I trembled slightly, but took the chair he pointed out to me—­a large easy-chair in which one could recline and sleep.

“Listen,” continued Heliobas; “I told you, when you first came here, that whatever I might do to restore you to health, you would have it in your power to repay me amply.  You are restored to health; will you give me my reward?”

“I would and will do anything to prove my gratitude to you,” I said earnestly.  “Only tell me how.”

“You are aware,” he went on, “of my theories respecting the Electric Spirit or Soul in Man.  It is progressive, as I have told you—­it begins as a germ—­it goes on increasing in power and beauty for ever, till it is great and pure enough to enter the last of all worlds—­God’s World.  But there are sometimes hindrances to its progression—­obstacles in its path, which cause it to recoil and retire a long way back—­so far back occasionally that it has to commence its journey over again.  Now, by my earnest researches, I am able to study and watch the progress of my own inner force or soul.  So far, all has been well—­prayerfully and humbly I may say I believe all has been well.  But I foresee an approaching shadow—­a difficulty—­a danger—­which, if it cannot be repelled or passed in some way, threatens to violently push back my advancing spiritual nature, so that, with much grief and pain, I shall have to re-commence the work that I had hoped was done.  I cannot, with all my best effort, discover what this darkening obstacle is—­but you, yes, you”—­for I had started up in surprise—­“you, when you are lifted up high enough to behold these things, may, being perfectly unselfish in this research, attain to the knowledge of it and explain it to me, when you return.  In trying to probe the secret for myself, it is of course purely for my own interest; and nothing clear, nothing satisfactory can be spiritually obtained, in which selfishness has ever so slight a share.  You, if indeed I deserve your gratitude for the aid I have given you—­you will be able to search out the matter more certainly, being in the position of one soul working for another.  Still, I cannot compel you to do this for me—­I only ask, will you?”

His entreating and anxious tone touched me keenly; but I was amazed and perplexed, and could not yet realize what strange thing was going to happen to me.  But whatever occurred I was resolved to give a ready consent to his request, therefore I said firmly: 

“I will do my best, I promise you.  Remember that I do not know, I cannot even guess where I am going, or what strange sensations will overcome me; but if I am permitted to have any recollection of earth at all, I will try to find out what you ask.”

Heliobas seemed satisfied, and rising from his chair, unlocked a heavily-bound iron safe.  From this he took a glass flask of a strange, ever-moving, glittering fluid, the same in appearance as that which Raffaello Cellini had forbidden me to drink.  He then paused and looked searchingly at me.