DON MIGUEL LEHUMADA
DISCOVERER OF LIQUID FROM THE SUN’S RAYS
AN OCCULT ROMANCE OF MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES
BY
SUE GREENLEAF
[Illustration]
NEW YORK
B. W. DODGE AND COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY
B. W. DODGE AND COMPANY
WITH SORROW IN MY HEART
AND
MUCH PITY FOR THE WEAK
WHO PUT STUMBLING BLOCKS IN MY PATH
AND
WISHED MY LIFE A PERPETUAL
SLOUGH OF DESPOND,
I RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS VOLUME.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
The Arrival of Señor Don Miguel Lehumada from Kansas City—A Scene
in the Scientist’s Study, Chihuahua 9
CHAPTER II.
Marriet Motuble Tells Julio Murillo of His First Incarnation 18
CHAPTER III.
The Death of President Diaz, the Annexation of Mexico to the
United States—Helen Hinckley Becomes the Private Secretary of
Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir 27
CHAPTER IV.
The Plunger from Kansas Returns to Chihuahua and Takes “Memory
Fluid” and _Remembers_ 42
CHAPTER V.
Governor Miguel Lehumada Lectures Upon “Liquid from the Sun’s
Rays” 55
CHAPTER VI.
Mrs. Grange Disports Herself before the Distinguished Visitors, a
Scene Ensues, and President Mortingo Avows His Intentions of
Becoming a _Subject_ 70
CHAPTER VII.
Catalina Martinet Surprises the President by Telling Him She
_Remembered_ Him in a Life Gone by 85
CHAPTER VIII.
The Plunger from Kansas Confesses to the Crime He Committed 150
Years Ago, in 1898 99
CHAPTER IX.
Marriet Motuble Reports Herself Dead and Tells of Revolutionists’
Intentions 114
CHAPTER X.
A Day Full of Conundrums 131
CHAPTER XI.
Governor Lehumada and Others Visit the Motuble Tomb and Arrest the
Leaders of the Conspiracy—President Mortingo Returns to
Washington 146
CHAPTER XII.
Marriet Motuble Addresses the Conspirators, in the Guise of a
Man—Helen Hinckley Flies Through the Air, Overcoming the Law of
Gravitation, with Governor Lehumada, and Saves His Life 162
CHAPTER XIII.
The Peace of the Soul that Passeth all Understanding 177
CHAPTER XIV.
Helen Hinckley and Catalina Martinet Meet in the Alameda—Catalina
Desires to Pass Away and Live Again 193
CHAPTER XV.
Helen Hinckley and Catalina Martinet Help to Disperse the
Conspirators by Suspending Themselves in the Air 210
CHAPTER XVI.
Marriet Motuble, Disguised as a Physician, Visits Julio
Murillo—The Leaders of the Conspiracy Send a Written Confession
to Governor Lehumada—Then _Will_ their Souls Away While Taking
_Ebony Fluid_ 226
CHAPTER XVII.
The Governor and Party View the Ebonized Bodies of Marriet
Motuble, Francisco R. Cantu, and Albert Hernandez, and
Demonstrate the Use of Ebony Fluid Upon the Corpse of Reverend
J. T. Note 241
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Trial of the Plunger from Kansas, and the Flight of Catalina’s
Soul 258
CHAPTER XIX.
Governor Lehumada Nominated President of the United States—His
Marriage to Helen Hinckley and the Passing Away of Mrs. Grange 275
CHAPTER XX.
The Celebration of the Seventh Anniversary of President Lehumada’s
Marriage, Music by the Spirit Band—Little Helen and “Miguey,”
the President’s Children, Tell of Their Reincarnation 292
DON MIGUEL LEHUMADA
Discoverer of Liquid from the Sun’s Rays.
CHAPTER I.
IN THE SCIENTIST’S STUDY.
The private study of Señor Guillermo Gonzales, in the State House of
Chihuahua, always had an air conducive to study.
His fame as a scientist, as a man of great moral force, as a man who
lived his daily life in a highly spiritual manner, was broadcast in the
land.
His most casual acquaintances unconsciously grew thoughtful, studious,
and better by knowing him.
He was of purely Mexican origin, and his friends delighted in calling
him “Señor” Gonzales—as was the custom of the people when Chihuahua was
one of the States of “The Republic of Mexico,” a nation long since only
known as having existed by reading from the pages of history.
The great love and respect constantly shown him by his daily associates
proved the exception to the rule that “A prophet is not without honor
save in his own country and amongst his own kin.”
He was not honored as mankind was honored in the nineteenth century—for
his social, political or financial position—but for his moral,
intellectual, and spiritual development.
Julio Murillo, a fellow student who acted in the capacity of office-man,
was a small but well-built typical Mexican, nearing the end of his fifth
incarnation.
He spent no time regretting his past actions, nor fearing the future.
