his obtaining a livelihood in our town.

"If you want regular employment," I said, "I think you can easily find
it."

"I want it," he answered, his face clouded by a troubled expression,
"but I cannot take it."

"Cannot take it!" I exclaimed.

"No," he said, "I am not my own master. I am as much a slave as any
negro hereabouts!"

I was rather surprised at this meaningless allusion, but contented
myself with asking him what he meant by not being his own master.

He looked on the floor and then he looked at me, with a steady, earnest
gaze. "I should like well to tell you my story," he said. "I have been
ordered not to tell it, but I have resolved that when I should meet a
man to whom I should be moved to speak I would speak."

Now, I felt a very natural emotion of pride. My perception of objects
of interest was a quick and a correct one. "Speak on," I said, "I shall
be very glad to hear what you have to say."

He looked toward the open door. I arose and closed it. When I had
resumed my seat he drew his chair closer to me, leaned toward me, and
said:

"In the first place you should know that I am a materialized spirit."