INTRODUCTION

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MyEssayonDeath[1]ledmetomakeaconscientiousenquiryintothepresentpositionofthegreatmystery，anenquirywhichI

haveendeavouredtorenderascompleteaspossible。Ihadhopedthatasinglevolumewouldbeabletocontaintheresultoftheseinvestigations，which，Imaysayatonce，willteachnothingtothosewhohavebeenoverthesamegroundandwhichhavenothingtorecommendthemexcepttheirsincerity，theirimpartialityandacertainscrupulousaccuracy。But，asIproceeded，Isawthefieldwideningundermyfeet，somuchsothatIhavebeenobligedtodividemyworkintotwoalmostequalparts。Thefirstisnowpublishedandisabriefstudyofveridicalapparitionsandhallucinationsandhauntedhouses，or，ifyouwill，thephantasmsofthelivingandthedead；ofthosemanifestationswhichhavebeenoddlyandnotveryappropriatelydescribedas"psychometric"；oftheknowledgeofthefuture：presentiments，omens，premonitions，precognitionsandtherest；andlastlyoftheElberfeldhorses。Inthesecond，whichwillbepublishedlater，IshalltreatofthemiraclesofLourdesandotherplaces，thephenomenaofsocalledmaterialization，ofthedivining-rodandoffluidicasepsis，notunmindfulwithalofadiamonddustofthemiraculousthathangsoverthegreatermarvelsinthatstrangeatmosphereintowhichweareabouttopass。

[1]PublishedinEnglish，inanenlargedform，underthetitleofOurEternity（LondonandNewYork，1913）——Translator’sNote。

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WhenIspeakofthepresentpositionofthemystery，Iofcoursedonotmeanthemysteryoflife，itsendanditsbeginnings，noryetthegreatriddleoftheuniversewhichliesaboutus。Inthissense，allismystery，and，asIhavesaidelsewhere，islikelyalwaystoremainso；norisitprobablethatweshallevertouchanypointofeventheutmostbordersofknowledgeorcertainty。

Itishereaquestionofthatwhich，inthemidstofthisrecognizedandusualmystery，thefamiliarmysteryofwhichwearealmostoblivious，suddenlydisturbstheregularcourseofourgeneralignorance。Inthemselves，thesefactswhichstrikeusassupernaturalarenomoresothantheothers；possiblytheyarerarer，or，tobemoreaccurate，lessfrequentlyorlesseasilyobserved。Inanycase，theirdeep-seatedcause，whilebeingprobablyneithermoreremotenormoredifficultaccess，seemtoliehiddeninanunknownregionlessoftenvisitedbyourscience，whichafterallisbutareassuringandconciliatoryespressionofourignorance。Today，thankstothelaboursoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearchandahostofotherseekers，weareabletoapproachthesephenomenaasawholewithacertainconfidence。Leavingtherealmoflegend，ofafter-dinnerstories，oldwives’tales，illusionsandexaggerations，wefindourselvesatlastoncircumscribedbutfairlysafeground。Thisdoesnotmeanthattherearenoothersupernaturalphenomenabesidesthosecollectedinthepublicationsofthesocietyinquestionandinafewofthemoreweightyreviewswhichhaveadoptedthesamemethods。Notwithstandingalltheirdiligence，whichforoverthirtyyearshasbeenransackingtheobscurecornersofourplanet，itisinevitablethatagoodmanythingsescapetheirnotice，besideswhichtherigouroftheirinvestigationsmakesthemrejectthreefourthsofthosewhicharebroughtbeforethem。

Butwemaysaythatthetwenty-sixvolumesofthesocietyisProceedingsandthefifteenorsixteenvolumesofitsJournal，togetherwiththetwenty-threeannualsoftheAnnalesdesSciencesPsychiques，tomentiononlythisoneperiodicalofsignalexcellence，embraceforthemomentthewholefieldoftheextraordinaryandoffersomeinstancesofalltheabnormalmanifestationsoftheinexplicable。Wearehenceforthabletoclassifythem，todivideandsubdividethemintogeneral，speciesandvarieties。Thisisnotmuch，youmaysay；butitisthusthateverysciencebeginsandfurthermorethatmanyaoneends。Wehavethereforesufficientevidence，factsthatcanscarcelybedisputed，toenableustoconsultthemprofitably，torecognizewhithertheylead，toformsomeideaoftheirgeneralcharacterandperhapstotracetheirsolesourcebygraduallyremovingtheweedsandrubbishwhichforsomanyhundredsandthousandsofyearshavehiddenitfromoureyes。

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Truthtotell，thesesupernaturalmanifestationsseemlessmarvelousandlessfantasticthantheydidsomecenturiesago；

andweareatfirstalittledisappointed。Onewouldthinkthateventhemysterioushasitsupsanddownsandremainssubjecttothecapricesofsomestrangeextramundanefashion；orperhaps，tobemoreexact，itisevidentthatthemajorityofthoselegendarymiraclescouldnotwithstandtherigorousscrutinyofourday。Thosewhichemergetriumphantfromthetestanddefyourlesscredulousandmorepenetratingvisionareallthemoreworthyofholdingourattention。Theyarenotthelastsurvivalsoftheriddle，forthiscontinuestoexistinitsentiretyandgrowsgreaterinproportionaswethrowlightuponit；butwecanperhapsseeinthemthesupremeorelsethefirsteffortsofaforcewhichdoesnotappeartoresidewhollyinoursphere。TheysuggestblowsstruckfromwithoutbyanUnknownevenmoreunknownthanthatwhichwethinkweknow，anUnknownwhichisnotthatoftheuniverse，notthatwhichwehavegraduallymadeintoaninoffensiveandamiableUnknown，evenaswehavemadetheuniverseasonofprovinceoftheearth，butastrangerarrivingfromanotherworld，anunexpectedvisitorwhocomesinarathersinisterwaytotroublethecomfortablequietinwhichwewereslumbering，rockedbythefirmandwatchfulhandoforthodoxscience。

