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larger than is commonly supposed； circumstances rarely combining to
bring out its peculiarities。 In those who constitute this class；
the nervous element； either from preponderating； or from not being
in healthy and harmonious combination with the more material
element； manifests itself beyond its ordinary sphere of operation；
and so occasions results unlike the usual phenomena of life； though；
of course； in accordance with natural laws。 To use a simile： it is；
in such cases； as if all the nerves of the human body came crowding
to the surface； and there exposed themselves to a thousand
influences； from which they would otherwise be preserved。 Of course
I am not attempting to explain； only to suggest a conceivable
hypothesis。 Upon such constitutions； it would not be surprising
that certain other constitutions； similar； yet differing； should
exercise a peculiar influence。 You are； I dare say； more or less
familiar with the main features of mesmerism and its allies； among
which is what is called biology。 I presume it is on such
constitutions as I have supposed； that those powers are chiefly
operative。 Miss Cameron has； at some time or other in her history；
submitted herself to the influences of this Count Halkar； and he has
thus gained a most dangerous authority over her； which he has
exercised for his own ends。〃
〃She more than implied as much in the last conversation I had with
her。〃
〃So his will became her law。 There is in the world of mind a
something corresponding to physical force in the material world。I
cannot avoid just touching upon a higher analogy。 The kingdom of
heaven is not come； even when God's will is our law： it is come when
God's will is our will。 While God's will is our law； we are but a
kind of noble slaves； when his will is our will； we are free
children。 Nothing in nature is free enough to be a symbol for the
state of those who act immediately from the essence of their hidden
life； and the recognition of God's will as that essence。 But； as I
said； this belongs to a far higher region。 I only wanted to touch
on the relation of the freedomsphysical； mental； and spiritual。
To return to the point in hand： I recognise in the story a clear
evidence of strife and partial victory in the affair of the ring。
The countwe will call him by the name he gives himselfhad
evidently been anxious for years to possess himself of this ring：
the probable reasons we have already talked of。 He had laid his
injunctions on his slave to find it for him； and she； perhaps at
first nothing loath； perhaps loving the man as well as submitting to
him； had for a long time attempted to find it； but had failed。 The
count； probably doubting her sincerity； and hoping； at all events；
to urge her search； followed her to Arnstead； where it is very
likely he had been before； although he had avoided Mr。 Arnold。
Judging it advantageous to get into the house； in order to make
observations； he employed his chance meeting with you to that
result。 But； before this； he had watched Miss Cameron's familiarity
with youwas jealous and tyrannical。 Hence the variations of her
conduct to you； for when his power was upon her； she could not do as
she pleased。 But she must have had a real regard for you； for she
evidently refused to get you into trouble by taking the ring from
your custody。 But my surprise is that the fellow limited himself to
that one jewel。〃
〃You may soon be relieved from that surprise；〃 answered Hugh： 〃he
took a valuable diamond of mine as well。〃
〃The rascal！ We may catch him； but you are not likely to find your
diamond again。 Still； there is some possibility。〃
〃How do you know she was not willing to take it from me？〃
〃Because； by her own account； he had to destroy her power of
volition entirely； before he could make her do it。 He threw her
into a mesmeric sleep。〃
〃I should like to understand his power over her a little better。 In
such cases of biologyhow they came to abuse the word； I should
like to know〃
〃Just as they call table…rapping； &c。； spiritualism。〃
〃I suppose his relation to her must be classed amongst phenomena of
that sort？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Well； tell me； does the influence outlast the mesmeric condition？〃
〃If by mesmeric condition you mean any state evidently approaching
to that of sleepundoubtedly。 It is； in many cases； quite
independent of such a condition。 Perhaps the degree of willing
submission at first； may have something to do with it。 But mesmeric
influence； whatever it may mean； is entirely independent of sleep。
That is an accident accompanying it； perhaps sometimes indicating
its culmination。〃
〃Does the person so influenced act with or against his will？〃
〃That is a most difficult question； involving others equally
difficult。 My own impression is； that the patientfor patient in a
very serious sense he isacts with his inclination； and often with
his will； but in many cases with his inclination against his will。
This is a very important distinction in morals； but often
overlooked。 When a man is acting with his inclination； his will is
in abeyance。 In our present imperfect condition； it seems to me
that the absolute will has no opportunity of pure action； of
operating entirely as itself； except when working in opposition to
inclination。 But to return： the power of the biologist appears to
me to lie in thishe is able； by some mysterious sympathy； to
produce in the mind of the patient such forceful impulses to do
whatever he wills； that they are in fact irresistible to almost all
who are obnoxious to his influence。 The will requires an especial
training and a distinct development； before it is capable of acting
with any degree of freedom。 The men who have undergone this are
very few indeed； and no one whose will is not educated as will； can；
if subjected to the influences of biology； resist the impulses
roused in his passive brain by the active brain of the operator。
This at least is my impression。
〃Other things no doubt combined to increase the influence in the
present case。 She liked him； perhaps more than liked him once。 She
was partially committed to his schemes； and she was easily
mesmerised。 It would seem； besides； that she was naturally disposed
to somnambulism。 This is a remarkable co…existence of distinct
developments of the same peculiarity。 In this latter condition；
even if in others she were able to resist him； she would be quite
helpless； for all the thoughts that passed through her brain would
owe their origin to his。Imagine being forced to think another
man's thoughts！ That would be possession indeed！ And this is not
far removed from the old stories about the demons entering into a
man。He would be ruler over the whole intellectual life that passed
in her during the time； and which to her； as far as the ideas
suggested belonged to the outward world； would appear an outer life；
passing all round her； not in her。 She would； in fact； be a
creature of his imagination for the time； as much as any character
invented； and sent through varied circumstances； feelings； and
actions； by the mind of the poet or novelist。 Look at the facts。
She warned you to beware of the count that night before you went
into the haunted bed…chamber。 Even when she entered it； by your own
account〃
〃Entered it？ Then you do think it was Euphra who personated the
ghost？〃
〃I am sure of it。 She was sleep…walking。〃
〃But so differentsuch a death…like look！〃
〃All that was easy enough to manage。 She refused to obey him at
first。 He mesmerized her。 It very likely went farther than he
expected； and he succeeded too well。 Experienced； no doubt； in
disguises； he dressed her as like the dead Lady Euphrasia as he
could； following her picture。 Perhaps she possessed such a
disguise； and had used it before。 He thus protected her from
suspicion； and himself from implication。What was the colour of the
hair in the picture？〃
〃Golden。〃
〃Hence the sparkle of gold…dust in her hair。 The count managed it
all。 He willed that she should go； and she went。 Her disguise was
certain safety； should she be seen。 You would suspect the ghost and
no one else if she appeared to you； and you lost the ring after。
But even in this state she yielded against her better inclination；
for she was weeping when you saw her。 But she could not help it。
While you lay on the couch in the haunted chamber； where he carried
you； the awful death…ghost was busy in your room； was opening your
desk； fingering your papers； and stealing your ring。 It is rather a
frightful idea。〃
〃She did not take my ring； I am sure。 He followed her； and took
it。But she could not have come in at either door〃
〃Could not？ Did she not go out at one of them？ Besides； I do not
doubt that such a room as that had private communication with the
open air as well。 I should much like to examine the place。〃
〃But how could she have gone through the bolted door then？〃
〃That door may have been set in another； larger by half the frame or
so； and opening with a spring and concealed hinges。 There is no
difficulty about that。 There are such places to be found now and
then in old houses。 But； indeed； i