tly there was a convulsive trembling, and she breathed heavily.
Her lips parted and closed, again and again. It seemed as though a
word sought utterance, but was restrained by some secret emotion. Leon
began to move towards her, his eyes fixed upon hers, and an expression
of ecstatic pleasure spreading over his features. Slowly but surely he
advanced, and, as he approached, Agnes trembled more and more.

A swift alteration in the attitude of the girl then took place. In one
instant she became thoroughly controlled; all quivering ceased. She
stood erect, exhibiting to its fullest her marvellously attractive
form. Then, with a bound, she sprang forward, and cast herself upon
the breast of her dream-land lover, with a cry that went straight to
the heart of her father.

"Leon! Leon! I love you! I love you!" she exclaimed, and as the youth
folded her in an enraptured embrace, Judge Dudley fell to the floor
senseless.

CHAPTER XI.

THE GENESIS OF LOVE.

I must explain more fully how the scene just related was pre-arranged.
As Dr. Medjora told the Judge, it had been a common occurrence for him
to hypnotize Agnes whenever favorable occasions presented. These had
not been infrequent, because the girl had exhibited a great fondness
for the study of chemistry, and therefore often visited the Doctor in
his laboratory. Since the advent of Leon, this habit had been
discontinued, or only rarely indulged, and the Doctor, appreciating
the maidenly reserve which prompted her, had made no comment.

When, however, he decided that the time had arrived when it would be
best for him to put his scheme into operation, he had one day invited
Agnes to be present at some interesting experiments which he wished to
show. Thus she had readily been enticed to the laboratory, and then
the Doctor had hypnotized her, and subsequently led her to the chamber
where he had arranged the paraphernalia for his little scene. Before
this, he had commanded Leon to sleep, and in a similar condition the
lad had been conveyed to the couch whereon he was afterward shown to
the Judge.

The Doctor had calculated to meet opposition in the Judge, and his
hypnotic _seance_ had been conceived with the double purpose of
convincing him of the uselessness of antagonism, while at the same
time he would utilize the opportunity to suggest the idea of love to
both of the young people.

Ordinarily, by which I mean with subjects having less individuality
than thes