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Letusfirstbecontenttoenumeratethem。Weshallfindthatwehavetable-turning，withitsraps；themovementsandtransportationsofinanimateobjectswithoutcontact；luminousphenomena；lucidite，orclairvoyance；veridicalapparitionsorhallucinations；hauntedhouses；bilocationsandsoforth；

communicationswiththedead；thedivining-rod；themiraculouscuresofLourdesandelsewhere；fluidicasepsis；andlastlythefamousthinkinganimalsofElberfeldandMannheim。These，ifIbenotmistaken，aftereliminatingallthatisin，sufficientlyattested，constitutetheresidueorcaputmortuumofthislatter-daymiracle。

Everybodyhasheardoftable-turning，whichmaybecalledtheAB

Cofoccultscience。ItissocommonandsoeasilyproducedthattheSocietyforPsychicalResearchhasnotthoughtitnecessarytodevotespecialattentiontothesubject。Ineedhardlyaddthatwemusttakecountonlyofmovementsor"raps"obtainedwithoutthehandstouchingthetable，soastoremoveeverypossibilityoffraudorunconsciouscomplicity。Toobtainthesemovementsitisenough，butitisalsoindispensablethatthosewhoformthe"chain"shouldincludeapersonendowedwithmediumisticfaculties。Irepeat，theexperimentiswithinthereachofanyonewhocarestotryitundertherequisiteconditions；anditisasincontestableasthepolarizationoflightorascrystallizationbymeansofelectriccurrents。

Inthesamegroupmaybeplacedthemovementandtransportationofobjectswithoutcontact，thetouchesofspirithands，theluminousphenomenaandmaterialization。Liketable-turning，theydemandthepresenceofamedium。Ineednotobservethatweherefindourselvesinthehappyhunting-groundoftheimpostorandthateventhemostpowerfulmediums，thosepossessingthemostgenuineandundeniablegifts，suchasthecelebratedEusapiaPaladino，areuponoccasion——andtheoccasionoccursbuttoooften——incorrigiblecheats。But，whenwehavemadeeveryallowanceforfraud，thereneverthelessremainsaconsiderablenumberofincidentssorigorouslyattestedthatwemostneedsacceptthemorelseabandonallhumancertainty。

Thecaseisnotquitethesamewithlevitationandthewondersperformed，sotravelerstellus，bycertainIndianjugglers。

Thoughtheprolongedburialofalivingbeingisverynearlyprovedandcandoubtlessbephysiologicallyexplained，therearemanyothertricksonwhichwehavesofarnoauthoritativepronouncement。Iwillnotspeakofthe"mango-tree"andthe"basket-trick，"whicharemereconjuring；butthe"fire-walk"andthefamous"rope-climbingtrick"remainmoreofamystery。

Thefire-walk，orwalkonred-hotbricksorglowingcoals，isasortofreligiousceremonypracticedintheIndies，insomeofthePolynesianislands，inMauritiusandelsewhere。Astheresultofincantationsutteredbythehighpriest，thebarefeetofthefaithfulwhofollowhimuponthebedofburningpebblesorbrandsseemtobecomealmostinsensibletothetouchoffire。Travelersareanythingbutagreedwhethertheheatofthesurfacetraversedisreallyintolerable，whethertheextraordinarypowerofenduranceisexplainedbythethicknessofthehornysubstancewhichprotectsthesolesofthenatives’feet，whetherthefeetareburntorwhethertheskinremainsuntouched；and，underpresentconditions，thequestionistoouncertaintomakeitworthwhiletolingeroverit。

"Rope-climbing"ismoreextraordinary。Thejugglertakeshisstandinanopenspace，farfromanytreeorhouse。Heisaccompaniedbyachild；andhisonlyimpedimentaareabundleofropesandanoldcanvassack。Thejugglerthrowsoneendoftheropeupintheair；andtherope，asthoughdrawnbyaninvisiblehook，uncoilsandrisesstraightintotheskyuntiltheenddisappears；and，soonafter，therecometumblingfromthebluetwoarms，twolegs，aheadandsoon，allofwhichthewizardpicksupandcramsintothesack。Henextuttersafewmagicwordsoveritandopensit；andthechildstepsout，bowingandsmilingtothespectators。

Thisistheusualformtakenbythisparticularsorcery。ItisprettyrareandseemstobepractisedonlybyonesectwhichoriginatedintheNorth-WestProvinces。Ithasnotyetperhapsbeensufficientlyinvestigatedtotakeitsplaceamongtheevidencementionedshow。IfitwerereallyasIhavedescribed，itcouldhardlybeexplainedsavebysomestrangehallucinatorypoweremanatingfromthejugglerorillusionist，whoinfluencestheaudiencebysuggestionandmakesitseewhathewishes。Inthatcasethesuggestionorhallucinationcoversaveryextensivearea。Inpointoffact，onlookers，Europeans，onthebalconiesofhousesatsomedistancefromthecrowdofnatives，havebeenknowntoexperiencethesameinfluence。Thiswouldbeoneofthemostcuriousmanifestationsofthat"unknownguest"ofwhichweshallspeakagainlaterwhen，afterenumeratingitsactsanddeeds，wetrytoinvestigateandnotedowntheeccentricitiesofitscharacter。

Levitationinthepropersenseoftheword，thatistosay，theraising，withoutcontact，andfloatingofaninanimateobjectorevenofaperson，mightpossiblybeduetothesamehallucinatorypower；buthithertotheinstanceshavenotbeensufficientlynumerousorauthentictoallowustodrawanyconclusions。Alsoweshallmeetwithitagainwhenwecometothechaptertreatingofthematerializationsofwhichitformspart。

