an was also in her train; but I had not seen him previously, for the
very good reason that he had been sitting behind my back all the
afternoon.

I did not see his face even now. My attention had been diverted from the
Halifax party as they rose to take leave, and I only noticed the _back_
of the second young man as they left the room, and was told later that
this was another son of Mrs Halifax, no other comment upon him being
made.

In those days I was able to do more work on the psychic plane than at
present, and often tried to help sad or wandering spirits by praying for
them when made conscious of their presence near me.

When I woke in the night--after this tea-party--therefore, and felt a
presence near me, it did not at first alarm me in any way.

When fully awake, however, I quickly realised that this was no poor,
sad, bewildered spirit, but a very malignant and revengeful one. I _did
not recognise the sex at the moment_. In fact, my consciousness was
entirely engrossed by realising that this was a question of my prayers
being needed by no spirit more urgently than by my own.

Something very malignant was in the room--something or someone far too
actively and insistently wrathful and malignant to listen to any prayers
or entreaties.

This conviction grew so strong upon me that I lighted my candle, and
getting out of bed, prayed for protection against the evil thing that
was present in my room.

I think I must have remained at least ten minutes on my knees, and I can
remember distinctly the feeling of alarm and hopelessness that came over
me when I realised how strong were the Powers of Darkness and how little
my prayers _seemed_ to avail me.

Shortly, however, faith returned, and with it the confidence of victory.
I returned to my bed quite calm and strong, and fell asleep knowing that
the malignant presence was no longer there to worry and torment me.

I have always found it as easy to communicate with incarnate spirits at
a distance as with discarnate ones, so on awaking in the morning, and
remembering my disagreeable experience, I asked a friend, "still in the
body," what was the meaning of it.

I had made up my mind that if it were in any way connected with the
visitors of the previous afternoon, it must be with the
dissipated-looking young man, for whom I had conceived an instinctive
aversion.

To my infinite surprise _his_ name was not given, but that of the
younger Halifax son. "It was Henry