h. The candle glowed and
flickered, moving around, followed by table and chairs. Such a dreadful
sensation of helpless bewilderment! There were harsh janglings of
unnatural voices and glitter of fiendish eyes.

"When again aroused, I felt a dull, painful stupor. Then objects assumed
distorted shapes, with wildly variegated tints, shrouded by mysterious
hazes.

"How long this continued I can only surmise. All my ideas were confused.
It seemed an age before any rational sense was felt. During these
terrible hours there was frequent recurrence of those harsh, grating
accents and repellent looks from sinister faces. Of these experiences I
can give no clearer account. The brain-pressure caused by the temple
blow produced queer sensations and frightful fancies."

Sir Donald listened with patient sympathy to these harrowing details.
Such might be irresponsive, but doubtless had been fearfully real to
Alice.

Thought of that terrible chapter in her life's history so affects Alice
as to cause almost hysterical emotion.

"At length I felt a sense of quiet rest and relief. It seemed as though
we were again at Northfield. The air was musical with songs of birds.
Oswald and Esther were with me; Oswald was reading. A shadow falls
athwart the flower-fringed walk! I look up, and there stands Paul
Lanier, as at his other Northfield call, after return from India!

"While looking at him with feelings of repulsion, the apparition
changes. We are on the lake, and I am remonstrating with Paul, who pays
no heed to my words. I speak more plainly and grasp his arm! Paul rises
and pushes me overboard!

"I am on the shore with Oswald, you and Esther bending over me.

"Oswald and I are at the rustic seat, standing on the river-bank. Paul
Lanier steps from behind a bush, takes a quick step, and strikes me into
the water!

"The dream was so real that I awoke with a scream.

"Now fully aroused, I see a dark form disappear from the low, open door
of the cabin. The sun is shining. I look around the poorly furnished
room. I am lying on a cot. There is but one window. How came I here?

"Trying to sit up, I am too weak, and the effort tires me. After several
minutes a scared, black face peers through the smoke-bedimmed glass.

"Slowly this colored woman enters the room. Her face relaxes into a
broadened grin. Showing two full sets of teeth, she stares as if curious
what to say.

"'Law! chile, yo' scare Sarah Angeline mos' to def!'

"I pu