THEUNKNOWNGUEST

CHAPTERI。PHANTASMSOFTHELIVINGANDTHEDEAD

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Thisbringsuswithoutanybreaktotheconsiderationofveridicalapparitionsandhallucinationsandfinallytohauntedhouses。Weallknowthatthephantasmsofthelivingandthedeadhavenowawholeliteratureoftheirown，aliteraturewhichowesitsbirthtothenumerousandconscientiousenquiriesconductedinEngland，France，BelgiumandtheUnitedStatesattheinstanceoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch。Inthepresenceofthemassofevidencecollected，itwouldbeabsurdtopersistindenyingtherealityofthephenomenathemselves。Itisbythistimeincontestablethataviolentordeepemotioncanbetransmittedinstantaneouslyfromonemindtoanother，howevergreatthedistancethatseparatesthemindexperiencingtheemotionfromthemindreceivingthecommunication。Itismostoftenmanifestedbyavisualhallucination，morerarelybyanauditoryhallucination；and，asthemostviolentemotionwhichmancanundergoisthatwhichgripsandoverwhelmshimattheapproachorattheverymomentofdeath，itisnearlyalwaysthissupremeemotionwhichhesendsforthanddirectswithincredibleprecisionthroughspace，ifnecessaryacrossseasandcontinents，towardsaninvisibleandmovinggoal。Again，thoughthisoccurslessfrequently，agravedanger，aseriouscrisiscanbegetandtransmittoadistanceasimilarhallucination。ThisiswhattheS。P。R。calls"phantasmsoftheliving。"Whenthehallucinationtakesplacesometimeafterthedeceaseofthepersonwhomitseemstoevoke，betheintervallongorshort，itisclassedamongthe"phantasmsofthedead。"

Thelatter，theso-called"phantasmsofthedead，"aretherarest。AsF。W。H。MyerspointedoutinhisHumanPersonality，aconsiderationoftheproportionatenumberofapparitionsobservedatvariousperiodsbeforeandafterdeathshowsthattheyincreaseveryrapidlyforthefewhourswhichprecededeathanddecreasegraduallyduringthehoursanddayswhichfollow；whileafteraboutayear’stimetheybecomeextremelyrareandexceptional。

Howeverexceptionaltheymaybe，theseapparitionsneverthelessexistandareproved，asfarasanythingcanbeproved，byabundanttestimonyofaveryprecisecharacter。InstanceswillbefoundintheProceedings，notablyinvol。vi。，pp。13-65，etc。

Whetheritbeacaseoftheliving，thedying，orthedead，wearefamiliarwiththeusualformwhichthesehallucinationstake。

Indeedtheirmainoutlineshardlyevervary。Someone，inhisbedroom，inthestreet，onajourney，nomatterwhere，suddenlyseeplainlyandclearlythephantomofarelationorafriendofwhomhewasnotthinkingatthetimeandwhomheknowstobethousandsofmilesaway，inAmerica，AsiaorAfricaasthecasemaybe，fordistancedoesnotcount。Asarule，thephantomsaysnothing；itspresence，whichisalwaysbrief，isbutasortofsilentwarning。Sometimesitseemsapreytofutileandtrivialanxieties。Morerarely，itspeaks，thoughsayingbutlittleafterall。Morerarelystill，itrevealssomethingthathashappened，acrime，ahiddentreasureofwhichnooneelsecouldknow。Butwewillreturntothesemattersaftercompletingthisbriefenumeration。

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Thephenomenonofhauntedhousesresemblesthatofthephantasmsofthedead，exceptthatheretheghostclingstotheresidence，thehouse，thebuildingandinnowaytothepersonswhoinhabitit。Bythesecondyearofitsexistence，thatistosay，1884，theCommitteeonHauntedHousesoftheS。P。R。hadselectedandmadeananalysisofsomesixty-fivecasesoutofhundredssubmittedtoit，twenty-eightofwhichresteduponfirst-handandsuperiorevidence。[1]Itisworthyofremark，inthefirstplace，thattheseauthenticnarrativesbearnorelationwhatevertothelegendaryandsensationalghost-storiesthatstilllingerinmanyEnglishandAmericanmagazines，especiallyintheChristmasnumbers。Theymentionnowinding-sheets，coffins，skeletons，graveyards，nosulphurousflames，curses，blood-curdlinggroans，noclankingchains，noranyofthetime-honouredtrappingsthatcharacterizethisratherfeebleliteratureofthesupernatural。

Onthecontrary，thescenesenactedinhousesthatappeartobereallyhauntedaregenerallyverysimpleandinsignificant，nottosaydullandcommonplace。Theghostsarequiteunpretentiousandgotonoexpenseinthematterofstagingorcostume。Theyarecladastheywerewhen，sometimesmanyyearsago，theyledtheirquiet，unadventurouslifewithintheirownhome。Wefindinonecaseanoldwoman，withathingreyshawlmeeklyfoldedoverherbreast，whobendsatnightoverthesleepingoccupantsofheroldhome，orwhoisfrequentlyencounteredinthehalloronthestairs，silent，mysterious，alittlegrim。Orelseitisthegentlemanwithalacklustreeyeandafigureddressing-gownwhowalksalongapassagebrilliantlyilluminatedwithaninexplicablelight。Oragainwehaveanotherelderlylady，dressedinblack，whoisoftenfoundseatedinthebaywindowofherdrawing-room。Whenspokento，sherisesandseemsonthepointofreplying，butsaysnothing。Whenpursuedormetinacorner，sheeludesallcontactandvanishes。Stringsarefastenedacrossthestaircasewithglue；shepassesandthestringsremainastheywere。Theghost——andthishappensinthemajorityofcases——isseenbyallthepeoplestayinginthehouse：relatives，friends，oldservantsandnew。Canitbeamatterofsuggestion，ofcollectivehallucination？Atanyrate，strangers，visitorswhohavehadnothingsaidtothem，seeitastheothersdoandask，innocently："WhoistheladyinmourningwhomImetinthedining-room？"

