y: I believe I was a born agnostic. All my life I
have been skeptical as to the verity of a life beyond the grave. In this
I have differed widely from my people, a large majority of whom have
been zealous Presbyterians for at least five generations, while I have
followed Voltaire and Ingersoll. In the ranks of their following I have
been content to cry: 'I don't know! I can wait! One world at a time is
enough for me!' As to mediumship, or any manifestations of it, I know
almost nothing. The few mediums I have met accidentally, have
unfortunately failed to impress me favorably. All that I have heard or
read of them has had a strong tendency to prejudice me against them and
the philosophy they taught. Therefore, until my visit to this cottage, I
have never been at all interested in the matter. I now perceive that in
studying the great problem of life, and how best to learn most about it,
I have utterly ignored one of the most important sources of both
information and inspiration. My prejudice and indifference have
vanished. I wonder at myself, at my readiness to accept your point of
view regarding your most marvelous mediumship and its wonderful
manifestations; at my feverish interest and anxiety to learn all I can
about things spiritual at the earliest possible moment; at my intense
longing for the complete verification of all the beautiful propositions
relating to spiritual life which you have stated so eloquently and so
convincingly; but most of all do I wonder and am amazed that these
things are not miracles; that they occur through the action of natural
law, which, if true, makes it possible--nay probable--that mediumship
and its manifestations are as old as life itself. This, Miss Fenwick,
defines my position as clearly as I can state it. Do you think I am
likely to prove a pupil worthy of his teacher?"

"I most assuredly do, Mr. Flagg," said Fern. "I think you are now
prepared for the promised interview with my father. However, before he
joins us, I wish to say by way of explanation, that when I am here
alone, he can use the trumpet with ease at any moment and in any kind of
light, but in the presence of strangers, different conditions are
required. We shall at first be obliged to use another kind of light. By
the aid of this light you can plainly see the trumpet, supported
horizontally in the air just over his chair, but you will be unable to
discern even the faintest outline of the spiritual form holding it; as
i