Intheremainingcasesthesubjectsareliabletowritetheselectednameanywhere，generallyfirstorlast。NowmyobjectistosomanipulatemysubjectsastocausethemtowritetheselectednamewhenIwantthemtodoso。Thisisdonebycontinuoustalking，anddistractingtheirattentionuntilthepropermoment。
　　Ichoosethethirdspace，sincethis，beingtheonetheyaremostliabletochooseoftheirownaccord，istheeasiesttoforce。
　　Justastheybegintowritethefirstname，beforetheymakeamark，Isaysuddenly，“NowbesureandselectnamesoflivingpersonsthatIcouldnotpossiblyknow。“Thisisalmostcertaintoinsureapause，andthenameofalivingpersontobewrittenfirst。Icontinuemytalkinginanaturalmanner，takingtheattentiontoagreatextentfromthewriting，andnearlyalwaysobservinganotherpausejustbeforewritingthesecondname。WhenthesecondnameisalmostfinishedIexclaimsuddenly，“Nowwriteasrapidlyaspossible!“Ifthesubjectshavebeenproperlyimpressedwiththeseriousnessoftheexperiment，theywillalmostinvariably，onfinishingthesecondnameinobediencetomycommand“tobeasrapidaspossible，“andintheirdesiretopleaseme，hurryintothenamealreadyintheirminds，thuswritingtheselectednameinthethirdplace。Ifsuchisthecasetheywillnowmostsurelypausetothinkofafourthname。Ifso，IamcertainthatInowknowtheselectedname。However，iftheyshouldrapidlypassintothefourthname，itisthenuncertainwhethertheselectednameisinthethirdorfourthspace。This，however，seldomhappensifworkedinanexpertmanner。
　　Inrarecasesthesubjectcannotbemanipulatedbytheperformer，inwhichcaseitispurelyguesswork；eveninsuchcases，however，Istandonechanceinsixofsucceeding；andifImakeasecondtrialonfailingnotuncommonwithmediums，Istandonechanceinthreeofsucceeding。
　　ItishardlyworthwhiletosaythatasIfoldthebillets，Ifoldthethirdoneslightlydifferentfromtherest，sothatwhileitwillnotattractattention，Icanseeataglancewhatitiswhenthrownonthetable。Imemorizethename；also，ifindoubt，I
　　foldasecondchoiceinastilldifferentmannerforasecondtrial。FrequentlyImemorizemoreofthenames，foldingsoIcanpickthemout。Then，aftergivingthedeadperson’snamewithpropereffect，Ipickuptheothers，holdthemtomyheadandcalloutthenames。Theeffectofthisonasubjectisveryimpressive。
　　Withalittlepracticetheabovetestcanbegivenwithverysmallchanceoffailure；andintheeventofmakingafailureitcanbeexplainedbythestatementthat“thereareopposingspiritspresent，“orsomesimilarexcuse。Ifonehasothertestsathiscommand，itiswell，intheeventoffailure，toannouncethathewilltrysomethingelse，andthengiveanothertest。Astheseexperimentsarealwaystriedalonewithoneor，atmost，twosubjects，afailureattractslittlenotice。
　　NowIcannotsaypositivelythatDr。Schlossengerperformedthisexperimentinexactlythissamemanner；butIdohavearecollectionofhishurryingmealonginmywritingatsomestageofitsprogress。IalsoknowthatIcansucceedasoftenashedid。IwilladdfurtherthatafewdayslaterIpreparedsixnamesinadvance，and，withmywife，hadasittingwiththemedium；thistime，althoughIpaidhim，hefailedutterly。Hetriedineverywayandhadmewriteadditionalnames。ThistimeIguardedthepointsintheaboveexplanation，yetnomatterhowhetried，hemadeanutterfailure。Alltricksrequirecertainconditions，andthisiswhyitisnotsafetorepeatthesametrickforthesameperson。Thereistoomuchdangerthatthesubjectmaynoticethesamenessofthemodusoperandi。