[1]Proceedings，vol。i。，pp。101-115；vol。ii。，pp。137-151；

vol。viii。，pp。311，332，etc。

Ifitisacaseofcollectivesuggestion，weshouldhavetoadmitthatitisasubconscioussuggestionemittedwithouttheknowledgeoftheparticipants，whichindeedisquitepossible。

Thoughtheybelongtothesameorder，IwillnotherementiontheexploitsofwhattheGermanscallthePoltergeist，whichtaketheformofflingingstones，ringingbells，turningmattresses，upsettingfurnitureandsoforth。Thesemattersarealwaysopentosuspicionandreallyappeartobenothingbutquaintfrolicsofhystericalsubjectsorofmediumsindulgingtheirsenseofhumour。ThemanifestationsofthePoltergeistarefairlynumerousandthereaderwillfindseveralinstancesintheProceedingsandespeciallyintheJournaloftheS。P。R。

Asforcommunicationswiththedead，IdevotedawholechaptertotheseinmyownessayentitledOurEternityandwillnotreturntothemnow。Itwillbeenoughtorecallandrecapitulatemygeneralimpression，thatprobablythedeaddidnotenterintoanyoftheseconversations。Wearehereconcernedwithpurelymediumisticphenomena，morecuriousandmeresubtlethanthoseoftable-rapping，butofthesamecharacter；andthesemanifestations，howeverastonishingtheymaybe，donotpiercetheterrestrialspherewhereinweareimprisoned。

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Settingasidethereligioushypotheses，whichwearenotexamininghere，fortheybelongtoadifferentorderofideas，[1]

wefind，asanexplanationoftheMajorityofthesephenomena，oratleastasameansofavoidinganabsoluteanddepressingsilenceinregardtothem，twohypotheseswhichreachtheunknownbymoreorlessdivergentpaths，towit，thespiritualistichypothesisandthemediumistichypothesis。Thespiritualists，orrathertheneospiritualistsorscientificspiritualists，whomustnotbeconfusedwiththesomewhatover-credulousdisciplesofAllanKardec，maintainthatthedeaddonotdieentirely，thattheirspiritualoranimisticentityneitherdepartsnordispersesintospaceafterthedissolutionofthebody，butcontinuesanactivethoughinvisibleexistencearoundus。Theneospiritualistictheory，however，professesonlyveryvaguenotionsastothelifeledbythesediscarnatespirits。Aretheymoreintelligentthantheywerewhentheyinhabitedtheirflesh？

Dotheypossessawiderunderstandingandmightierfacultiesthanours？Uptothepresent，wehavenottheunimpeachablefactsthatwouldpermitustosayso。Itwouldseem，onthecontrary，ifthediscarnatespiritsreallycontinuetoexist，thattheirlifeiscircumscribed，frail，precarious，incoherentand，aboveall，notverylong。Tothistheobjectionisraisedthatitonlyappearssotoourfeebleeyes。Thedeadamongwhomwemovewithoutknowingitstruggletomakethemselvesunderstood，tomanifestthemselves，butdashthemselvesagainsttheinpenetrablewallofoursenses，which，createdsolelytoperceivematter，remainhopelesslyignorantofalltherest，thoughthisisdoubtlesstheessentialpartoftheuniverse。Thatwhichwillsurviveinus，imprisonedinourbody，isabsolutelyinaccessibletothatwhichsurvivesinthem。Theutmostthattheycandoisoccasionallytocauseafewglimmersoftheirexistencetopenetratethefissuresofthosesingularorganismsknownasmediums。Butthesevagrant，fleeting，venturous，stifled，deformedglimmerscanbutgiveusaludicrousideaofalifewhichhasnolongeranythingincommonwiththelife——purelyanimalforthemostpart-whichweleadonthisearth。Itispossible；andthereissomethingtobesaidforthetheory。Itisatanyrateremarkablethatcertaincommunications，certainmanifestationshaveshakenthescepticismofthecoldestandmostdispassionatemenofscience，menutterlyhostiletosupernaturalinfluences。Inordertosomeextenttounderstandtheiruneasinessandtheirastonishment，weneedonlyread——toquotebutoneinstanceamongathousand——adisquietingbutunassailablearticle，entitled，Danslesregionsinexploreesdelabiologichumaine。ObservationsetexperiencessurEusapiaPaladino，byProfessorBottazzi，DirectorofthePhysiologicalInstituteoftheUniversityofNaples。[2]Seldomhaveexperimentsinthedomainofmediumsorspiritsbeenconductedwithmoredistrustfulsuspicionorwithmoreimplacablescientificstrictness。Nevertheless，scatteredlimbs，pale，diaphanousbutcapablehands，suddenlyappearedinthelittlephysiologicallaboratoryofNaplesUniversity，withitsdoorsheavilypadlockedandsealed，asitwere，mathematicallyexcludinganypossibilityoffraud；thesesamehandsworkedapparatusspeciallyintendedtoregistertheirtouches；lastly，theoutlineofsomethingblack，ofahead，uprosebetweenthecurtainsofthemediumisticcabinet，remainedvisibleforseveralsecondsanddidnotretireuntilitselfapparentlyfrightenedbytheexclamationsofsurprisedrawnfromagroupofscientistswho，afterall，werepreparedforanything；andProfessorBottazziconfessesthatitwasthenthat，toquotehisownwords——measuredwords，asbeseemsavotaryofscience，butexpressive——hefelt"ashiverallthroughhisbody。"

[1]Onthesamegrounds，wewillalsoleaveononesidethetheosophicalhypothesis，which，liketheothers，beginsbycallingforanactofadherence，ofblindfaith。Itsexplanations，thoughofteningenious，arenomorethanforciblebutgratuitousasservationsand，asIsaidinOurEternity，donotgiveustheshadowofthecommencementofaproof。

