The works of Edgar Allan Poe; newly collected and edited, with a memoir, critical introductions, and notes, by Edmund Clarence Stedman and George Edward Woodberry; the illustrations by Albert Edward Sterner.

THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR

He replied feebly, yet quite audibly, "Yes, I wish
to be mesmerized "- adding immediately afterwards,
"I fear you have deferred it too long."
While he spoke thus, I commenced the passes which
I had already found most effectual in subduing him.
He was evidently influenced with the first lateral
stroke of my hand across his forehead;, but, although
I exerted all my powers, no farther perceptible effect
was induced until some minutes after ten o'clock,
when Doctors D — and F -- called, according to
appointment. I explained to them, in a few words,
what I designed, and as they opposed no objection,
saying that the patient was already in the death
agony, I proceeded without hesitation- exchanging,
however, the lateral passes for downward ones, and
directing my gaze entirely into the right eye of the
sufferer.
By this time his pulse was imperceptible and his
breathing was stertorous, and at Intervals of half a
minute.
This condition was nearly unaltered for a quarter of
an hour. At the expiration of this period, however, a
natural although a very deep sigh escaped the bosom
of the dying man, and the stertorous breathing ceased
— that is to say, its stertorousness was no longer
apparent; the intervals were undiminished. The
patient's extremities were of an icy coldness.
At five minutes before eleven, I perceived unequivocal signs of the mesmeric influence. The glassy
roll of the eye was changed for that expression of
uneasy inward examination which is never seen except
in cases of sleep-waking, and which it is quite impos.
sible to mistake. With a few rapid lateral passes I
made the lids quiver, as in incipient sleep, and with a
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