Every moment he lived the best in him, and studied to make “the best”
better on the morrow.
On the morning our story opens he had finished his regular rounds of
tidying the reception-chamber, and was at work in a small alcove room
adjoining, on the properties extracted from the sun’s rays, by means of
a glass chemical instrument. At the focus the rays were liquidized,
separated, and blended into “Memory Fluid.”
Although the analysis under way was exceedingly interesting to him, he
was not in the least disturbed, when a noise much resembling the faint
tingling of a small silver bell announced that he must leave his
pleasant occupation and receive some visitor.
When he reached the reception-room he stood with his hand upon the knob
of the door, which he was about to open to admit a visitor, when a
beautiful smile overspread his countenance and he murmured: “It is his
Honor.”
The door opened noiselessly and a man in every way worthy the name of
man stood before him.
“Your Honor,” he said, extending his hand in greeting, which was eagerly
seized by the visitor, “pass, sir, and be seated; Señor Gonzales will
receive you in a very short time. There—the clock is striking the half
hour; in fifteen minutes he will be at your Honor’s service. The morning
paper, your Honor? Wonderful discoveries in Science, in Art, in Man.”
The visitor thanked Julio Murillo as he took the paper, and seating
himself in one of the many comfortable chairs in the room, he said:
“I have read the paper, sir; others than our kind are no doubt
astonished at its contents. There will be more convincing statements
made within thirty days. In fact, I believe our evidence will be so
strong, that everyone will believe the history of the case and the
matter will be forever settled soon.
“I am sure _your_ investigations, Julio, will strengthen our case
materially. Now, sir, I beg of you to continue your absorbing study, and
I will remain here in meditation until Señor Gonzales grants me an
interview. One cannot give _too_ much time to thought, so do me the
favor not to detain yourself longer.”
Julio Murillo shook hands with the distinguished visitor, and with much
the same smile he had on entering the room, he left to resume his
scientific investigations.
The large, handsome, princely looking visitor walked the richly covered
floor thoroughly wrapped in pleasant and highly scientific meditations.
He was not long kept waiting for his host’s welcome.
He stooped to pick up a nosegay which dropped from his coat, and when he
raised his head, Guillermo Gonzales stood before him, by the side of his
writing-table, with outstretched hands.
The partition separating the two rooms had disappeared as if by magic,
and they stood alone in one grand room.
A giant was not at hand, nor neither were the powers of a magician
employed to make the partition disappear so quickly. It was constructed
on the same plan as sliding-doors, but it moved with more rapidity and
much less noise.
The two distinguished men greeted each other with the embrace and
handshake characteristic of their ancient Mexican ancestors.
In the privacy of his study Guillermo Gonzales always addressed the
friend of his youth,—and his friend during the other lives which they
had lived generations ago in the Republic of Mexico, ay, in the same
city where they now lived—the capital of Chihuahua—in the most familiar
schoolboy fashion.
“Miguey, my boy, this is indeed a most pleasant surprise. You returned
when?”
The friend of the scientist was none other than the renowned man of
letters and the Governor of Chihuahua, Señor Don Miguel Lehumada.
“Last night, only, my friend. I have much to tell you,—much to tell
you.”
The scientist drew a large, comfortable chair on either side of the
table on which he had been conducting his most recent experiments, and
motioning his friend to the seat, they sat down facing each other.
“I, too, have things of importance to relate. Your Honor, proceed; my
whole attention is yours.”
The Governor leaned his handsome head on the back of his chair with a
grace befitting the man he was, and said:
“What I have to tell will not startle you, nor did it surprise me when I
learned it.
“A volcanic eruption could not have created more of a sensation over the
entire United States, or in all Europe, than is now taking place on
account of the knowledge they have of our scientific discoveries.
However, to come to the point, I positively located, during my recent
visit to the North, ‘The Plunger from Kansas.’”
Guillermo Gonzales arose from his chair and clasped his friend in his
arms.
“Miguey, dear, dear Miguey, victory is ours! Pardon my enthusiasm! While
I know we are working the right clue, I am overjoyed that you should
have the pleasure of locating ‘The Plunger!’”
The scientist did not resume his seat; but instead walked somewhat
nervously and in deep thought back and forth before his honored guest.
The Governor continued: “I met him on the streets of Kansas City. It was
a mutual recognition. He even stopped, and said in a confused manner:
“‘Pardon me, sir, but are you not Governor of Chihuahua? You do not know
me?’
“‘Yes,’ I replied, without a moment’s reflection: ‘You are the “Plunger
from Kansas.”’
“He turned very white and shook like an aspen leaf.
