overlooked。 When a man is acting with his inclination； his will is
in abeyance。 In our present imperfect condition； it seems to me
that the absolute will has no opportunity of pure action； of
operating entirely as itself； except when working in opposition to
inclination。 But to return： the power of the biologist appears to
me to lie in thishe is able； by some mysterious sympathy； to
produce in the mind of the patient such forceful impulses to do
whatever he wills； that they are in fact irresistible to almost all
who are obnoxious to his influence。 The will requires an especial
training and a distinct development； before it is capable of acting
with any degree of freedom。 The men who have undergone this are
very few indeed； and no one whose will is not educated as will； can；
if subjected to the influences of biology； resist the impulses
roused in his passive brain by the active brain of the operator。
This at least is my impression。
〃Other things no doubt combined to increase the influence in the
present case。 She liked him； perhaps more than liked him once。 She
was partially committed to his schemes； and she was easily
mesmerised。 It would seem； besides； that she was naturally disposed
to somnambulism。 This is a remarkable co…existence of distinct
developments of the same peculiarity。 In this latter condition；
even if in others she were able to resist him； she would be quite
helpless； for all the thoughts that passed through her brain would
owe their origin to his。Imagine being forced to think another
man's thoughts！ That would be possession indeed！ And this is not
far removed from the old stories about the demons entering into a
man。He would be ruler over the whole intellectual life that passed
in her during the time； and which to her； as far as the ideas
suggested belonged to the outward world； would appear an outer life；
passing all round her； not in her。 She would； in fact； be a
creature of his imagination for the time； as much as any character
invented； and sent through varied circumstances； feelings； and
actions； by the mind of the poet or novelist。 Look at the facts。
She warned you to beware of the count that night before you went
into the haunted bed…chamber。 Even when she entered it； by your own
account〃
〃Entered it？ Then you do think it was Euphra who personated the
ghost？〃
〃I am sure of it。 She was sleep…walking。〃
〃But so differentsuch a death…like look！〃
〃All that was easy enough to manage。 She refused to obey him at
first。 He mesmerized her。 It very likely went farther than he
expected； and he succeeded too well。 Experienced； no doubt； in
disguises； he dressed her as like the dead Lady Euphrasia as he
could； following her picture。 Perhaps she possessed such a
disguise； and had used it before。 He thus protected her from
suspicion； and himself from implication。What was the colour of the
hair in the picture？〃
〃Golden。〃
〃Hence the sparkle of gold…dust in her hair。 The count managed it
all。 He willed that she should go； and she went。 Her disguise was
certain safety； should she be seen。 You would suspect the ghost and
no one else if she appeared to you； and you lost the ring after。
But even in this state she yielded against her better inclination；
for she was weeping when you saw her。 But she could not help it。
While you lay on the couch in the haunted chamber； where he carried
you； the awful death…ghost was busy in your room； was opening your
desk； fingering your papers； and stealing your ring。 It is rather a
frightful idea。〃
〃She did not take my ring； I am sure。 He followed her； and took
it。But she could not have come in at either door〃
〃Could not？ Did she not go out at one of them？ Besides； I do not
doubt that such a room as that had private communication with the
open air as well。 I should much like to examine the place。〃
〃But how could she have gone through the bolted door then？〃
〃That door may have been set in another； larger by half the frame or
so； and opening with a spring and concealed hinges。 There is no
difficulty about that。 There are such places to be found now and
then in old houses。 But； indeed； if you will excuse me； I do not
consider your testimony； on every minute particular； quite
satisfactory。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Hugh； rather offended。
〃First； because of the state of excitement you must have been in；
and next； because I doubt the wine that was left in your room。 The
count no doubt knew enough of drugs to put a few ghostly horrors
into the decanter。 But poor Miss Cameron！ The horrors he has put
into her mind and life！ It is a sad fateall but a sentence of
insanity。〃
Hugh sprang to his feet。
〃By heaven！〃 he cried； 〃I will strangle the knave。〃
〃Stop； stop！〃 said Falconer。 〃No revenge！ Leave him to the sleeping
divinity within him； which will awake one day； and complete the hell
that he is now building for himselffor the very fire of hell is
the divine in it。 Your work is to set Euphra free。 If you did
strangle him； how do you know if that would free her from him？〃
