f on his errands. When he returned with the fiddle-bow and the
tuning-fork, he saw Lefevre had placed the machine ready, with fresh
chemicals in the vessels.

"Do you perceive my purpose?" asked Lefevre. He placed one handle of the
apparatus in the unconscious patient's right hand, while he himself took
hold of her left arm with his right hand, so that the inner side of his
wrist was in contact with the inner side of hers; and then, to complete
the circle of connection, he took in his left hand the other handle of
the apparatus. "You don't understand?"

"I do not," answered the young man.

"We want a very rapid vibration--much more rapid than usual," said the
doctor. "I can apply no more rapid vibration at present than that which
the note of that tuning-fork will produce. I want you to sound the
tuning-fork with the fiddle-bow, and then apply the fork to this wire."

"Oh," said the young man, "I understand!"

"Now," said Lefevre, "you'd better call the Sister to set the
electricity going."

The Sister came and took her place as before described--with her hands,
that is, on the cylinder of the electrode, her fingers dipping over into
the vessels of chemicals. She opened her eyes and smiled at sight of the
fiddle-bow and tuning-fork.

"I am trying a new thing, Sister," said Lefevre, with a touch of
severity. "I do not need you, I do not wish you, to exert yourself this
time; I only wish you to keep that position, and to be calm. Maintain
your composure, and attend.... Now!" said he, addressing the young man.

The fiddle-bow was drawn across the tuning-fork, and the fork applied
with its thrilling note to the conducting wire which Lefevre held. The
wire hummed its vibration, and electricity tingled wildly through
Lefevre's nerves... There was an anxious, breathless pause for some
seconds, and fear of failure began to contract the doctor's heart.

"Take your hands away, Sister," said he. Then, turning to his assistant,
"Apply that to the other wire," said he; and dropping his own wire, he
put his hand over the cylinder, with his fingers dipping into the vessel
from which the other wire sprang. When the wire hummed under the
tuning-fork and the vibration thrilled again, instantly he felt as if an
inert obstruction had been removed. The vibratory influence whirled
wildly through him, there was a pause of a second or two (which seemed
to him many minutes in duration), and then suddenly a kind of rigor
passed upon the