After a considerable time had elapsed without any manifestation, and many of the crowd had gone away, all those remaining began to observe that the interior of the store was suffused with a dim, yellow light.  At this all demonstrations ceased; the intrepid souls about the door and windows fell back to the opposite side of the street and were merged in the crowd; the small boys ceased throwing stones.  Nobody spoke above his breath; all whispered excitedly and pointed to the now steadily growing light.  How long a time had passed since the first faint glow had been observed none could have guessed, but eventually the illumination was bright enough to reveal the whole interior of the store; and there, standing at his desk behind the counter, Silas Deemer was distinctly visible!

The effect upon the crowd was marvelous.  It began rapidly to melt away at both flanks, as the timid left the place.  Many ran as fast as their legs would let them; others moved off with greater dignity, turning occasionally to look backward over the shoulder.  At last a score or more, mostly men, remained where they were, speechless, staring, excited.  The apparition inside gave them no attention; it was apparently occupied with a book of accounts.

Presently three men left the crowd on the sidewalk as if by a common impulse and crossed the street.  One of them, a heavy man, was about to set his shoulder against the door when it opened, apparently without human agency, and the courageous investigators passed in.  No sooner had they crossed the threshold than they were seen by the awed observers outside to be acting in the most unaccountable way.  They thrust out their hands before them, pursued devious courses, came into violent collision with the counter, with boxes and barrels on the floor, and with one another.  They turned awkwardly hither and thither and seemed trying to escape, but unable to retrace their steps.  Their voices were heard in exclamations and curses.  But in no way did the apparition of Silas Deemer manifest an interest in what was going on.

By what impulse the crowd was moved none ever recollected, but the entire mass—­men, women, children, dogs—­made a simultaneous and tumultuous rush for the entrance.  They congested the doorway, pushing for precedence—­resolving themselves at length into a line and moving up step by step.  By some subtle spiritual or physical alchemy observation had been transmuted into action—­the sightseers had become participants in the spectacle—­the audience had usurped the stage.

To the only spectator remaining on the other side of the street—­ Alvan Creede, the banker—­the interior of the store with its inpouring crowd continued in full illumination; all the strange things going on there were clearly visible.  To those inside all was black darkness.  It was as if each person as he was thrust in at the door had been stricken blind, and was maddened by the mischance.  They