　　Referringtothesecondtestwhichwasgivenbythemediumtomyfather，Iwillstatethatwhenthesubjectsarewritingthecitiesanddiseases，theywillnaturallypauseafterwritingthecity，tothinkofadiseasetogowithit。Ofcourse，whenwritingthecorrectones，whicharealreadyinmind，nopausewillbenecessary。Alsoadvantagemaybetakenofthefactthatasmallpercentofpersonsdieofsmallpoxormeasles。Ifingivingthedirectionsonesays，“Writelikethis：’Philadelphiasmallpox，NewYorkmeasles，’“andthesubjectwritessmallpoxormeaslesinthelist，itissafetoeliminatethatfromthecase。Thisisespeciallytrueifwritteninconnectionwithsomelargecity，thenameofwhichoccursreadilytothemind。ItissafealsotoeliminatePhiladelphiaorNewYorkiftheseshouldbewritten，providingyoumentionedthesenamesinthedirections，andthatthetestisnotbeinggivenintheirsectionofthecountry。Asmallpercentofthepeopleofacountrydieinanytwoplacesofprominence。Yettheseplaceswillbewrittenreadilybymostsubjectsiftheyaresuggested，oratleastotherplacesofequalprominencewillbewritten。Ifanunusualplaceordiseaseshouldbewritten，itisalmostcertainthesearetheones。
　　Itcanreadilybeseenhowexpertonecanbecomeatthisbycontinuouspractice，suchasamediumhasmanytimesaday；howonecanlearntotakeadvantageofeverylittlepoint，anduseitwithtellingeffectonunsuspectingstrangers，whodonotknowwhatisgoingtohappen，orwhattolookfor。
　　IhavebeentoldthatDr。Schlossengerhadaverysharpeye，althoughwearingglasses；andthattheglasseswereprobablytomakethesubjectthinkitimpossibleforhimtoreadwritingwhentheyweremovedoutofpositionandplacedontheforehead，astheywereduringthetests。Ithasalsobeensuggestedthathispoorhearingwasfeigned，toenablehimtohearremarksmadeabouthimselfinhispresence。Ihavesuspectedthathismemoryhadbecometrainedtoahighdegreeofaccuracy，enablinghimtogivehistestswithsuchmarveloussuccess，ashedidwithnearlyallwhereverhewent。Thathedoesnotuseonesetofprinciplesonlyinhistricks，Iamcertain，buthasmanymoreathiscommandwhichheusescontinually。However，Icanonlyvaguelyguessatthemfromhavingseenhistestsbutonce。
　　Now，IdonotsaythatthiswasthemethodemployedbytheladywithRev。Savage，givenintheaccountatthebeginningofthischapter。Butastheexperimentsarepracticallythesame，itissafetoconcludethatthemethodsusedarethesame，ornearlyso。
　　Ifthetestweregenuineinthecaseoftheladymentioned，itwasprobablygenuineinthecaseofDr。Schlossenger。Ontheotherhand，ifitweretrickeryinonecase，itprobablywasinboth。
　　NotlongagoIreceivedaletterfromanold-timefriend，inwhichheurgentlyrequestedmetomakeajourneytohiscity。InbygonedaysheandIhadspentmanyhourstogether，discussingthemysteriesofexistence，thehiddenpowerswhichnaturemanifeststous，andtheoriginanddestinyofthehumansoul。Myfriendisaphysician，andwhatismore，anearneststudent；andheisalsoaninvestigatorofthatstrangephenomenoninnaturewhichmanifestsitselfinorganizedbeingssubjectively，asthought，feelingandthingsspiritual。
　　Manytimeshadwediscussedthepossibilityandalsotheprobabilityofanexistenceofthespiritualpartofmanafterdeath。Manytimeshadhereportedtomecasesofstrangephenomenathattendedtoprovetheindestructibilityofspirit。
