and you will have the secret and working principle
of them all. The story is told by an eminent German physician of the last
century. He relates that he was consulted by one of his patients, a
wealthy farmer living near by. The farmer complained that he was disturbed
every night by strange noises which sounded like someone pounding iron.
The disturbances occurred between the hours of ten o'clock and midnight,
each and every night. The physician asked him if he suspected anyone of
causing the strange trouble. The farmer answered that he suspected an old
enemy of his, an old village blacksmith living several miles away from his
farm. It appears that an old long-standing feud between them had broken
out afresh, and that the blacksmith had made threats of employing his
"hex" (witchcraft) powers on the old farmer. The blacksmith was reputed to
be a sort of "hex" or male-witch, and the farmer believed in his diabolic
powers and was very much in fear of them. So you see the ideal condition
for psychic receptivity was present.

The physician called on the blacksmith, and taking him by surprise, gazing
sternly into his eyes and asked him: "What do you do every night between
ten and twelve o'clock?" The blacksmith, frightened and disturbed,
stammered out: "I hammer a bar of iron every night at that time, and all
the while I think intently of a bad neighbor of mine who once cheated me
out of some money; and I 'will' at the same time that the noise will
disturb his rest, until he will pay me back my money to get peace and
quiet." The physician bade him to desist from his evil practices, under
threats of dire punishment; and then went to the farmer and made him
straighten out the financial dispute between the two. Thereafter, there
was no more trouble.

So you see in this case all the necessary elements were present. First
there was the belief of the blacksmith in his own powers--this gave him
self-confidence and psychic power. Then there was the belief and fear on
the part of the farmer--this made him an easy subject, and very
susceptible to psychic induction, etc. Then there was the action of the
blacksmith beating the iron--this gave force and clearness to his
visualization of the idea he wished to induce in the mind of the other.
And, finally, there was his will employed in every stroke, going out in
the direction of the concentrated wish and purpose of influencing the
farmer. You see, then, that every psychic element was prese