“‘If the labour of a lifetime has not been a failure,’ he said, ’these two bodies will soon possess their spirits.’”

Again Voltaire stopped in his recital, and looked around the room.  He saw that every eye was fixed upon him, while the faces of some of the young ladies were blanched with terror.  Evidently they were deeply moved.  Even some of the young men shuddered, not so much because of the story that was told, as the strange power of the man that told it.  As he saw these marks of interest, a smile crept over his face.  He evidently felt that he was the strongest influence in the room—­that all had to yield to him as their superior.

“I confess,” he went on, “that my heart began to beat quickly at these words.  Fancy, if you can, the scene.  An Egyptian village, not far removed from some of the great temples of the dead past.  Above our heads waved tall palm trees.  Around was a strange land, and a wild, lawless people.  The hour was midnight, and our business was with the dead.

“We had not waited above three minutes when I knew that the room was peopled—­by whom I knew not, except that they came from that land from whose bourne, your greatest poet says, ‘no traveller returns.’  I looked at Abou.  His face was as the face of the dead, except for his eyes.  They burned like two coals of fire.  He uttered some strange words, the meaning of which was unknown to me, and then I knew some mighty forces were being exerted in that old sheik’s hut.  My brain began to whirl, while a terrible power gripped me; but still I looked, and still I remembered.

“‘Spirit of Ilfra,’ said Abou, ‘are you here?’

“No voice spoke that I could hear, and yet I realized that Abou had received his answer.

“’Enter thy body then, spirit of my daughter, and tell me, if thou darest, the secret I have desired so long.’

“I looked at the embalmed body.  I saw the eyelids quiver, the mouth twitch, and then the body moved.

“‘Speak to me, my daughter, and tell me all,’ said Abou.

“I only heard one sound.  My overtaxed nerves could bear no more; the living dead was too terrible for me, and I fell senseless to the ground.

“When I awoke to consciousness, I found only Abou and Helfa there.  The body of Ilfra had been removed, where, I know not, for I never saw it again; but Helfa was like unto that which he had been before.

“‘The secret is mine, son Herod,’ said Abou, ’but it is not for you to learn yet.  Be patient; when your spirit is prepared, the knowledge will come.’”

Voltaire stopped abruptly.  One of the young ladies gave a slight scream, and then he apologized for having no more to tell.

“But has the knowledge come since?” asked a voice.

I did not know who spoke, but it sounded like Gertrude Forrest’s voice.  I turned towards her, and saw her looking admiringly at this man whom I could not help fearing.