　　WhenIreceivedthismissive，itstatedtomethatthewritermostearnestlydesiredmypresenceinhiscity，thatImightassistininvestigatingaverystrangeandmarvelouscaseofpsychicphenomena。Thecasewasthatofacertaintravelingspiritmedium，whoclaimedthepowertosummonfromtherealmsoftheinvisibletheshadesofourdepartedfriendsandlovedones。Hegavemostmarvelousexhibitionstoprovehisstrangeandmiraculouspower。
　　Myfriendstatedthathethoughthehadatlastfoundapersonwithatleastsomequeerpsychicalgift，ifnotevenpossessingthepowerthatheclaimed。Hehadwatchedtheexhibitionmostcarefully，andhadevenservedonacommitteeonthepsychic’sstage；andhecouldfindnoevidenceoftrickeryofanykind。Hewasinclinedtobelievethatthisstrangebeingreallypossessedthepowerofvisionwithouttheuseofhumaneyesashecertainlyreadsealedmissives，ofwhichhecouldinnosecretmannerhaveobtainedknowledge。
　　Accordingly，onSaturdayevening，Ijourneyedtoacityonehundredmilesawaytowitnesstheworkofthismodernsorcerer。OnmyarrivalIsuggestedtomyfriendanumberofwaysbywhichsuchthingscouldbeperformedbytrickery，butheinformedmethatnoneofmyexplanationsseemedtoelucidatethisstrangework。Thesecretdidnotconsistintheuseofodorlessalcohol，forthereasonthatthemediumnevertouchedthesealedenvelopesatall。
　　Infacthewasnevernearertothemthantenfeet。Thisalsomadeitimpossibleforhimtousetheprincipleonwhichthetrickisbased，whichisknowntotheprofessionas“WashingtonIrvingBishop’sSealedLetterReading。“
　　Heinformedmethatsheetsofpaperorcardswerepassedtothespectatorsintheaudience，andatthesametimeenvelopesinwhichtosealtheirquestionswerefurnishedforthem；thatthespectatorswrotequestionsasdirected，manytimessigningtheirownnamestothem。Hewascertainthatmanypersonsfoldedtheirwrittenquestionsbeforesealingthem，andthattheoperatorhimselfdidnotevencollecttheenvelopesonmanyoccasions。Heinformedmethatthebestevidenceofthegenuinenessoftheperformancelayinthefactthatthemediumseemedtohavenofixedconditionsforhisexperiments；butseemedtoperformtheminadifferentmanneroneachoccasion。Theconditionsweredifferentineverycase，yethealwaysreadthequestionswiththemostmarvelouscertainty。
　　Ithoughtthematteroverafterthis，butcouldinnowaythinkofanyplausiblemeansofaccomplishinghisworkbytrickery。I
　　finallydecidedtowaitandseetheperformancefirst，andtofigureafterwardsonthemethodemployed。
　　Accordingly，ateighto’clockthateveningIwasseatedinthehallwithmyfriend，andshortlyafterwardsthe“Seer“madehisappearance，takinghisseatonthestage。Hewasaveryslenderpersonage，withlonghairandaparticularlyghostlylook。Hetookhisseatquietlyonthestage。Inashorttimehismanagerappearedandmadeanopeningaddress，whichIwillnotrepeat，andthenaskedsomeboyintheaudiencetopasscardsaroundtothespectatorsonwhichtheyweretowritequestions。Envelopeswerealsodistributed，inwhichtosealthecards。Whenthewritingwasfinished，themanageraskedanyboytotakeahatwhichheheldinhishand，andcollectthesealedenvelopes。Aftertheboy，whomeveryoneknewtobealocalresident，kindlyvolunteeredforthisserviceandexecutedit，acommitteewasinvitedtothestagetoproperlyblindfoldthemedium。Thiswasdoneinasatisfactorymanner，andthecommitteethenreturnedtotheaudience。Themanagernowledtheblindfoldedmediumtotherearofthestage，wherehewasseatedsomewhatbehindatable，onwhichweresomeflowers，amusicbox，etc。However，themediumwasinviewplainly；andheneverremovedthebandagefromhiseyesorinanymannermolestedit。
