conjuring trick till we know how it is done, and Nature is the
supreme conjurer. We have not found out all her tricks, and never
shall do so; but we very well know that a solution to all of them
exists."

"A material outlook and arrogant," said the priest.

Whereupon Mannering grew a little warm.

"It is neither material nor arrogant. I am humbler than you, and
your positive assertion seems much the more arrogant. This is the
twentieth century, and your mediaeval attitude would win no possible
sympathy or support from any educated man."

"Truth can afford to be patient," answered May. "But I, too, am
quite sane, though your face doubts it. I do not claim that human
prayer can alter physical laws, and I do not ask my Maker to work
a miracle on my behalf or suspend the operations of cause and effect.
But I am satisfied that we are in a region outside our experience
and on another plane and dimension than those controlled by natural
law. God has permitted us to enter such a region. He has opened
the door into this mystery. He has spoken to my soul and so
directed me that I cannot sit with folded hands. This is, I repeat,
a challenge to me personally.

"There is, as I potently believe, a being in bondage here which
only the voice of God, speaking through one of His creatures, can
liberate. If I am wrong, then I shall pray in vain; if right, as
I know by deepest conviction and intuition, then my prayer must
avail. In any case, I do my duty, and if I myself was called to