[2]AnnalesdesSciencesPsychiques：AprilNovember1907。

Itwasoneofthosemomentsinwhichadoubtwhichonehadthoughtforeverabolishedgripsthemostunbelieving。Forthefirsttime，perhaps，helookedaroundhimwithuncertaintyandwonderedinwhatworldhewas。Asforthefaithfuladherentsoftheunknown，whohadlongunderstoodthatwemustresignourselvestounderstandingnothingandhepreparedforeverysortofsurprisetherewashere，allthesame，evenforthem，amysteryofanothercharacter，abewilderingmystery，theonlyreallystrangemystery，moretorturingthanalltheotherstogether，becauseitvergesuponancestralfearsandtouchesthemostsensitivepointofourdestiny。

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Thespiritualisticargumentmostworthyofattentionisthatsuppliedbytheapparitionsofthedeadandbyhauntedhouses。Wewilltakenoaccountofthephantasmsthatprecede，accompanyorfollowhardupondeath：theyareexplainedbythetransmissionofaviolentmotionfromonesubconsciousnesstoanother；and，evenwhentheyarenotmanifesteduntilseveraldaysafterdeath，itmaystillhecontendedthattheyaredelayedtelepathiccommunications。Butwhatarewetosayoftheghoststhatspringupmorethanayear，nay，morethantenyearsafterthedisappearanceofthecorpse？Theyareveryrare，Iknow，butafteralltherearesomethatareextremelydifficulttodeny，fortheaccountsoftheiractionsareattestedandcorroboratedbynumerousandtrustworthywitnesses。Itistruethathereagain，whereitisinmostcasesaquestionofapparitionstorelationsorfriends，wemaybetoldthatweareinthepresenceoftelepathicincidentsorofhallucinationsofthememory。Wethusdeprivethespiritualistsofanewandconsiderableprovinceoftheirrealm。Nevertheless，theyretaincertainprivatedesmesnesintowhichourtelepathicexplanationsdonotpenetratesoeasily。Therehaveinfactbeenghoststhatshowedthemselvestopeoplewhohadneverknownorseenthemintheflesh。Theyaremoreorlesscloselyconnectedwiththeghostsinhauntedhouses，towhichwemustrevertforamoment。

AsIsaidabove，itisalmostimpossiblehonestlytodenytheexistenceofthesehouses。Hereagainthetelepathicinterpretationenforcesitselfinthemajorityofcases。Wemayevenallowitastrangebutjustifiableextension，foritslimitsarescarcelyknown。Ithashappenedfairlyoften，forinstance，thatghostscometodisturbadwellingwhoseoccupiersfind，inresponsetotheirindications，boneshiddeninthewallsorunderthefloors。Itisevenpossible，asinthecaseofWilliamMoir，[1]whichwasasstrictlyconductedandsupervisedasajudicialenquiry，thattheskeletonisburiedatsomedistancefromthehouseanddatesmorethanfortyyearsback。Whentheremainsareremovedanddecentlyinterred，theapparitionscease。

[1]Proceedings，vol。vi。，pp。35-41。

ButeveninthecaseofWilliamMoirthereisnosufficientreasonforabandoningthetelepathictheory。Themedium，the"sensitive，"astheEnglishsay，feelsthepresenceortheproximityofthebones；somerelationestablishedbetweenthemandhim——arelationwhichcertainlyisprofoundlymysterious——makeshimexperiencethelastemotionofthedeceasedandsometimesallowshimtoconjureupthepictureandthecircumstancesofthesuicideormurder，evenas，intelepathybetweenlivingpersons，thecontactofaninanimateobjectisabletobringhimintodirectrelationwiththesubconsciousnessofitsowner。Theslenderchainconnectinglifeanddeathisnotyetentirelybroken；andwemightevengosofarastosaythateverythingisstillhappeningwithinourworld。

Butaretherecasesinwhicheverylink，howeverthin，howeversubtlewemaydeemit，isdefinitelyshattered？Whowouldventuretomaintainthis？Weareonlybeginningtosuspecttheelasticity，theflexibility，thecomplexityofthoseinvisiblethreadswhichbindtogetherobjects，thoughts，lives，emotions，allthatisonthisearthandeventhatwhichdoesnotyetexisttothatwhichexistsnolonger。LetustakeaninstanceinthefirstvolumeoftheProceedings：M，X。Z。，whowasknowntomostofthemembersoftheCommitteeonHauntedHouses，andwhoseevidencewasabovesuspicion，wenttoresideinalargeoldhouse，partofwhichwasoccupiedbyhisfriendMr。G——。Mr。X。

Z。knewnothingofthehistoryoftheplaceexceptthattwoservantsofMr。G——’shadgivenhimnoticeonaccountofstrangenoiseswhichtheyhadheard。Onenight——itwasthe22ndofSeptember——Mr。X。Z。，onhiswayuptohisbedroominthedark，sawthewholepassagefilledwithadazzlinganduncannylight，andinthisstrangelighthesawthefigureofanoldmaninaflowereddressing-gown。Ashelooked，bothfigureandlightvanishedandhewasleftinpitchdarkness。Thenextday，rememberingthetalestoldbythetwoservants，hemadeenquiriesinthevillage。Atfirsthecouldfindoutnothing，butfinallyanoldlawyertoldhimthathehadheardthatthegrandfatherofthepresentownerofthehousehadstrangledhiswifeandthencuthisownthroatontheveryspotwhereMr。X。Z。hadseentheapparition。Hewasunabletogivetheexactdateofthisdoubleevent；butMr。X。Z。consultedtheparishregisterandfoundthatithadtakenplaceona22ndofSeptember。

