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keeps the molecules apart； heat serving merely to increase its
power？ God made man in his own image； does it not stand to
reason that he will allow him to continue to become more and more
like himself？ Would he begrudge him the power to move mountains
through the intelligent application of Nature's laws； when he
himself said they might be moved by faith？ So far you have been
content to use the mechanical power of water； its momentum or
dead weight merely； to attain a much higher civilization； you
must break it up chemically and use its constituent gases。〃
〃How；〃 asked Bearwarden； 〃can this be done？〃
〃Force superheated steam；〃 replied the spirit； 〃through an
intensely heated substance； as you now do in making
water…gaspreferably platinum heated by electricityapply an
apergetic shock； and the oxygen and hydrogen will separate like
oil and water； the oxygen being so much the heavier。 Lead them
in different directions as fast as the water is decomposedsince
otherwise they would reuniteand your supply of power will be
inexhaustible。〃
〃Will you not stay and dine with us？〃 asked Ayrault。 〃While in
the flesh you must be subject to its laws； and must need food to
maintain your strength； like ourselves。〃
〃It will give me great pleasure；〃 replied the spirit； 〃to tarry
with you； and once more to taste earthly food； but most of all to
have the blessed joy of being of service to you。 Here； all being
immaterial spirits； no physical injury can befall any of us； and
since no one wants anything that any one else can give； we have
no opportunity of doing anything for each other。 You see we
neither eat nor sleep； neither can any of us again know physical
pain or death； nor can we comfort one another； for every one
knows the truth about himself and every one else； and we read one
another's thoughts as an open book。〃
〃Do you；〃 asked Bearwarden； 〃not eat at all？
〃We absorb vitality in a sense；〃 replied the spirit。 〃As the sun
combines certain substances into food for mortals； it also
produces molecular vibration and charges the air with magnetism
and electricity； which we absorb without effort。 In fact； there
is a faint pleasure in the absorption of this strength； when； in
magnetic disturbances； there is an unusual amount of immortal
food。 Should we try to resist it； there would eventually be a
greater pressure without than within； and we should assimilate
involuntarily。 We are part of the intangible universe； and can
feel no hunger that is not instantly appeased； neither can we
ever more know thirst。〃
〃Why；〃 asked Cortlandt reverently； 〃 did the angel with the sword
of flame drive Adam from the Tree of Life； since with his soul he
had received that which could never die？〃
〃That was part of the mercy of God；〃 the shade replied； 〃for
immortality could be enjoyed but meagrely on earth； where natural
limitations are so abrupt。 And know this； ye who are something
of chemists； that had Adam eaten of that substance called fruit；
he would have lived in the flesh to this day； and would have been
of all men the most unhappy。〃
〃Will the Fountain of Youth ever be discovered？〃 asked Cortlandt。
〃That substances exist；〃 replied the spirit； 〃that render it
impossible for the germs of old age and decay to lodge in the
body； I know； in fact； it would be a break in the continuity and
balance of Nature did they not； but I believe their discovery
will be coincident with Christ's second visible advent on earth。
You are； however； only on the shore of the ocean of knowledge；
and； by continuing to advance in geometric ratio； will soon be
able to retain your mortal bodies till the average longevity
exceeds Methuselah's； but； except for more opportunities of doing
good； or setting a longer example to your fellows by your lives；
where would be the gain？
〃I now see how what appeared to me while I lived on earth
insignificant incidents； were the acts of God； and that what I
thought injustice or misfortune was but evidence of his wisdom
and love； for we know that not a sparrow falleth without God； and
that the hairs of our heads are numbered。 Every act of kindness
or unselfishness on my part； also； stands out like a golden
letter or a white stone； and gives me unspeakable comfort。 At
the last judgment； and in eternity following； we shall have very
different but just as real bodies as those that we possessed in
the flesh。 The dead at the last trump will rise clothed in them；
and at that time the souls in paradise will receive them also。〃
