the form of gas。 The depth upon the water was unaffected by
rain； which passed through it； but depended rather on the
condition of the atmosphere； from which it was evidently
condensed。 There seemed also to be a relation between the amount
of this liquid and the activity of the spirits。 Finally； when
their ammunition showed signs of running low； they decided to
return to the Callisto； go in it to the other side of the planet；
and resume their investigations there。 Accordingly； they set out
to retrace their steps； returning by a course a few miles to one
side of the way they had come； and making the cave their
objective point。 Arriving there one evening about sunset； they
pitched their camp。 The cave was sheltered and comfortable； and
they made preparation for passing the night。
〃I shall be sorry；〃 said Ayrault； as they sat near their fire；
〃to leave this place without again seeing the bishop。 He said we
could impress him anywhere； but it may be more difficult to do
that at the antipodes than here。〃
〃It does seem；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃as though we should be missing
it in not seeing him again； if that is possible。 Nothing but a
poison…storm brought him the first time； and it is not certain
that even in such an emergency would he come again uncalled。〃
〃I think；〃 said Ayrault； 〃as none of the spirits here are
malevolent； they would warn us of danger if they could。 The
bishop's spirit seems to have been the only one with sufficiently
developed power to reappear as a man。 I therefore suggest that
to…morrow we try to make him feel our thought and bring him to
us。〃
CHAPTER VII。
THE SPIRIT'S SECOND VISIT。
Accordingly； the next morning they concentrated their minds
simultaneously on the spirit； wishing with all their strength
that he should reappear。
〃Whether he be far or near；〃 said Ayrault； 〃he must feel that；
for we are using the entire force of our
minds。〃
Shadows began to form； and dancing prismatic colours appeared；
but as yet there was no sign of the deceased bishop； when
suddenly he took shape among them； his appearance and
disappearance being much like that of stereopticon views on the
sheet before a lantern。 He held himself erect； and his
thoughtful； dignified face had the same calm expression it had
worn before。
〃We attracted your attention；〃 said Ayrault； 〃in the way you said
we might； because we longed so to see you。〃
〃Yes；〃 added Bearwarden and Cortlandt； 〃we felt we MUST see you
again。〃
〃I am always at your service；〃 replied the spirit； 〃and will
answer your questions。 With regard to my visibility and
invisibility〃he continued； with a smile； 〃for I will not wait
for you to ask the explanation of what is in your mindsit is
very simple。 A man's soul can never die； a manifestation of the
soul is the spirit； this has entity； consciousness； and will； and
these also live forever。 As in the natural or material life； as
I shall call it； will affects the material first。 Thus； a child
has power to move its hand or a material object； as a toy； before
it can become the medium in a psychological seance。 So it is
here。 Before becoming visible to your eyes； I； by my will； draw
certain material substances in the form of gases from the ground；
water； or air around me。 These take any shape I wishnot
necessarily that of man； though it is more natural to appear as
we did on earthand may absorb a portion of light； and so be
able to cast a shadow or break up the white rays into prismatic
colours； or they may be wholly invisible。 By an effort of the
will； then； I combine and condense these gaseswhich consist
principally of oxygen； hydrogen； nitrogen； and carboninto
flesh； blood； water； or anything else。 You have already learned
on earth that； by the application of heat； every solid and every
liquid substance； which is solid or liquid simply because of the
temperature at which you find it； can be expanded into gas or
gases； and that by cold and pressure every gas can be reduced to
a liquid or a solid。 On earth the state of a substance； whether
solid； liquid； or gaseous； depends simply upon those two
conditions。 Here neither thermal nor barometric changes are
required； for； by mastering the new natural laws that at death
become patent to our senses； we have all the necessary control。
It requires but an effort of my will to be almost instantly
clothed in human form； and but another effort to rearrange the
molecules in such a way as to make the envelope visible。 Some
who have been dead longer； or had a greater natural aptitude than
I； have advanced further； and all are learning； but the
difference in the rate at which spirits acquire control of
previously unknown natural laws varies far more than among
individuals on earth。
〃These forms of organic life do not disintegrate till after
death； here in the natural state they break down and dissolve
into their structural elements in full bloom； as was done by the
fungi。 The poisonous element in the deadly gust； against which I
warned you； came from the gaseous ingredients of toadstools；
