Lord St. Audries described the figure to me as a human form, but of heroic size. Its strength was so great that, big man as he is, he was utterly powerless against it. and it made no sound. At the moment, in that violent contact, he felt that it was warm. What can an investigator make of those points ? They baffle the imagination, yet such was the experience of three men who are considerably above the average in intelligence, and who through their work have proved their capacity in a practical manner to the world. They have also proved that they possess that exceedingly rare quality, moral courage. In physical courage the British stand second to none, but the moral variety is singularly lacking. These three men have the moral courage to proclaim the truth of their statement, and to affirm that for several days after they were possessed by sheer, unadulterated terror, added to which Lord St. Audries suffered physically from the effects of his crashing fall backwards into the debris of stones and mortar.

It would be hard to find three more reliable witnesses than the young peer, fully alive to duty and the thorny problems of life; the young clergyman, an original thinker and tireless worker; and his younger brother, now a brilliant journalist and author, a man endowed with great natural gifts. The only better evidence that could be produced would be personal evidence, but it is well to ask the question. If this experience had come to you what would it now amount to? Conviction for yourself, but only hearsay evidence for others.

One thing is certain. We have reached the stage at which such experiences are crowding in upon us

thick and fast. Behind us we have an enormous mass of evidence, careful observations, attested experiences, in a word, of phenomena of which many of us find it difficult to form any conception, but in which, whilst waiting for direct personal experience we ought to place rather more confidence than we have done, and by which we might very conceivably benefit by assuaging our fears and learning to understand something of the greater life, we live in the hereafter.

In days now past psychic phenomena witnessed by many persons collectively received no lasting record. Thirty years ago there was no centre for recording such incidents. The Society for Psychic Research was in its infancy and few realised that it existed.

Here is a case in point.

A Vicarage in the north of London was reputed to be haunted by the spirit of a child, who looked to be about the age of seven or eight. She was a little, fair-haired thing, dressed always in a white nightgown. Her feet were bare, and round her neck hung a fine gold chain to which a locket was attached.

She was seen constantly by the Vicar and all his household, and her favourite spot was on the landing at the top of the stairs. Through the banisters her little, pale face could be seen peering, her glance directed to the entrance hall below.

I called upon the Vicar, who received me most kindly, but he had nothing more to tell me than what I have written above. He had no explanation of the facts he simply stated. He had enquired about former residents in the house, but nothing

suspicious had been recorded. The last occupants were a husband, wife and two or three children, who had come from India, bringing an ayah with them. They had remained a very short time in the house. Their present whereabouts was unknown. A year or so passed and numerous persons were privileged to see the little spirit flitting about the stairs and passages. The case became widely known, and the Vicar received more attention than he desired. He found that it was getting harder for him to concentrate upon his work, and he was becoming very perplexed and uneasy. Thirty-five years ago exorcism was almost unknown. Now it is more widely practised than most people are aware of. It never seemed to occur to him that this little spirit might be layed and given rest. The Vicar had a daughter who was about to be married, and at last the auspicious day arrived and numerous guests returned from the church to the Vicarage for the wedding feast. For the time being the little ghost was forgotten.

The hour arrived for the departure of the bride and bridegroom, and the hall was thronged with happy laughing people armed with rice and slippers.

The good-byes were being said. Good wishes poured forth on every side, when suddenly a voice called

"Look."

The hand of a startled guest pointed upwards, and all eyes turned instantly to the landing above. There they saw a fair, fragile little child peering through the banisters down upon the assemblage; a gold chain and locket shone upon her neck.

A thrill of awe ran through the company. Everybody saw her. Here was a case of collective observation. At least fifty people saw a ghost simultaneously.

So far as I can recollect it must have been a year later that the Vicar had occasion to order his water cistern to be cleaned out.

In it was found the skeleton of a little girl who still wore a gold chain and locket around her neck.

The remains were given Christian burial, and the child was never seen again. The murderer was never discovered, but the little victim was at peace.

I am unaware that any collective testimony of this story exists, yet at the time it made a considerable stir. I can remember it very distinctly, and doubtless there are those still living on earth who personally saw the little spirit. How glad I should be to hear from them.

CHAPTER VI

HAUNTED JEWELS-THE CURSE AND ITS Power

"As long as man has faith in a blessing
So long will he believe in a curse.”

BHISHMA, 15th Century, B.C.

THUS spoke one of the greatest of Hindu philosophers in the 15th century before Christ.

The culmination of what is known as the Dark Age, in this period of our evolution, came in the nineteenth century. At that time our earth had reached its lowest stage in materialism. From now onwards we are on the upward trend, gradually unfolding the spirituality which is the real, eternal ego in manifestation.

The occult forces of nature, "The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven," and their modes of manifestation, have been known for ages to certain secret orders which have not deemed it wise to give their knowledge to the world.

As every mental demand invariably brings its supply; as numerous persons are making discoveries, and often ignorantly misusing the forces they are learning to use, the guardians of the secrets of Divine Law deem the times to be propitious for disclosing something of their nature to independent investigators who are sufficiently advanced to appreciate their power and grandeur.

As materialism grew in strength and density it