terious labyrinths of the brain, they have deemed their sway secure,
but the lightning of science has reached them on their thrones and set
their bondmen free;" and with an impressive gesture the doctor touched
the battery at his side.

Without giving further details of his conversation with this strange
Master of Life, it is sufficient to say that Henry finally agreed upon an
appointment for Madeline on the following day, feeling something as if he
were making an unholy compact with the devil. He could not possibly have
said whether he really expected anything from it or not. His mind had
been in a state of bewilderment and constant fluctuation during the
entire interview, at one moment carried away by the contagious confidence
of the doctor's tone, and impressed by his calm, clear, scientific
explanations and the exhibition of the electrical apparatus, and the next
moment reacting into utter scepticism and contemptuous impatience with
himself for even listening to such a preposterous piece of imposition. By
the time he had walked half a block, the sights and sounds of the busy
street, with their practical and prosaic suggestions, had quite
dissipated the lingering influence of the necromantic atmosphere of Dr.
Heidenhoff's office, and he was sure that he had been a fool.

He went to see Madeline that evening, with his mind made up to avoid
telling her, if possible, that he had made the appointment, and to make
such a report as should induce her to dismiss the subject. But he found
it was quite impossible to maintain any such reticence toward one in her
excited and peremptory mood. He was forced to admit the fact of the
appointment.

"Why didn't you make it in the forenoon?" she demanded.

"What for? It is only a difference of a few hours," he replied.

"And don't you think a few hours is anything to me?" she cried, bursting
into hysterical tears.

"You must not be so confident," he expostulated. "It scares me to see you
so when you are so likely to be disappointed. Even the doctor said he
could not promise success. It would depend on many things."

"What is the use of telling me that ?" she said, suddenly becoming very
calm. "When I've just one chance for life, do you think it is kind to
remind me that it may fail? Let me alone to-night."

The mental agitation of the past two days, supervening on so long a
period of profound depression, had thrown her into a state of agitation
bordering on hysteria. She was co