Then, suddenly, all the psychic phenomena stopped." "What a strange thing," said Panton, with an under-current of irony in his voice; "but doubtless the owner had had the house exorcised, as you call it ?" "No," said Sir Lyon thoughtfully.

"No, the house had not been exorcised.
As a matter of fact, the medium was killed in a railway accident." They walked on, and fell to talking of indifferent things.

But though Sir Lyon had at one time held many such conversations with sceptical or interested persons, this particular conversation will never be forgotten by him, owing to a strange occurrence which happened in the afternoon of that same day.

But for two fortunate facts--the bravery of young Donnington, and the presence of a clever medical man--the pleasant comedy in which they were each and all playing an attractive part would have been transformed into a peculiarly painful tragedy..