student in Paris: it was then I met you. I read deeply, too, in the
books of the mediaeval alchemists and sages of Spain, which my father had
left me. It came upon me in a clear flood of evidence that Nature and
man are one and indivisible, being animated by one identical Energy or
Spirit of Life, however various may be the material forms; and that all
things, all creatures, according to the activity of their life, have the
power of communicating, of giving or taking, this invisible force of
life. It furthermore became clear to me that, though the force resides
in all parts of a body, floating in every corpuscle of blood, yet its
proper channels of circulation and communication are the nerves, so that
as soon as a nerve in any one shape of life touches a nerve in any
other, there is an instant tendency to establish in them a common level
of the Force of Life. If I or you touch a man or woman with a finger, or
clasp their hand, or embrace them more completely, the tendency is at
once set up, and the force seeks to flow, and, according to certain
conditions, does flow, from one to another, evermore seeking to find a
common level,--always, that is, in the direction of the greater need, or
the greater capacity. I saw then that not only had I a greater storage
capacity, so to say, than most men, but also, therefore, when exhaustion
came, I had a more insistent need for replenishment, and a more violent
shrinking at all times from any weak or unhealthy person who might even
by chance contact make a demand on my store of life."

"And is that your secret?" asked Lefevre. "I have arrived in a different
way at something like the same discovery."

"I know you have," said Julius. "But my peculiar secret is not that,
though it is connected with it. I am growing very tired," said he,
abruptly. "I must be quick, Lefevre," he continued in a hurried, weak
voice of appeal; "grant me one little last favour to enable me to
finish."

"Anything I can do I will, Julius," said Lefevre, suddenly roused out of
the half-drowsiness which the soft night induced. He was held between
alarm and fascination by the look which Julius bent on him.

"I am ashamed to ask, but you are full of life," said Julius: "I am at
the shallowest ebb. Just for one minute help me. Of your free-will
submit yourself to me for but a moment. Will you do me that service?"

"Yes," said Lefevre, after an instant's hesitation; "certainly I will."

Julius half rose from his