〃Horrible！Have you no news of him？〃
〃None whatever。〃
〃What； then； can I do for her？〃
〃You must teach her to foil him。〃
〃How am I to do that？ Even if I knew how； I cannot see her； I
cannot speak to her。〃
〃I have a great faith in opportunity。〃
〃But how should she foil him？〃
〃She must pray to God to redeem her fettered willto strengthen her
will to redeem herself。 She must resist the count； should he again
claim her submission （as； for her sake； I hope he will）； as she
would the devil himself。 She must overcome。 Then she will be
freenot before。 This will be very hard to do。 His power has been
excessive and peculiar； and her submission long and complete。 Even
if he left her alone； she would not therefore be free。 She must
defy him； break his bonds； oppose his will； assert her freedom； and
defeat him utterly。〃
〃Oh！ who will help her？ I have no power。 Even if I were with her；
I could not help her in such a struggle。 I wish David were not
dead。 He was the man。You could now； Mr。 Falconer。〃
〃No。 Except I knew her； had known her for some time； and had a
strong hold of all her nature； I could not； would not try to help
her。 If Providence brought this about； I would do my best； but
otherwise I would not interfere。 But if she pray to God； he will
give her whatever help she needs； and in the best way； too。〃
〃I think it would be some comfort to her if we could find the
ringthe crystal； I mean。〃
〃It would be more； I think； if we could find the diamond。〃
〃How can we find either？〃
〃We must find the count first。 I have not given that up； of course。
I will tell you what I should like to do； if I knew the lady。〃
〃What？〃
〃Get her to come to London； and make herself as public as possible：
go to operas and balls； and theatres； be presented at court； take a
stall at every bazaar； and sell charity puff…ballsget as much into
the papers as possible。 'The lovely； accomplished； fascinating Miss
Cameron； &c。； &c。'〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I will tell you what I mean。 The count has forsaken her now； but
as soon as he heard that she was somebody； that she was followed and
admired； his vanity would be roused； his old sense of property in
her would revive； and he would begin once more to draw her into his
toils。 What the result would be； it is impossible to foretell； but
it would at least give us a chance of catching him； and her a chance
of resisting him。〃
〃I don't think； however； that she would venture on that course
herself。 I should not dare to propose it to her。〃
〃No； no。 It was only an invention； to deceive myself with the fancy
that I was doing something。 There would be many objections to such
a plan； even if it were practicable。 I must still try to find him；
and if fresh endeavours should fail； devise fresher still。〃
〃Thank you a thousand times；〃 said Hugh。 〃It is too good of you to
take so much trouble。〃
〃It is my business；〃 answered Falconer。 〃Is there not a soul in
trouble？〃
Hugh went home； full of his new friend。 With the clue he had given
him； he was able to follow all the windings of Euphra's behaviour；
and to account for almost everything that had taken place。 It was
quite painful to him to feel that he could be of no immediate
service to her； but he could hardly doubt that； before long；
Falconer would； in his wisdom and experience； excogitate some mode
of procedure in which he might be able to take a part。
He sat down to his novel； which had been making but little progress
for some time； for it is hard to write a novel when one is living in
the midst of a romance。 But the romance； at this time； was not very
close to him。 It had a past and a possible future； but no present。
That same future； however； might at any moment dawn into the
present。
In the meantime； teaching the Latin grammar and the English alphabet
to young aspirants after the honours of the ministry； was not work
inimical to invention； from either the exhaustion of its excitement
or the absorption of its interest。
CHAPTER XIII。
THE LADY'S…MAID。
Her yellow hair； beyond compare；
Comes trinkling down her swan…white neck；
And her two eyes； like stars in skies；
Would keep a sinking ship frae wreck。
Oh！ Mally's meek； Mally's sweet；
Mally's modest and discreet；
Mally's rare； Mally's fair；
Mally's every way complete。
BURNS。
What arms for innocence but innocence。
GILES FLETCHER。
Margaret had sought Euphra's room； with the intention of restoring
to her the letter which she had written to David Elginbrod。 Janet
had let it lie for some time before she sent it to Margaret； and
Euphra had given up all expectation of an answer。
Hopes of ministration filled Margaret's heart； but she expected；
from what she knew of her； that anger would be Miss Cameron's first
feeling。 Therefore； when she heard no answer to her application for
admission； and had concluded； in consequence； that Euphra was not in
the room； she resolved to leave the letter where it would meet her
eye； and thus prepare the way for a future conversation。 When she
saw Euphra and Harry； she would have retired immediately