f a
small tin of that effective spiritualistic medium. No further proof was
needed. By lucky chance I discovered what appeared to be a clue to the
reason of all this mystification. Loosened stones in the chimney and by
the hearth suggested that a search had been made for something supposed
to be hidden in the hut. The spiritual visitor had evidently been bent
upon seizing the material riches which rumor had doubtless located in the
dwelling of one whom those not in his confidence would have reason to
regard as a miser. Here then was one illusion dissipated by my
discoveries.

Father Vansome was driven over again in time for dinner. During the
progress of the meal I was inclined to make merry over my find; but I had
little success in gaining the interest either of Val or our guest, who
both seemed to shun the topic.

When dinner was over, it occurred to me to introduce the subject of my
own ghostly experience, for I was curious to hear what the priests would
think of it. As I led up to it by degrees I saw the dark eyes of Father
Vansome light up with expectation. Both he and Val listened with keen
interest, neither attempting to interrupt the narration. Then they
looked spontaneously at each other.

"I am quite as convinced as yourself," said the Benedictine to me as I
finished my relation, "that what you saw was neither an hallucination nor
a human figure. I have seen it also, and that is why I am here now."

He then gave, in turn, his experience. During the early part of the
night he had been unusually restless. When he did at last fall asleep he
had a strange dream. He saw the figure of an elderly woman, clad in
antique garb, holding by the hand a young man, who wore the habit of his
own Order. The woman fixed upon him eyes full of entreaty, and implored
him in piteous accents to offer Mass for her soul, for it was in his
power to release her from grievous torments. Father Vansome then awoke,
the impression made by his dream still vivid. He struck a light and
looked at his watch. It was two o'clock only; but his nerves were too
highly strung to suffer him to sleep again, and he lay wondering what the
dream could signify.

Suddenly, while still wide awake, he was aware of the figure of the woman
of his dream standing by his bed. Her eyes were full of intense
supplication, and her hands stretched out to him in eager entreaty.
Yielding to a sudden, irresistible impulse, he exclaimed:

"Tell me, i