At the seance on the following Tuesday, an explanation of this appearance being asked for, "Schura" replied:--

"It was the outline of a head with shoulders. I cannot appear more distinctly. I am still weak."

Many other details, which I have pa.s.sed over, tended to convince Sophie of the reality of "Schura's" ident.i.ty, yet she could not bring herself to carry out that which "Schura" desired her to do.

She therefore proposed as a suitable compromise that she should acquaint Nikolaus's parents with what had occurred.

This proposal aroused "Schura's" strongest displeasure, expressed by violent movements of the saucer, and by the sentence:--

"That will lead to nothing";--after which disparaging epithets followed, impossible to repeat here, especially applicable to persons of weak and irresolute character, with whom the energetic and decisive "Schura" had no patience--epithets which are not found in dictionaries, but which were expressions used by "Schura" in her lifetime, and characteristic of her. This was confirmed in the sequel.

Nevertheless Sophie continued to hesitate, and at each successive seance "Schura" insisted more and more imperatively that Sophie must act at once. This is very important to notice, as we shall see later. This want of resolution on the part of Sophie was ascribed by "Schura" to the influence of Mrs. von Wiesler. From the beginning "Schura" had seemed to bear a grudge against Mrs. von Wiesler. From the first seance she addressed Sophie only. She never permitted Mrs. von Wiesler to ask a question. Whenever she attempted to do so, she met with a--"Be silent--be silent!" Whereas in addressing Sophie she overwhelmed her with the tenderest expressions.

How great was the astonishment and consternation of the ladies, when at the seance on the 26th of February the first words were:--

"It is too late. Thou wilt repent it bitterly. The pangs of remorse will follow thee. Expect his arrest!"

These were "Schura's" last words. From this time she was silent. A seance was attempted on the following Tuesday, but there was no result. The seances of Mrs. von Wiesler and her daughter were from that time entirely given up.

While these seances were being held, Mrs. von Wiesler naturally kept me informed of what transpired, and consulted with me as to what was to be done in view of the extraordinary character of "Schura's" requests. Some time after they had ceased, Mrs. von Wiesler, to satisfy her own conscience and to comfort her daughter, resolved to communicate the whole episode to the parents of Nikolaus. They paid no attention to it. Nothing was elicited that any fault could be found with. The family were quite satisfied in regard to Nikolaus's conduct. But it is important to bear in mind the fact that these Spiritualistic communications were made known to the parents before the final issue. When during the remainder of the year everything went on happily, Sophie became fully convinced that all the communications were only lies, and formed a resolution that she would never again occupy herself with Spiritualistic seances.

Another year pa.s.sed without any special event. But on the 9th of March, 1887, the secret police suddenly searched Nikolaus's rooms.

He was arrested in his own house, and within twenty-four hours was exiled from St. Petersburg. It came out later that his crime was taking part in anarchical a.s.semblies--a.s.semblies which were held in the months of January and February 1885, exactly corresponding with the time when "Schura" was insisting that steps should _then_ be taken to dissuade Nikolaus from taking part in such meetings. Only now were the communications of "Schura" estimated at their true value. The notes which Mrs. von Wiesler had made were read again and again by the families both of "Schura" and of Nikolaus.

"Schura's" ident.i.ty in all those manifestations was recognised as incontestably demonstrated, in the first place, by the main fact in relation to Nikolaus, by other intimate particulars, and also by the totality of the features which characterised her personality.

This mournful occurrence fell like a fresh thunderclap on Nikolaus's family, and they had only to thank G.o.d that the errors of the young man were not followed by more fatal results.

In order to estimate this incident aright, it is of great importance to establish the relations which existed between the two young ladies. I have requested Madame and Mdlle. von Wiesler to give me on this, as on the previous points, a written memorandum in full detail; and from that memorandum I extract what follows [somewhat abridged here]:--

In December 1880 Madame von Wiesler and her daughter paid a Christmas visit to "Schura's" grandfather, Senator N., where Sophie saw "Schura" for the first time. Sophie was then about thirteen years old, and "Schura" even younger. Sophie was astonished to see "Schura's" writing-table covered with books [and had a talk with her about favourite authors]. The two girls often saw each other at a distance in the recreation-room of their school during the winter, but "Schura" was soon transferred to another school. [They met once at a country-house without exchanging a word, and saw each other once across a theatre. Sophie, in fact, had had one childish talk with "Schura"; Madame von Wiesler had never had any real talk with her.] Hence it is clear that the relations of these ladies with "Schura" were of the most distant kind, and that they could not know anything of her political secrets.