Onthe22ndofSeptemberofthefollowingyear，afriendofMr。

G——’sarrivedtomakeashortstay。Themorningafterhisarrival，hecamedown，paleandtired，andannouncedhisintentionofleavingimmediately。Onbeingquestioned，heconfessedthathewasafraid，thathehadbeenkeptawakeallnightbythesoundofgroans，blasphemousoathsandcriesofdespair，thathisbedroomdoorhadbeenopened，andsoforth。

Threeyearsafterwards，Mr。X。Z。hadoccasiontocallonthelandlordofthehouse，wholivedinLondon，andsawoverthemantelpieceapicturewhichboreastrikingresemblancetothefigurewhichhehadseeninthepassage。HepointeditouttohisfriendMr。G——，saying：

"ThatisthemanwhomIsaw。"

Thelandlord，inreplytotheirquestions，saidthatthepaintingwasaportraitofhisgrandfather，addingthathehadbeen"nocredittothefamily。"

Evidently，thisdoesnotinanywayprovetheexistenceofghostsorthesurvivalofman。Itisquitepossiblethat，inspiteofMr。X。Z。’sundoubtedgoodfaith，imaginationplayedasubtlebutpowerfulpartinthesemarvels。Perhapsitwassetgoingbythestoriesofthetwoservants，insignificantgossiptowhichnoattentionwaspaidatthetime，butwhichprobablyfounditswaydownintotheweirdandfertiledepthsofthesubconsciousness。

Theimagewasnexttransmittedbysuggestiontothevisitorfrightenedbyasleeplessnight。Asfortherecognitionoftheportrait，thisiseithertheweakestorthemostimpressivepartofthestory，accordingtothetheorythatisbeingdefended。

Itisnonethelesscertainthatthereissomeunfairnessinsuggestingthisexplanationforeveryincidentofthekind。Itmeansstretchingtotheuttermostandperhapsstretchingtoofartheelasticpowersofthatamiablemaid-of-all-work，telepathy。

Forthatmatter，therearecasesinwhichthetelepathicinterpretationisevenmoreuncertain，asinthatdescribedbyMissR。C。Mortoninvol。viii。oftheProceedings。

Thestoryistoolongandcomplicatedtobereproducedhere。Itisunnecessarytoobservethat，inviewofthecharacterofMissMorton，aladyofscientifictraining，andofthequalityofthecorroborativetestimony，thefactsthemselvesseemincontestable。

Thecaseisthatofahousebuiltin1860，whosefirstoccupierwasanAnglo-Indian，thenexttenantbeinganoldmanandthehousethenremainingunletforfouryears。In1882，whenCaptainMortonandbigfamilymovedin，therehadnever，sofarastheyknew，beenanyquestionofitsbeinghaunted。Threemonthsafterwards，MissMortonwasinherroomandonthepointofgettingintobed，whensheheardsomeoneatthedoorandwenttoit，thinkingthatitmightbehermother。Onopeningthedoor，shefoundnoonethere，but，goingafewstepsalongthepassage，shesawatalllady，dressedinblack，standingattheheadofthestair。Shedidnotwishtomaketheothersuneasyandmentionedtheoccurrencetonooneexceptafriend，whodidnotliveintheneighborhood。

Butsoonthesamefiguredressedinblackwasseenbythevariousmembersofthehousehold，byamarriedsisteronavisittothehouse，bythefather，bytheothersister，byalittleboy，byaneighbour，GeneralA——，whosawaladycryingintheorchardand，thinkingthatoneofthedaughtersofthehousewasill，senttoenquireafterher。EventheMortons’twodogsonmorethanoneoccasionclearlyshowedthattheysawthephantom。

Itwas，asamatteroffactveryharmonious：itsaidnothing；itwantednothing；itwanderedfromroomtoroom，withoutanyapparentobject；and，whenitwasspokento，itdidnotanswerandonlymadeitsescape。Thehouseholdbecameaccustomedtotheapparition；ittroublednobodyandinspirednoterror。Itwasimmaterial，itcouldnotbetouched，butyetitinterceptedthelight。Aftermakingenquiries，theysucceededinidentifyingitasthesecondwifeoftheAnglo-Indian。TheMortonfamilyhadneverseenthelady，but，fromthedescriptionwhichtheygaveofthephantomtothosewhohadknownher，itappearedthatthelikenesswasunmistakable。Fortherest，theydidnotknowwhyshecamebacktohauntahouseinwhichshehadnotdied。After1887，theappearancesbecamelessfrequent，distinct，ceasingaltogetherin1889。

5

LetusassumethatthefactsasreportedintheProceedingsarecertainandindisputable。Wehaveverynearlytheidealcase，freefrompreviousorambientsuggestion。Ifwerefusetobelieveintheexistenceofghosts，ifweareabsolutelypositivethatthedeaddonotsurvivetheirdeath，thenwemustadmitthatthehallucinationtookbirthspontaneouslyintheimaginationofMissMorton，anunconsciousmedium，andwassubsequentlytrainedbytelepathytoallthosearoundher。Inmyopinion，thisexplanation，howeverarbitraryandsevereitmaybe，istheonewhichitbehoovesustoaccept，pendingfurtherproofs。Butitmustbeconfessedthat，inthusextendingourincredulity，werenderitverydifficultforthedeadtomakeitsexistenceknown。

