its possibilities yet. There may be some
physical peculiarity about the room, some deadly but perfectly natural
chemical accident, some volatile stuff, in roof or walls, that reacts to
the lowered temperatures of night. A thousand rare chance combinations
of matter may occur which are capable of examination, and which,
under skilled experiment, will resolve their secret. Nothing it more
bewildering than a good conjuring trick till we know how it is done, and
Nature is the supreme conjurer. We have not found out all her tricks,
and never shall do so; but we very well know that a solution to all of
them exists."

"A material outlook and arrogant," said the priest.

Whereupon Mannering grew a little warm.

"It is neither material nor arrogant. I am humbler than you, and your
positive assertion seems much the more arrogant. This is the twentieth
century, and your mediaeval attitude would win no possible sympathy or
support from any educated man."

"Truth can afford to be patient," answered May. "But I, too, am quite
sane, though your face doubts it. I do not claim that human prayer can
alter physical laws, and I do not ask my Maker to work a miracle on my
behalf or suspend the operations of cause and effect. But I am satisfied
that we are in a region outside our experience and on another plane and
dimension than those controlled by natural law. God has permitted us to
enter such a region. He has opened the door into this mystery. He has
spoken to my soul and so directed me that I cannot sit with folded
hands. This is, I repeat, a challenge to me personally.

"There is, as I potently believe, a being in bondage here which only the
voice of God, speaking through one of His creatures, can liberate. If
I am wrong, then I shall pray in vain; if right, as I know by deepest
conviction and intuition, then my prayer must avail. In any case, I do
my duty, and if I myself was called to die while so doing, what nobler
death can I desire?"

Mannering regarded the speaker with growing concern. But he still
assumed sanity on the part of the reverend gentleman, and still felt
considerable irritation mix with his solicitude.

"You must consider others a little," he said.

"No, Dr. Mannering; they must conside