Before William left his home after the interview, there came a hurried
messenger from Merle, asking his immediate presence, as there was a
decided change for the worse in his condition. William knew such tidings
must mean a serious state of affairs, as in all the time he had been
using Merle as a subject, he had never before been summoned by his
people. On the contrary, Merle had improved physically ever since he had
been controlling him.
He hastened to Mrs. Millard's house as quickly as possible, trying to
keep Merle in his mind as manifesting strength, health and calmness,
yet, when he arrived, Mrs. Millard, who had been eagerly awaiting him,
let him in, he saw by the expression of her countenance, which was
clearly dejected, that his thought waves had thus far been futile.
Despite his own anguish and torture of mind, there arose the spectacle
of what a blow it would be to science, if he, one of its advocates and
acknowledged experimentors, should allow his principal subject to sicken
and possibly die. He tried to the utmost of his will to focus his mind
upon the thought, "Merle shall and is manifesting health."
How many times, when other men's minds had failed and their courage had
flagged and waned, had his shone forth like a bright and radiant light,
illumining the darkness and bringing out congenial conditions. Somehow
he did not seem to really know himself. He no longer felt secure or sure
of anything, still he greeted Mrs. Millard with words of encouragement,
and asked to be shown immediately into Merle's presence.
Arriving there, he was astonished to note how weak and feverish Merle
was. Even his presence did not seem to awaken him or to especially
attract his attention. He asked Mrs. Millard to leave them alone. He
would have been loth to admit how long a time it took him to gain
sufficient power to put Merle into a peaceful and refreshing sleep, but
at length he accomplished it, and passing out of that apartment, asked
if Alice was willing to be mesmerized, while her mother went to watch by
Merle's bedside.
In that house his word was law, and Alice was soon put into the trance
condition. Her first utterances were all of Merle, but by gradual
degrees her thoughts were directed into different channels. After
several questions, she was able to tell William that he had had two
callers, when he had expected three, and the visit of these two had been
productive of disappointment instead of satisfaction. He could not find
out from his questioning why such a condition existed.
He asked every variety of question he could think of, but, beyond what
he already knew, he could get no enlightenment. This exasperated him
greatly, for he was not in search of what he already knew, but striving
to obtain information upon a point about which he was ignorant. Why had
Miss Earle come to him?--That was the question he wanted answered, but
all he could get from Alice was "She came to get help for him she
loves."
Such a declaration, repeated over and over, by no means calmed William's
troubled mind. Finally she said:
"Do not force me. I do not know whom she loves, but I know she loves
someone better than you. Your power, which is strong enough to influence
Merle and me, is not strong enough to penetrate through the other love,
yet she loves you better than her life."
Realizing how futile it was to force her further, William bade her
awaken, and, after looking in to see Merle again, and leaving such
instructions as he thought it necessary to follow, left the house and
walked toward his own home.
His thoughts traveled rapidly, and the expression of his eyes showed
that anger or some kindred feeling was one of the most potent forces
operative in his spirit at the time.
His thoughts ran something like this:--"She came to me to get help for
him she loves.--She loves me better than her life, still there is one
dearer yet.--My power is not strong enough to penetrate through this
other love.--That remains to be proven; I think differently; I prophecy
her idol will fall separate himself from her, and she be compelled to
come to me for assistance. How she must love herself when she loves me
more! Love! She does not know what love is, but she shall know, and
shall suffer, even as she has made me suffer--and Merle. The boy is very
ill, and is weakening instead of growing stronger. I had hard work to
put him to sleep. His illness means the indefinite postponement of our
scientific researches. I am in no condition to conduct them now even if
Merle were well, so his illness does not really interfere with the
matter. I shall know no rest, but devote my every energy and power to
the bending and breaking of Clarissa's proud spirit. I will help her
loved one. Oh, yes, I will help him--to grow weak and negative, and the
very antipathy of her desires, and she shall come to me humbly, and sue
for help. She will never again ask me to carry flowers to her past
lovers. I swear it."