“‘It is retribution,’ he exclaimed, ‘and it came after death. O God, is
there no peace for me in this life or any future life? Am I to be an
outcast and a wanderer as I was in my second physical state, because of
the small offence I committed? There is no justice in torturing a man
through several existences, because he took a few hundred thousand
dollars from his fellowman, and did some other similar tricks, which
were termed business shrewdness in those days. Governor, I will now say
good-bye. Retribution seems to be following me; do not aid its progress,
I pray you!’
“In a moment he was gone. With the assistance of two detectives, we
searched for him the greater part of three days and nights. No clue
whatever could we find of him.
“Were I not convinced of the truth of our scientific investigations, I
would be annoyed by his sudden disappearance; but it is of no use to be
disturbed, for we know it is only a question of time until he will
revisit the city to which he fled, it being the capital of a State of a
foreign nation then, to escape the wrath of his creditors.”
The scientist continued his walk back and forth, listening intently to
every word his friend spoke, now and then smiling his approval and
exclaiming: “True, Miguey; true.”
“For those in touch with the past and to whom the Hidden is revealed,
there is no mystery connected with the appearance and sudden
disappearance of the Plunger,” concluded the Governor.
Seating himself facing his visitor, the scientist said:
“Various lengths of time are necessary to teach people of different
degrees of spiritual development that Nature demands her equilibrium
restored, no matter at whose seeming expense.
“In your book, ‘Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,’ Restoration of Equilibrium
is fully explained. True, my dear Miguey, we must give people _time_ to
grow. The poor little minds warped for centuries by credal teachings,
abandon of morals, cannot be expected to grasp Truth at a glance.
“We must feed them ‘Memory Fluid.’ All knowledge of the Hidden must come
through Self, and our discovery so wonderfully described in your work,
now of international repute, is the only known means to that greatly
desired end.
“Come, Miguey, tell me of your reception in the northern states. No such
a wave of discovery has swept across the world since the time of
Galileo, as that produced by our researches made known to the public by
your works.”
“My reception,” began the distinguished author, and leader of his
people, “was an ovation from my exit from this city until my return.
“In my lecture at K——, I hinted at the clue we were at work on to right
the wrongs committed by ‘The Plunger from Kansas.’ Enthusiasm ran high,
and at the end of my lecture I was carried from the assembly room in a
white velvet chair, beautifully decorated with flowers and lace,
supported on the shoulders of the mayor and three other prominent
citizens.
“They wish to organize a society, under our supervision, to experiment
with our ‘Memory Fluid.’ The masses are, I believe, intolerant with our
discoveries, yet they read my work and the newspapers comments
concerning it, no doubt out of curiosity alone.”
“It makes no difference,” added Guillermo Gonzales, “_why_ they read it
or by what means their attention is drawn to Truth; the result is the
same,—investigations follow at no distant time.
“A desire to learn must be awakened in the mind of every creature before
he is in a condition to develop.
“Come, look through this window. See those three men writing at that
long table?”
“I certainly do,” replied the Governor; “what new clue is this that you
are at work upon? Ah, some of those persons I certainly have seen
before. Can it be that they took part in the Plunger’s drama, one
hundred and fifty years ago?”
“It is quite true, your Honor. Julio recognized them on the street a few
days after your departure for the States.”—(A term Mexicans occasionally
use.)
“They are men of some learning, and at Julio’s invitation called here to
take observation of our investigations. He gave them a few drops of
‘Memory Fluid’ every time they called, for one week, which was every
day. At the end of the week, the tall man at the right of the other two,
Mr. Niksab, called Julio aside and told him in the most confidential air
that he had undergone a most wonderful experience.
“Scarcely able to control his joy at the information about to be
imparted to him, Julio asked him to write his experience and give it to
him for future reference. Niksab did so, and on the file in Julio’s
study hangs the written statement of his first experience after taking
‘Memory Fluid.’
“Since that morning the other two have made a similar confession to
Julio. Now they come here every morning and write their remembrances of
the doings of ‘The Plunger from Kansas,’ which is put on our file of
evidence to be used at the final reckoning.
“Niksab is the man who found a hiding place for the Plunger on the
occasion of his flight from justice, to Chihuahua in the year 1898.”
“I remember the time well,” said the Governor. “I was then, as now,
Governor of the State. How anxious we were then for advancement. How
proud we were of our city. How eagerly our peons grasped the advantages
given them then for education.
“Look at their descendants and some of our _then_ most common menials,
who are fortunate to be doing their third and fourth existence since
that time; how they have developed!
“Who are they now? Our most noted judges, lawyers, teachers, men of
science and letters.
“Come, Guillermo, I wish to pay a quiet visit to the den of our
coworker, Julio. Join me; otherwise we will be delayed in bringing about
the desired results from investigations which will take place here and
elsewhere in the morning.”
Arm in arm the two great and noble men—working for the same cause, the
spiritual elevation of man—left the studio of the Scientist Gonzales,
and entered the lesser apartment of their coworker, Julio Murillo.