we were comfortably seated.

"I am somewhat in a dilemma," I replied. "The truth is, I want to do
something which I am not sure is right, and so I have come to you about
it."

"You have done right, Roger. I hope you will always be as mindful of
your old friend. But what's the matter?"

"Do you think there are any witches living to-day?"

"Witches! Witches, why certainly, my boy; and yet I don't know
exactly----"

And the vicar broke off abruptly, as though he were exceedingly
doubtful about the matter.

"What do you mean, Mr. Polperrow?"

"I mean this, Roger. There are a great many women who have been
condemned as witches when they have simply had the gift of second
sight. During the reign of the Stuarts, hundreds were put to death as
witches and wizards, and yet I am not sure, but they were innocent
people. Don't mistake me, my boy; I'm not going against the
Scriptures. I know that witches get their power from the devil--that
is, real witches; but I verily believe that a lot of women who suffered
in the time of James I were good women, who, through their goodness,
obtained knowledge unknown to the generality of people."

"And ghosts, what about them?"

"Roger, I would rather not talk about them now." The vicar's voice was
low and husky.

I thereupon told him about my encounter with Deborah Teague and what
she had said, after which I asked him if I should go and see her.

Mr. Polperrow was some time before he answered. "I am not sure," he
said, at length, "that old Deborah deserves all that has been said
about her. She is a sensible old dame, and has searched out the
healing qualities of many of the plants growing around, and thus has
gained her reputation as a doctor; besides this, she has a curious way
of making the silly folk here do as she tells them; but beyond this I
believe a great deal of the talk is so much nonsense."

"Then you think it would be no harm going to see her?"

"Roger, my boy," said the vicar, "the world in which we live is full of
mystery, full of shadows. We cannot understand the occult forces that
everywhere exist, we cannot read the mystic writing which is everywhere
appearing on the lives of men. Before I went to college I was a firm
believer in many things which I have since discredited. Once I
believed in supernatural events, but since I have seen what can be
produced by purely natural and explainable means, I have begun to
doubt, and yet I cannot deny some th