which but seldom； and then only when the atmosphere has the
greatest affinity for them； dissolve automatically； producing a
death…spreading wave； against which your meteorological
instruments in future can warn you。 The slight fall you noticed
in temperature was because the specific heat of these gases is
high； and to become gas while in the solid state they had to
withdraw some warmth from the air。 The fatal breath of the
winged lizardsor dragons； as you call themresults from the
same cause； the action of their digestion breaking up the fungus；
which does not kill them； because they exhale the poisonous part
in gaseous form with their breath。 The mushrooms dissolve more
easily； the natural separation that takes place as they reach a
certain stage in their development being precipitated by
concussion or shock。
〃Having seen that； as on earth； we gain control of the material
first； our acquisitiveness then extends to a better understanding
and appreciation of our new senses； and we are continually
finding new objects of beauty； and new beauties in things we
supposed we already understood。 We were accustomed on earth to
the marvellous variety that Nature produced from apparently
simple means and presented to our very limited senses； here there
is an indescribably greater variety to be examined by vastly
keener senses。 The souls in hell have an equally keen but
distorted counterpart of our senses； so that they see in a
magnified form everything vile in themselves and in each other。
To their senses only the ugly and hateful side is visible； so
that the beauty and perfume of a flower are to them as loathsome
as the appearance and fumes of a toadstool。 As evolution and the
tendency of everything to perpetuate itself and intensify its
peculiarities are invariable throughout the universe； these
unhappy souls and ourselves seem destined to diverge more and
more as time goes on； and while we constantly become happier as
our capacity for happiness increases； their sharpening senses
will give them a worse and worse idea of each other； till their
mutual repugnance will know no bounds； and of everything
concerning which they obtain knowledge through their senses。
Thus these poor creatures seem to be the victims of circumstances
and the unalterable laws of fate； and were there such a thing as
death； their misery would unquestionably finally break their
hearts。 That there will be final forgiveness for the condemned；
has long been a human hope； but as yet they have experienced
none； and there is no analogy for it in Nature。
〃But while you have still your earthly bodies and the
opportunities they give you of serving God； you need not be
concerned about hell； no one on earth； knowing how things really
are； would ever again forsake His ways。 The earthly state is the
most precious opportunity of securing that for which a man would
give his all。 Even from the most worldly point of view； a man is
an unspeakable fool not to improve his talents and do good。 What
would those in sheol not give now for but one day in the flesh on
earth； of which you unappreciatives may still have so many？ The
well…used opportunities of even one hour might bring joy to those
in paradise forever； and greatly ease the lot of those in hell。
In doing acts of philanthropy； however； you must remember the
text of the sermon the doctor of divinity preached to Craniner
and Ridley just before they perished at the stake： 'Though I
give my body to be burned； and have not charity； it profiteth me
nothing'which shows that even good deeds must be performed in
the proper spirit。
〃A new era is soon to dawn on earth。 Notwithstanding your great
material progress； the future will exceed all the past。 Man will
find every substance's maximum use； thereby vastly increasing his
comfort。 Then； when advanced in science and reason； with the
power of his senses increased by the delicate instruments that
you； as the forerunners of the coming man； are already learning
to make； may he cease to be a groveller； like our progenitors the
quadrupeds； and may his thoughts rise to his Creator； who has
brought him to such heights through all the intricacies of the
way。 Your preparation for the life to come can also be greatly
aided by intercourse with those who have already died。 When you
really want to associate spiritually with us； you can do so； for；
though perhaps only one in a hundred million can； like me； so
clothe himself as to be again visible to mortal eyes； many of us
could affect gelatine or extremely sensitive plates that would
show interruptions in the ultra…violet chemical rays that； like
the thermal red beyond the visible spectroscope； you know exist
though you can neither see nor feel them。 Spirits could not
affect the magnetic eye； because magnetism； though immaterial
itself； is induced and affected only by a material substance。
The impression on the plate； however； like the prismatic colours
you have already noticed； can be produced by a slight rarefaction
of the hydrogen in the