“I was safe, but my heart was beating like a drum.  A second later it seemed to stop altogether, for I saw that there was some one else in the room besides myself.  A man’s figure stood between me and the windows, where the street lamps gave just enough light to outline his shape against the glass.  I’m a plucky woman, you know, for even then I didn’t give up hope, but I may tell you that I have never felt so vilely frightened in all my born days.  I had locked myself in with him!

“The man leaned against the window, watching me where I lay in a collapsed heap upon the floor.  So there were two men in the house with me, I reflected.  Perhaps other rooms were occupied too!  What could it all mean?  But, as I stared something changed in the room, or in me—­hard to say which—­and I realized my mistake, so that my fear, which had so far been physical, at once altered its character and became psychical.  I became afraid in my soul instead of in my heart, and I knew immediately who this man was.

“‘How in the world did you get up here?’ I stammered to him across the empty room, amazement momentarily stemming my fear.

“‘Now, let me tell you,’ he began, in that odd faraway voice of his that went down my spine like a knife.  ’I’m in different space, for one thing, and you’d find me in any room you went into; for according to your way of measuring, I’m all over the house.  Space is a bodily condition, but I am out of the body, and am not affected by space.  It’s my condition that keeps me here.  I want something to change my condition for me, for then I could get away.  What I want is sympathy.  Or, really, more than sympathy; I want affection—­I want love!’

“While he was speaking I gathered myself slowly upon my feet.  I wanted to scream and cry and laugh all at once, but I only succeeded in sighing, for my emotion was exhausted and a numbness was coming over me.  I felt for the matches in my pocket and made a movement towards the gas jet.

“‘I should be much happier if you didn’t light the gas,’ he said at once, ’for the vibrations of your light hurt me a good deal.  You need not be afraid that I shall injure you.  I can’t touch your body to begin with, for there’s a great gulf fixed, you know; and really this half-light suits me best.  Now, let me continue what I was trying to say before.  You know, so many people have come to this house to see me, and most of them have seen me, and one and all have been terrified.  If only, oh, if only some one would be not terrified, but kind and loving to me!  Then, you see, I might be able to change my condition and get away.’

“His voice was so sad that I felt tears start somewhere at the back of my eyes; but fear kept all else in check, and I stood shaking and cold as I listened to him.

“‘Who are you then?  Of course Carey didn’t send you, I know now,’ I managed to utter.  My thoughts scattered dreadfully and I could think of nothing to say.  I was afraid of a stroke.