Wepossessacertainnumberofcasesofkind，rigorouslyinvestigated，casesprobablyrepresentingbutaninfinitesimalpartofthosewhichmightbecollected。Isitpossiblethattheyoneandalleludethetelepathicexplanation？Itwouldbenecessarytomakeastudyofthem，conductedwiththemostscrupulousandunremittingattention；forthequestionisnotdevoidofinterest。Iftheexistenceofghostswerewell-established，itwouldmeantheentranceintothisworld，whichwebelievetobeourworld，ofanewforcethatwouldexplainmorethanonethingwhichwearestillfarfromunderstanding。Ifthedeadinterfereatonepoint，thereisareasonwhytheyshouldnotinterfereateveryotherpoint。Weshouldnolongerbealone，amongourselves，inourhermetically-closedsphere，asweareperhapsonlytooreadytoimagineit。Weshouldhavetoaltermorethanoneofourphysicalandmorallaws，morethanoneofourideas；anditwouldnodoubtbethemostimportantandthemostextraordinaryrevelationthatwouldbeexpectedinthepresentstateofourknowledgeandsincethedisappearanceoftheoldpositivereligions。Butwearenotthereyet：theproofofallthisisstillinthenursery-stage；

andIdonotknowifitwillevergetbeyondthat。Neverthelessthefactremainsthat，intheseimpenetrableregionsofmysterywhichwearenowexploring，theoneweakspotlieshere，theonewallinwhichthereseemstobeachink——astrangeoneenough——givingaglimpseintotheotherworld。Itisnarrowandvagueandbehinditthereisstilldarkness；butitisnotwithoutsignificanceandweshalldowellnottolosesightofit。

6

Letusobservethatthissurvivalofthedead，astheneospiritualistsconceiveit，seemsmuchlessimprobablesincewehavebeenstudyingmorecloselythemanifestationsoftheextraordinaryandincontestablespiritualforcethatlieshiddenwithinourselves。Itisnotdependentinourthought，noronourconsciousness，noronourwill；andverypossiblyitisnotdependenteitheronourlife。Whilewearestillbreathingonthisearthitisalreadysurmountingmostofthegreatobstaclesthatlimitandparalyseourexistence。Itactsatadistanceandsotospeakwithoutorgans。Itpassesthroughmatter，disaggregatesitandreconstitutesit。Itseemstopossess，thegiftofubiquity。Itisnotsubjecttothelawsofgravityandliftsweightsoutofallproportionwiththerealandmeasurablestrengthofthebodywhenceitisbelievedtoemanate。Itreleasesandremovesitselffromthatbody；itcomesandgoesfreelyandtakestoitselfsubstancesandshapeswhichitborrowsallaroundit；andthereforeitisnolongersostrangetoseeitsurvivingforatimethatbodytowhichitdoesnotappeartobeasindissolublyboundasisourconsciousexistence。Isitnecessarytoaddthatthissurvivalofapartofourselveswhichwehardlyknowandwhichbesidesseemsincomplete，incoherentandephemeraliswhollywithoutprejudicetonorfateintheeternityoftheworlds？Butthisisaquestionwhichwearenotcalledupontostudyhere。

Ishallperhapsbeasked：

"Ifitisbecomingincreasinglydifficultforallthesefacts——andtherearemoreofthemaccumulatingeveryday——tobeembracedinthetelepathicorpsychometrictheory，whynotfranklyacceptthespiritualisticexplanation，whichisthesimplest，whichhasananswerforeverythingandwhichisgraduallyencroachingonalltheothers？"

Thatistrue：itisthesimplesttheory，perhapstoosimple；and，likethereligioustheory，itdispensesasfromalleffortorseeking。Wehavenothingtosetagainstitbutthemediumistictheory，whichdoubtlessdoesnotaccountexactlyforagoodmanythings，butwhichatleastisonthesamesideofthehilloflifeasourselvesandremainsamongus，uponourearth，withinreachofoureyes，ourhands，ourthoughtsandourresearches。

Therewasatimewhenlightning，epidemicsandearthquakeswereattributedwithoutdistinctiontothewrathofHeaven。Nowadays，whenwearemoreorlessfamiliarwiththesourceofthegreatinfectiousdiseases，thehandofProvidenceknowsthemnomore；

and，thoughwearestillignorantofthenatureofelectricityandthelawsthatregulateseismicshocks，wenolongerdream，whilewaitingtolearnmoreaboutthem，oflookingfortheircausesinthejudgmentorangerofanimaginaryBeing。Letusactlikewiseinthepresentcase。Itbehoovesusabovealltoavoidthoserashexplanationswhich，intheirhaste，leavebytheroadsideahostofthingsthatappeartobeunknownorunknowableonlybecausethenecessaryefforthasnotyetbeenmadetoknowthem。Afterall，whilewemustnoteliminatethespiritualistictheory，neithermustwecontentourselveswithit。Itisevenpreferablenottolingeroverituntilithassupplieduswithdecisivearguments，foritisthedutyofthistheorywhichsweepsusroughlyoutofourspheretofurnishuswithsucharguments。Forthepresent，itsimplyrelegatestoposthumousregions，phenomenathatappeartooccurwithinourselves；itaddssuperfluousmysteryandneedlessdifficultytothemediumisticmysterywhenceitsprings。Ifwewereconcernedwithfactsthathadnofootinginthisworld，weshouldcertainlyhavetoturnoureyesinanotherdirection；butweseealargenumberofactionsperformedwhichareofthesamenatureasthoseattributedtothespiritsandequallyinexplicable，actionswithwhich，however，weknowthattheyhavenothingtodo。Whenitisprovedthatthedeadexercisesomeintervention，wewillbowbeforethefactaswillinglyaswebowbeforethemediumisticmysteries：itisaquestionoforder，ofinternalpolicyandofscientificmethodmuchmorethanofprobability，preferenceorfear。ThehourhasnotyetcometoabandontheprinciplewhichI

haveformulatedelsewherewithrespecttoourcommunicationswiththedead，namely，thatitisnaturalthatweshouldremainathome，inourownworld，aslongaswecan，aslongaswearenotviolentlydrivenfromitbyaseriesofirresistibleandincontrovertibleproofscomingfromtheneighbouringabyss。Thesurvivalofaspiritisnomoreimprobablethantheprodigiousfacultieswhichweareobligedtoattributetothemediumsifwedenythemtothedead。Buttheexistenceofmediumsisbeyonddispute，whereasthatofspiritsisnot；anditisthereforeforthespiritsorforthosewhomakeuseoftheirnametobeginbyprovingthattheymust。Beforeturningtowardsthemysterybeyondthegrave，letusfirstexhaustthepossibilitiesofthemysteryhereonearth。

