--I am not so foolish as to say the Church, for I know that
that was not so--but your theologians, you know, made a mistake about
Galileo."

Laurie winced a little. Mr. Jamieson cleared his throat in gentle
approval.

"Now I don't ask you to accept anything contrary to your faith," went
on the other gently; "but if you really wish to look into this matter,
you must set aside for the present all other presuppositions. You must
not begin by assuming that the theologians are always right, nor even
in asking how or why these things should happen. The one point is, _Do
they happen?_"

His last words had a curious little effect as of a sudden flame. He
had spoken smoothly and quietly; then he had suddenly put an
unexpected emphasis into the little sentence at the end. Laurie
jumped, internally. Yes, that was the point, he assented internally.

"Now," went on the other, again in that slow, reassuring voice,
flicking off the ash of his cigarette, "is it possible for you to
doubt that these things happen? May I ask you what books you have
read?"

Laurie named three or four.

"And they have not convinced you?"

"Not altogether."

"Yet you accept human evidence for a great many much more remarkable
things than these--as a Catholic."

"That is Divine Revelation," said Laurie, sure of his ground.

"Pardon me," said the other. "I do not in the least say it is not
Divine Revelation--that is another question--but you receive the
statement that it is so, on the word of man. Is that not true?"

Laurie was silent. He did not quite know what to say; and he almost
feared the next words. But he was astonished that the other did not
press home the point.

"Think over that, Mr. Baxter. That is all I ask. And now for the real
thing. You sincerely wish to be convinced?"

"I am ready to be convinced."

The medium paused an instant, looking intently at the fire. Then he
tossed the stump of his cigarette away and lighted another. The two
ladies sat motionless.

"You seem fond of _a priori_ arguments, Mr. Baxter," he began, with a
kindly smile. "Let us have one or two, then.

"Consider first the relation of your soul to your body. That is
infinitely mysterious, is it not? An emotion rises in your soul, and a
flush of blood marks it. That is the subconscious mechanism of your
body. But to say that, does not explain it. It is only a label. You
follow me? Yes? Or still more mysterious is your conscious power. You
will to raise yo