buried, and by many her return was anxiously expected.
It occurred to me about a week afterwards that I might contrive to
deceive them. I dressed in my aunt's clothes, I painted and disguised
my face as you have seen, and the deception was complete, even to
myself, as I surveyed my countenance in the glass. I boldly set off in
the evening to the tabernacle, which I knew they still frequented--came
into the midst of them, and they fell down and worshipped me as a
prophetess risen from the dead; deceived, indeed, by my appearance, but
still more deceived by their own credulity. For two years I have been
omnipotent with them; but there is one difficulty which shakes the faith
of the new converts, and new converts I must have, Japhet, as the old
ones die, or I should not be able to fee my physician. It is this: by
habit I can almost throw myself into a stupor or a convulsion, but to do
that effectually, to be able to carry on the deception for so long a
time, and to undergo the severe fatigue attending such violent exertion,
it is necessary that I have recourse to stimulants--do you understand?"

"I do," replied I; "I have more than once thought you under the
influence of them towards the evening. I'm afraid that you take more
than is good for your health."

"Not more than I require for what I have to undergo to keep up the faith
of my disciples; but there are many who waver, some who doubt, and I
find that my movements are watched. I cannot trust the woman in this
house. I think she is a spy set upon me, but I cannot remove her, as
this house, and all which it contains, are not mine, but belong to the
disciples in general. There is another woman, not far off, who is my
rival; she calls me an impostor, and says that she is the true
prophetess, and that I am not one. This will be rather difficult for
her to prove," continued she, with a mocking smile. "Beset as I am, I
require your assistance; for you must be aware that it is rather
discreditable to a prophetess, who has risen from the dead, to be seen
all day at the gin-shop, yet without stimulants now I could not exist."

"And how can I assist you?"

"By sending me, as medicine, that which I dare no longer procure in any
other way, and keeping the secret which I have imparted."

"I will do both with pleasure; but yet," said I, "is it not a pity, a
thousand pities, that one so young--and if you will allow me to add, so
lovely, should give herself up to ardent