VIII. E. From _Proceedings_ S.P.R., vol. viii. pp. 248-51.[230]

The following letters were received from the princ.i.p.al witness, Mrs.

Finney:--

ROCKLAND, Ma.s.s., _April 19th, 1891_.

MR. HODGSON,--DEAR SIR,--Some weeks ago I received from you a few lines asking me to give you an account of the communication received from Cousin Benja in spirit-life, some twenty-five years ago.

For weeks and months before my brother left the form we conversed freely on the subject of spirit communion and such matters, and one morning he requested me to bring him a small piece of brick, also pen and ink; he then made two marks on one side, and one on the other with the ink, then breaking the brick in two, gave me one piece, telling me at the time to take care of it, and some day he would hide the other piece away where no one but himself would know, and after leaving the form, if possible, would return in some way and tell me where it was. I could then compare them together, and it would be a test that he could return and communicate, and _my mind_ could not have any influence over it, as I did not know where he put it.

After he left the form our anxiety was _very great_ to hear and learn all we could of communicating with spirits, and for months we got nothing satisfactory.

We then commenced sitting at the table at home (mother and myself), which we did for some little time; at last it commenced tipping, and by calling the alphabet spelled out where we could find the piece of brick that he put away,--that was the way we got the test.

To us that was truth that spirits can and do communicate with us, and nothing but the influence and power of Benja could tell us that test.--Truly yours,

MRS. WM. A. FINNEY.

ROCKLAND, _May 3rd, 1891_.

MR. R. HODGSON,--DEAR SIR,--Yours of April 21st received, and I will add a few more lines as to statement of brother Benja's communication.

By calling the alphabet we spelled out:--

"You will find that piece of brick in the cabinet under the tomahawk.--BENJA."

I went to that room and took the key, unlocked the cabinet, which had not been touched by any one after he locked it and put away the key. There I found that piece of brick just as it had spelled out, and it corresponded with the piece I had retained, fitting on exactly where he broke it off the piece I had. It was wrapped in a bit of paper and tucked into a sh.e.l.l, and placed in the bottom of the cabinet _exactly under_ the tomahawk, as was spelled out by the alphabet.

This is truth, and no power but Benja's could tell that.

Mother is not living; I am the only one of the family that is living.--Yours respectfully,

MRS. WM. A. FINNEY.

ROCKLAND, _May 11th, 1891_.

MR. R. HODGSON,--DEAR SIR,--Yours of 6th received. I will continue to say, in answer to your questions, that the piece of brick was entirely concealed in the sh.e.l.l, so that it could not be seen from outside of cabinet. It was wrapped in a piece of paper stuck together with mucilage and tucked into the end of the sh.e.l.l, then a piece of paper gummed over that, so that nothing was visible from the sh.e.l.l. The sh.e.l.l was on the lower shelf of the cabinet, and only the top of the sh.e.l.l was visible outside the cabinet.

One more little incident I will mention, for to me it is as valuable as the other. He wrote me a letter (about the time he gave me the piece of brick) and sealed it, saying at the time it was not to be answered, but the contents of the letter to be told. I got that in the same way I did the other, by calling the alphabet and the table tipping. It was these words:--

"Julia! do right and be happy.--BENJA."

That was correct. Just the contents of my letter. I have no particular objection as to giving my name, for I have stated nothing but the truth.

At my home in Kingston I have that little sh.e.l.l with the piece of brick, and if you would like them I will send them to you. Will place the brick into the sh.e.l.l as it was when I found it. Of course, the paper that was around it then is worn out years ago.

The cabinet is disposed of.

JULIA A. FINNEY.

Mrs. Finney further writes:--

ROCKLAND, _June 26th, 1891_.

I send you by express a box containing the letter and sh.e.l.l with the piece of brick. I have placed one piece in the sh.e.l.l just as it was when I found it, so you can see how nicely it was concealed in the sh.e.l.l. The papers that were around it then are worn out. You can retain them if you like, as I do not care for them now.

To me it is a positive truth that he did communicate to us, and our minds could have nothing to do with it.

J. A. FINNEY.

ROCKLAND, _July 19th, 1891_.

...The sh.e.l.l was placed on the same shelf with the tomahawk, and no other sh.e.l.ls on that shelf. It was placed with the open side down, and the tomahawk stood directly over it. I cannot say why he did not tell us to look inside of the sh.e.l.l. We started to look as soon as he told us. It was in the cabinet under the tomahawk. We did not wait for any more to be said.

I am not intimately acquainted with many public people. As to my integrity, will refer you to Rev. C. Y. de Normandie, of Kingston.

J. A. FINNEY.