, it held a piece of the cord within its grasp. I could see
the eager fingers fashioning a knot; then, with head bent, the figure
crept forward, foot by foot; it was at the chair-back, and even as
the old man, conscious at last of the intruder, raised his head, the
cord was cast about his throat and drawn tight. There was a moment's
struggle, and I saw that the hand which held the cord was red with
blood. From the wrist, a stained handkerchief fell softly to the
floor.

And then the assassin turned to steal away; but as he went, he cast
one awful glance over his shoulder. The light fell full upon his
face--and I saw that it was Swain's!

* * * * *

I opened my eyes to find myself extended full length on the divan,
with Silva standing over me, a tiny glass of yellow liquid in his
hand.

"Drink this," he said, and I swallowed it obediently.

It had a pungent, unpleasant taste, but I could feel it running
through my veins, and it cleared my mind and steadied my nerves as
though by magic. I sat up and looked at the crystal. The other lights
in the room had been switched on, and the sphere lay cold and
lifeless. I passed my hand before my eyes, and looked at it again;
then my eyes sought Silva's. He was smiling softly.

"The visions came," he said. "Your eyes tell me that the visions came.
Is it not so?"

"Yes," I answered; "strange visions, Senor Silva. I wish I knew their
origin."

"Their origin is in the Universal Spirit," he said, quietly. "Even yet
you do not believe."

"No," and I looked again at the crystal. "There are some things past
belief."

"Nothing is past belief," he said, still more quietly, "You think so
because your mind is wrapped in the conventions amid which you exist.
Free it from those wrappings, and you will begin really to live. You
have never known what life is."

"How am I to free it, Senor Silva?" I questioned.

He took a step nearer to me.

"By becoming a disciple of the Holy One," he said, most earnestly.

But I was myself again, and I rose to my feet and shook my head, with
a smile.

"No," I said. "You will get no convert here. I must be going."

"I will open the gate for you," he said, in another tone, and led the
way down the stairs, through the library, and out upon the gravelled walk.

After the drugged atmosphere of his room, the pure night air was like
a refreshing bath, and I drew in long breaths of it. Silva walked
beside me silently