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.

TALES OF PSEUDO-SCIENCE

lated to convey. Mr. L — (the student) swooned.
The nurses immediately left the chamber, and could
not be induced to return. My own impressions I
would not pretend to render intelligible to the reader.
For nearly an hour we busied ourselves, silently —
without the utterance of a word -in endeavors.to
revive Mr. L — 1. When he came to himself, we
addressed ourselves again to an investigation of M.
Valdemar's condition.
It remained in all respects as I have last described
it, with the exception that the mirror no longer
afforded evidence of respiration. An attempt to draw
blood from the arm failed. I should mention, too,
that this limb was no farther subject to my will, I
endeavored in vain to make it follow the direction of
my hand. The only real indication, indeed, of the
mesmeric influence, was now found in the vibratory
movement of the tongue, whenever I addressed M.
Valdemar a question. He seemed to be making an
effort to reply, but had no longer sufficient volition.
To queries put to him by any other person than
myself he seemed utterly insensible, although I en.
deavored to place each member of the company in
mesmeric rapport with him. I believe that I have
now related all that is necessary to an understanding
of the sleep-waker's state at this epoch. Other nurses
were procured; and at ten o'clock I left the house in
company with the two physicians and Mr. L — 1.
In the afternoon we all called again to see the
patient. His condition remained precisely the same.
We had now some discussion as to the propriety and
feasibility of awakening him; but we had little difficulty in agreeing that no good purpose would be
served by so doing. It was evident that, so far,
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