mighty
queer world. I don't know but we are all more or less possessed by evil
spirits, Chris. What are these brainstorms that overwhelm the best of
us? Why do good men and women, on some sudden, devilish impulse, do
abominable things, criminal things, that they never meant to do? We
doctors pretend to be skeptical, but we all come up against creepy
stuff, inside confession stuff that we don't talk about."

He was silent again.

"There was a patient of mine in Chicago, a tough old rounder," Owen
resumed, "who changed overnight into the straightest chap you ever heard
of--because he went down to the edge of the Great Shadow--he was one of
the passengers saved from the Titanic. He told me that when he was
struggling there in the icy ocean, after the ship sank, _he saw white
shapes hovering over the waters, holding up the drowning_! I never
mentioned that until tonight."

They smoked without speaking.

"I--I had an experience like that myself, sir," ventured Christopher.
"I've never spoken of it either--people would call me crazy, but--that
night when I lay out there in front of Montidier, among the dead and
dying, I saw a white shape moving over the battlefields."

"You did?"

"Yes, sir. It was the figure of a woman--coming towards me--she seemed
to be leading Penelope. I saw her distinctly--she had a beautiful face."

Silence again.

Dr. Leroy joined them presently and, on learning of Captain Herrick's
plan, he made no objections to it, but said it would fail.

"We are dealing with an evil power, gentlemen, that is far too clever to
be deceived by such a trick," he assured them; but Christopher was
resolved to try.

Leroy then described Seraphine's narrow escape and showed them the
automatic writing, the message from Penelope's mother, not the evil
message; whereupon Christopher, in amazement, gave the corroborative
testimony of his battlefield experience. The psychologist nodded
gravely.

At five minutes of twelve (correct time) Seraphine sent down word that
Mrs. Wells had awakened and was asking eagerly for Captain Herrick.

"Go to her at once, my young friend," directed Leroy. "Do all you can to
encourage her and make her happy. Tell her there is nothing to fear
because her mother's pure soul is guarding her. Show her this message
from her mother. And whatever happens do not let your own faith waver. I
assure you our precautions are taken against everything. God bless you."

When Christopher had gone,