Summary

Chapter 11 begins the second part of the novel with the introduction of Michael Heil as Sadie’s potential second husband. Michael, a doctor in Chicago, approached Sadie to communicate with his late brother. His brother was Private James Heil, the primary spirit that was channeled through Sadie, and he spoke to Michael through her. James described his experiences serving in the war to satisfy Michael’s curiosity. Sadie felt badly that she had not approached Michael sooner with this information, but she admitted she did not make the connection.

Michael’s cowardice kept him from joining the war despite James’s and the state’s recruitment efforts described in Chapter 12. Although Michael “looked upon the treatment of slaves with disgust,” he could not bring himself to enlist (98-9). Amidst his internal struggle, Michael received a telegram with news of James’s death, which did...