perishes?"

"Assuredly."

"And you profess to be able to liberate it for a time from its
mortal habitation--"

"I do not profess," interposed Heliobas quietly. "I CAN do so."

"But with the success of the experiment your power ceases?--you
cannot foretell whether the unimprisoned creature will take its
course to an inferno of suffering or a heaven of delight?--is
this what you mean?"

Heliobas bent his head in grave assent.

Alwyn broke into a harsh laugh--"Come then!" he exclaimed with a
reckless air,--"Begin your incantations at once! Send me hence, no
matter where, so long as I am for a while escaped from this den of
a world, this dungeon with one small window through which, with
the death rattle in our throats, we stare vacantly at the blank
unmeaning honor of the Universe! Prove to me that the Soul exists
--ye gods! Prove it! and if mine can find its way straight to the
mainspring of this revolving Creation, it shall cling to the
accused wheels and stop them, that they may grind out the tortures
of Life no more!"

He flung up his hand with a wild gesture: his countenance, darkly
threatening and defiant, was yet beautiful with the evil beauty of
a rebellious and fallen angel. His breath came and went quickly,--