asked the prince.

"To behold that which you have many times petitioned to be permitted to
see," replied Bischofswerder, gently encouraging and inspiring Frederick
William. "The Invisibles have at last yielded to your wishes, and the
spirits which you summon will appear. If your courage fails you, and you
dread the presence of the departed, command to be reconducted to your
palace, and we will obey; but renounce forever the sublime happiness
of beholding the Invisibles and of holding communion with the
spirit-world!"

"I fear not, but wish to be in the company of the spirits," answered the
prince, proudly.

"Kneel," they commanded, permitting him to enter, "and thrice summon
in a loud voice the names of three departed, who will answer your
questions. Beware of approaching them, for their glance is death and
their breath destruction! Therefore remain kneeling, as it becomes a
mortal in the presence of an immortal. Hope and pray, brother!"

As the door closed upon the prince, and he found himself in such
impenetrable darkness, he sank upon his knees, for he dared not advance,
and retreat was impossible, in spite of heart-quakings.

The shrill, penetrating music ceased, and a voice from a distance
called: "Summon thrice those that thou desirest to see."

"Marcus Aurelius, Leibnitz, and the distinguished elector," called the
prince in a loud voice.

"Who summoned me?" was responded in hollow, sepulchral tones, and
directly over the crown prince a blue, vaporous light was visible--at
first only a cloud, then by degrees increasing and condensing itself
into a human shape, until it took the form of a Roman warrior of the
olden time; no other than Marcus Aurelius, in helmet and coat-of-mail,
with a pale, earth-colored face and glaring eyes.

"Who summoned me?" repeated the figure. The prince's lips refused to
respond, and shuddering he gazed upon the corpse-like face, so exact in
feature to the old Roman emperor.

"You answer me not!" thundered the voice, "but I will tell you who you
are--one lost in sin and an apostate!--the crown prince of Prussia,
a future king, who will be called to govern a people, and knows not
self-government! Turn from the path of vice while it is yet time; rise
from the dust, that the ashes of retribution do not bury you in a living
tomb, like the sinful Pompeians. No monument marks the place of
the sinful; he sinks into the night of oblivion, or he is cursed by
succeeding generations. There