〃I wonder；〃 thought Ayrault； 〃on which hand we shall be placed in
that last day。〃
〃The classification is now going on；〃 said the spirit； answering
his thought； 〃and I know that in the final judgment each
individual will range himself automatically on his proper side。〃
〃Do tell me；〃 said Ayrault； 〃how you were able to answer my
thought。〃
〃I see the vibrations of the grey matter of your brain as plainly
as the movements of your lips〃； in fact； I see the thoughts in
the embryonic state taking shape。〃
When their meal was ready they sat down； Ayrault placing the
spirit on his right； with Cortlandt on his left； and having
Bearwarden opposite。 On this occasion their chief had given them
a particularly good dinner； but the spirit took only a slice of
meat and a glass of claret。
〃Won't you tell us the story of your life；〃 said Ayrault to the
spirit； 〃and your experiences since your death？ They would be of
tremendous interest to us。〃
〃I was a bishop in one of the Atlantic States；〃 replied the
spirit gravely； 〃and died shortly before the civil war。 People
came from other cities to hear my sermons； and the biographical
writers have honoured my memory by saying that I was a great man。
I was contemporaneous with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay。
Shortly after I reached threescore and ten； according to earthly
years； I caught what I considered only a slight cold； for I had
always had good health； but it became pneumonia。 My friends；
children； and grandchildren came to see me； and all seemed going
well； when； without warning； my physician told me I had but a few
hours to live。 I could scarcely believe my ears； and though； as
a Churchman； I had ministered to others and had always tried to
lead a good life； I was greatly shocked。 I suddenly remembered
all the things I had left undone and all the things I intended to
do； and the old saying； 'Hell is paved with good intentions；'
crossed my mind very forcibly。 In less than an hour I saw the
physician was right； I grew weaker and my pulse fluttered； but my
mind remained clear。 I prayed to my Creator with all my soul； 'O
spare me a little； that I may recover my strength； before I go
hence； and be no more seen。' As if for an answer； the thought
crossed my brain； 'Set thine house in order； for thou shalt not
live； but die。' I then called my children and made disposition
of such of my property and personal effects as were not covered
by my will。 I also gave to each the advice that my experience
had shown me he or she needed。 Then came another wave of remorse
and regret； and again an intense longing to pray； but along with
the thought of sins and neglected duties came also the memory of
the honest efforts I had made to obey my conscience； and these
were like rifts of sunshine during a storm。 These thoughts； and
the blessed promises of religion I had so often preached in the
churches of my diocese； were an indescribable comfort； and saved
me from the depths of blank despair。 Finally my breathing became
laboured； I had sharp spasms of pain； and my pulse almost
stopped。 I felt that I was dying； and my sight grew dim。 The
crisis and climax of life were at hand。 'Oh！' I thought； with
the philosophers and sages； 'is it to this end I lived？ The
flower appears； briefly blooms amid troublous toil； and is gone；
my body returns to its primordial dust； and my works are buried
in oblivion。 The paths of life and glory lead but to the grave。'
My soul was filled with conflicting thoughts； and for a moment
even my faith seemed at a low ebb。 I could hear my children's
stifled sobs； and my darling wife shed silent tears。 The thought
of parting from them gave me the bitterest wrench。 With my
fleeting breath I gasped these words； 'That mercy I showed
others； that show thou me。' The darkened room grew darker； and
after that I died。 In my sleep I seemed to dream。 All about
were refined and heavenly flowers； while the most delightful
sounds and perfumes filled the air。 Gradually the vision became
more distinct； and I experienced an indescribable feeling of
peace and repose。 I passed through fields and scenes I had never
seen before； while every place was filled with an all…pervading
light。 Sometimes I seemed to be miles in air； countless suns and
their planets shone； and dazzled my eyes； while no
bird…of…paradise was as happy or free as I。 Gradually it came to
me that I was awake； and that it was no dream。 Then I remembered
my last moments； and perceived that I had died。 Death had
brought freedom； my work in the flesh was ended； I was indeed
alive。
〃'O Death； where is th