CHAPTERII。PSYCHOMETRY

1

Nowthatwehaveeliminatedthegodsandthedead，whathaveweleft？Ourselvesandallthelifearoundus；andthatisperhapsenough。Itis，atanyrate，muchmorethanweareabletograsp。

Letusnowstudycertainmanifestationsthatareabsolutelysimilartothosewhichweattributetothespiritsandquiteassurprising。Asforthesemanifestations，thereisnottheleastdoubtoftheirorigin。Theydonotcomefromtheotherworld；

theyarebornanddieuponthisearth；andtheyarisesolelyandincontestablyfromourownactuallivingmystery。Theyare，moreover，ofallpsychicmanifestations，thosewhichareeasiesttoexamineandverify，seeingthattheycanberepeatedalmostindefinitelyandthatanumberofexcellentandwell-knownmediumsarealwaysreadytoreproducetheminthepresenceofanyoneinterestedinthequestion。Itisnolongeracaseofuncertainandcasualobservation，butofscientificexperiment。

Themanifestationsinquestionaresomanyphenomenaofintuition，ofclairvoyanceorclairaudience，ofseeingatadistanceandevenofseeingthefuture。Thesephenomenamayeitherbeduetopure，spontaneousintuitiononthepartofthemedium，inanhypnoticorwakingstate，orelseproducedorfacilitatedbyoneofthevariousempiricalmethodswhichapparentlyseeonlytoarousethemedium’ssubconsciousfacultiesandtoreleaseinsomewayhissubliminalclairvoyance。Amongsuchmethods，thosemostoftenemployedare，asweallknow，cards，coffee-grounds，pins，thelinesofthehand，crystalglobes，astrology，andsoon。Theypossessnoimportanceinthemselves，nointrinsicvirtue，andareworthexactlywhatthemediumwhousesthemisworth。AsM。Duchatelwellsays：

"Inreality，thereisonlyonesolitaryMANCY。ThefacultyofseeinginTIME，likethefacultyofseeinginSPACE，isONE，whateveritsoutwardformortheprocessemployed。"

Wewillnotlingernowoverthosemanifestationswhich，underappearancesthataresometimeschildishandvulgar，oftenconcealsurprisingandincontestabletruths，butwilldevotethepresentchapterexclusivelytoaseriesofphenomenawhichincludesalmostalltheothersandwhichhasbeenclassedunderthegenericandratherill-chosenandill-constructedtitleof"psychometry。"Psychometry，toborrowDr。Maxwell’sexcellentdefinition，is"thefacultypossessedbycertainpersonsofplacingthemselvesinrelation，eitherspontaneouslyor，forthemostpart，throughtheintermediaryofsomeobject，withunknownandoftenverydistantthingsandpeople。"

Theexistenceofthisfacultyisnolongerseriouslydenied；anditiseasyforanyonewhocarestodosotoverifyitforhimself；forthemediumswhopossessitarenotextremelyrare，noraretheyinaccessible。Ithasformedthesubjectofanumberofexperiments（see，amongothers，M。Warcollier’sreportintheAnnalesdesSciencesPsychiquesofJuly，1911）andofafewtreatises，inthefrontrankofwhichIwouldmentionM。

Duchatel’sEnquetesurdesCasdePsychometrieandDr。Otty’srecentlypublishedbook，LuciditeetIntuition，whichisthefullest，mostprofoundandmostconscientiousworkthatwepossessonthematteruptothepresent。Neverthelessitmaybesaidthattheseregionsquitelatelyannexedbymetaphysicalscienceareasyethardlyexploredandthatfruitfulsurprisesaredoubtlessawaitingearnestseekers。

2

Thefacultyinquestionisoneofthestrangestfacultiesofoursubconsciousnessandbeyondadoubtcontainsthekeytomostofthemanifestationsthatseemtoproceedfromanotherworld。Letusbeginbyseeing，withtheaidofalivingandtypicalexample，howitisexercised。

Mme。M——，oneofthebestmediumsmentionedbyDr。Osty，isgivenanobjectwhichbelongedtoorwhichhasbeentouchedandhandledbyapersonaboutwhomitisproposedtoquestionher。Mme。M——

operatesinastateoftrance；butthereareothernotedpsychometers，suchasMme。F——andM。Ph。M。deF——，whoretainalltheirnormalconsciousness，sothathypnotismorthesomnambulisticstateisinnowayindispensabletotheawakeningofthisextraordinaryfacultyofclairvoyance。

Whentheobject，whichisusuallyaletter，hasbeenhandedtoMme。M——，sheisaskedtoplaceherselfincommunicationwiththewriteroftheletterortheowneroftheobject。Forthwith，Mme。

M——notonlyseesthepersoninquestion，hisphysicalappearance，hischaracter，hishabits，hisinterests，hisstateofhealth，butalso，inaseriesofrapidandchangingvisionsthatfollowupononeanotherlikecinematographpictures，perceivesanddescribesexactlyhisimmediatesurroundings，thesceneryoutsidehiswindow，theroomsinwhichhelives，thepeoplewholivewithhimandwhowishhimwellorill，thepsychologyandthemostsecretandunexpectedintentionsofallthosewhofigureinhisexistence。If，bymeansofyourquestions，youdirecthertowardsthepast，shetracesthewholecourseofthesubject’shistory。Ifyouturnhertowardsthefuture，sheseemsoftentodiscoveritasclearlyasthepast。

Butwewillforthemomentreservethislatterpoint，towhichweshallreturnlaterinachapterdevotedtotheknowledgeofthefuture。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读