e phenomena; and is the mind's interpretation of a living
movement towards shape that shall express it." He brought his eyes
closer to the other, lowering his voice again. "Hence," he said softly,
"the signs in all the old magical systems--skeleton forms into which the
Powers evoked descended; outlines those Powers automatically built up
when using matter to express themselves. Such signs are material symbols
of their bodiless existence. They attract the life they represent and
interpret. Obtain the correct, true symbol, and the Power corresponding
to it can approach--once roused and made aware. It has, you see, a
ready-made mould into which it can come down."

"Once roused and made aware?" repeated Henriot questioningly, while this
man went stammering the letters of a language that he himself had used
too long ago to recapture fully.

"Because they have left the world. They sleep, unmanifested. Their forms
are no longer known to men. No forms exist on earth to-day that could
contain them. But they may be awakened," he added darkly. "They are
bound to answer to the summons, if such summons be accurately made."

"Evocation?" whispered Henriot, more distressed than he cared to admit.

Vance nodded. Leaning still closer, to his companion's face, he thrust
his lips forward, speaking eagerly, earnestly, yet somehow at the same
time, horribly: "And we want--my aunt would ask--your draughtsman's
skill, or at any rate your memory afterwards, to establish the outline
of anything that comes."

He waited for the answer, still keeping his face uncomfortably close.

Henriot drew back a little. But his mind was fully made up now. He had
known from the beginning that he would consent, for the desire in him
was stronger than all the caution in the world. The Past inexorably drew
him into the circle of these other lives, and the little human dread
Vance woke in him seemed just then insignificant by comparison. It was
merely of To-day.

"You two," he said, trying to bring judgment into it, "engaged in
evocation, will be in a state of clairvoyant vision. Granted. But shall
I, as an outsider, observing with unexcited mind, see anything, know
anything, be aware of anything at all, let alone the drawing of it?"

"Unless," the reply came instantly with decision, "the descent of Power
is strong enough to take actual material shape, the experiment is a
failure. Anybody can induce subjective vision. Such fantasies have no
value though. T