　　Whentheboycameonthestagedirectlyfromthefrontwiththehatfullofsealedenvelopes，themanagerplacedahandkerchiefoverthehatandaskedtheboytotakeaseatnearthefrontofthestagefacingtheaudience。Hewasalsodirectedtoholdthehatinhislap，andtodelivertheenvelopestothemanager，oneatatime，asheshouldcallforthem。
　　Theoperatornowdeliveredalecture，lastingsometenorfifteenminutes，explainingthestrangepowersoftheblindfoldedmedium，whosatattherearofthestageinfullview；whiletheboystillmaintainedtheseatatthefrontofthestage，andheldthehatofenvelopesinsightofall。
　　Afterthelecture，themanagerrequestedtheboytogivehimoneoftheenvelopes，whichtheboydid。Themanagerdidnotlooktowarditinanymanner；buttookitinthetipsofhisrightfingers，helditintheair，andaskedthemediumtogivethewriterofthisquestionatest。Themediumshiveredafewtimes，allowedhisframetoconvulseslightly，andthusbegan：
　　“Ifeeltheinfluenceofonewhowasabrother。IgetthenameofClarence。Willtheonewhowrotethisquestionidentifyitashis？“Therewasnoresponsefromthespectators，andthemediumaskedagainthatthewriterspeakout。Stillsilencegreetedhisrequest；whensuddenlyhepointedhisbonyfingerintothecrowd，whilehisblindedfaceconfrontedthem，andexclaimed：“Mr。JohnH——，whydoyounotrespondtoyourtest？“Agentlemanintheaudiencethenacknowledgedthetestashis。Themediumthencontinued：“Clarencewasdrowned。Isensethecoldchillywaterasitenvelopeshisform。“Atthistheladysittingwiththegentlemanbegantocry。Themediumcontinued：“Thedrowningwaswhollyanaccident。Therewasnofoulplay。Now，Mr。H——，haveIansweredyourquestion，andareyousatisfiedwithyourtest？“
　　Thegentleman，awell-knowncitizen，acknowledgedthathewasperfectlysatisfied。
　　Themanagerthenlaidtheenvelopeonasmalltableandaskedtheboyforanotherone。Theboygavehimanotherfromthehatwhentheblindfoldedmedium，tenfeetormoredistant，gavethesecondtest。
　　Heshiveredagainandbegan：“Ifeeltheinfluenceofayoungladywhodiedsuddenly。Shesays，’SisterMary，Iamveryhappy，anddeathwasnotsohardtoendure。Iwantyoutoconsultagoodhonorableattorney，andtakehisadviceinthelawsuityouaskmeabout。’“Themediumthencontinued，“MissL——，yoursisterregardsyouwithalookofgreattendernessandlove。Areyousatisfiedwithyourtest？“Aladythenrepliedthatshecertainlywasentirelyconvinced。
　　Themanagernowlaidthissealedenvelopebesidetheotheroneandagaincalledforanother。Thiswascontinueduntilalloftheenvelopesinthehatwereremovedandthequestionsanswered。Noneoftheenvelopeswereopened。Insomeinstancesthemediumfirstreadthequestions，wordforword，beforeansweringthem；andwhenhedidso，hedescribedthewritingminutely，eventheformationofthestrokesoftheletters。
　　Afterallofthesetestsweregiven，themediumremovedtheblindfoldandseemedmuchexhausted。Thenthetableswereremovedtoonesideofthestage，andacabineterected；afterwhichsomecabinetmanifestationsthatwereveryinterestingweregiven。Whenthesewereover，themanagercollectedthesealedenvelopesfromthetable，andplacedthemonthefrontofthestage，invitingthewriterstocall，shouldtheysodesire，andgettheirquestions。
　　Someavailedthemselvesofthisopportunityandtoreopenanumberoftheenvelopesuntiltheyfoundtheirownquestions。Theaudienceseemedgreatlyimpressedwiththisexhibition，andthenextdayitwasthetalkofthetown。