"Watch!"

Then with a quick movement he poured the contents of the phial into
the liquid in the glass. Instantly there was a commotion. There was a
sound of water boiling, and a sort of steam arose.

"The poisonous properties are thrown off, you see, in the form of
gas," said the Doctor.

The liquid in the glass, from having been colorless, was now converted
into a bright green, but as Leon watched he was astonished to see this
emerald hue gradually fade, until within a minute it had disappeared,
and the fluid was as colorless as before.

"Observe, Leon," said the Doctor, "how easily I could have
administered the added drug without your knowledge, for just as you
see no difference that the eye can detect, so also will your potion be
as tasteless as before. Will you drink it?"

Leon took the glass and drank, without hesitation.

"I thank you for this evidence of your faith in me," said the Doctor,
and pausing awhile, presently spoke again: "Leon, you were probably
surprised when, as a part of your task for to-night, I told you to
read a portion of the book of Genesis, in the Bible. I had a special
purpose in view, which I will now explain. I have a sort of story to
tell, which at first may seem entirely unconnected with our work, but
bear with me, be closely attentive, and you will soon discover that
all I shall say has an important bearing. The beginning of the Bible
of the Jews should make all who study it pause to consider a singular
circumstance. The creation of the world, and all that occurred up to
the time of the Flood, is narrated in seven short chapters, the end of
the seventh recording the Flood itself, and the almost total
annihilation of all the creatures of the earth. But from the Flood up
to the nativity of the Christ, we find the historian well stocked with
facts, and hundreds of pages are filled with his narration."

"Was it not because Moses, or the author of the earlier books, had
more data concerning the events following the Flood, than those which
preceded it? Indeed, it is probable that the Flood itself obliterated
the records of previous times."

"A good argument, my boy, if we consider the Bible as a mere history.
But does not the religious world claim that it is an inspired work? If
the Creator actually revealed the past to Moses, then there was no
reason why he could not have been as explicit about the occurrences
before the Flood, as after? But your explanation is the true one. The
a