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"Seen?"

"Oh! yes Seen by the dying person It is usually only a gliht be said to be aterror that now and then shows itself, even in people who do not fear death itself, who are perfectly resigned, who have nothing on their conscience,--well, personally, I believe the fear coe"

Laurie licked his dry lips He told himself that he did not believe one word of it

"Andand he is evil?" he asked

The other shrugged his shoulders

"Isn't that a relative term?" he said "From one point of view, certainly; but not necessarily froood of it?"

The medium smiled a little

"That's a question we soon cease to ask Youat all yet But one thing seeate, and that is that our point of view is not the only one, nor even the principal one Christianity, I fancy, says the salory of God,' whatever that may be, comes before even the 'salvation of souls'"

Laurie wrenched his attention once er?" he said

"Certainly We are always in danger--"

"You mean, if I hadn't prayed--"

"Ah! that is another question But, in short, if you hadn't succeeded in getting past--well, you'd have failed"

Again there fell a silence

It see about him Yet he was far from sure whether it were not all an illusion But the extre these startling theories had their effect It was practically impossible for the boy to sit here, still nervous from his experience, and hear, unmoved, this apparently reasonable and connected account of things that were certainly incomprehensible on any other hypothesis His re uniqueness of his dream was still vivid Surely it all fitted inyet

"But there is one thing," broke in the medium's quiet voice "Should you ever experience this kind of thing again, I should recommend you not to pray Just exercise your own individuality; assert yourself; don't lean on another You are quite strong enough"

"You mean--"

"I mean exactly what I say What is called Prayer is really an iinative concession to weakness Take the short cut, rather Assert your own--your own individuality"