doubting the possibility of such things, they had felt fully convinced that apparitions were of the past; now they were brought face to to face with the dread world of spirit. The reality of life seemed to have become the sterner for the knowledge obtained in that dark court. Here was another proof of immortality. They would strive to live as with renewed faith, that this talent also might bear its fruit and be accounted for at the last.

Reflecting and conversing upon such things, they arrived at their hotel. Long did they sit together, talking over the events of the night, and when at last they retired to rest it was to see re-enacted in Dreamland the mysteries of the séance.

On the following day they quitted Paris, and after an uneventful journey arrived in England. Tom then proceeded to Greenhill Crescent and Charlie to Bainbridge Holme.. It would be difficult to say whose return was the happier. Tom found the outstretched

arms of his foster mother, and the kindly welcome of Mr. Trevelyan, combined with the most careful attention to his wants and comfort. Charlie, on the other hand, met the smiling faces of his father and sister, and the same tender care, his joy being dimmed only by the sad accounts respecting his elder brother.

On the return passage Charlie had suggested to his friend that they should both devote themselves to the study of the best literature on spiritualism in order that they might become fully conversant with the subject so far as it was known. To this sug

gestion Tom had readily agreed, pointing out the desirability of deferring any conversation with those at home until the standard works had been well mastered. Spiritualism was ridiculed by those who did not understand anything about it, and without a thorough knowledge of the subject it might be difficult to rebut the remarks of the scoffer.

In accordance with their determination the

young men purchased the best works extant on the subject they had so much at heart, and devoured them greedily. The minds of the students being well trained, accustomed to weigh evidence and grasp abstruse problems, rapid progress was made, so that in the course of a few weeks these eager enquirers knew all that was known on the matter in hand.

They learnt that thousands of people scouted the bare idea of visitations from the departed, but they found also that those people were utterly unacquainted with the facts. They learnt, too, that the rule amongst the great scientists of the day was to decline even to approach the question, and to prefer scoffing at it from a distance. This conduct struck these two searchers after truth as a most illogical and unscientific way of treating what was undoubtedly a great social fact, but they were somewhat encouraged on discovering that a few scientific men of vast

acquirements-men who had made their mark in the scientific world-had subjected the phenomena to the most crucial tests, and were convinced of their reality, though perhaps not agreed as to their source or

nature.

Further, both Tom and Charlie knew how to estimate the ridicule accorded to new discoveries and inventions. They recalled the cases of Galileo and of George Stephenson, and the memorable words of Galvani, "I am attacked by two very opposite sects-the scientists and the know-nothings. Both

laugh at me, calling me the frogs' dancing master.' Yet I know that I have discovered one of the greatest forces in nature."

The sneers, then, of those ignorant of the subject, however learned in other respects, should have no weight with them. Already they had received remarkable proofs of the source and genuineness of the phenomena; for the rest they would watch and ascertain what the future had in store for them.

CHAPTER XII.

ENGAGED.

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and' shall cleave to his wife." Ephesians v., 31.

UCH was the position to which Thomas Kent and Charles Rowlandson had brought themselves. It will not, of course, be supposed that during their investigations they altogether neglected interchange of ideas. Far from this being the case, not a week passed away without some correspondence between them, in short, their letters alone, containing as they did, sound arguments, ingenious speculations, carefully drawn deductions, suggestions as to the best literature on the subject, and other important