Amos Kilbright | Page 4

course, it would be impossible to keep a full-grown man for any
considerable length of time secluded and unseen, they judged it wise to
permit me to appear as an ordinary human being; and having no other
use to which they could put me, they set me to selling tickets for them,
and in this business I have fared so badly that I shall restore to them
these that are left, and counsel them to seek another agent, I being of
detriment to them rather than profit. What may then happen I do not
know, for, as I told you, I am not my own master."
"I do not understand you," I said. "If you have been, in this unparalleled
manner, restored to your physical existence, surely you are free to do as
you please. What these spiritualists have done for you was done by
accident. They intended you no benefit, and they have no claim upon
you."
"That is true," he said, with a sigh, "but they have a hold upon me. It
was but yesterday that they informed me that, although, so far, they had
failed to restore me to what they call my normal spiritual existence,
they had every reason to believe that they soon would be able to do so.
A psychic scientist of Germany has discovered a process of
dematerialization, and they have sent to him for his formula. This, in a
short time, they expect to receive, and they assure me that they will not
hesitate to put it in force if I should cause them trouble. Now, sir," he
continued, and as he spoke there was a moisture about his eyes, "I am
very fond of life. I have been restored to that mortality from which I
was suddenly snatched by the cruel sea, and I do not wish to lose it
again until I have lived out my natural term of years. My family is one
of long life, and I feel that I have a right to fifty more years of existence,
and this strong desire for the natural remainder of my life is that which
gives these men their power over me. I was never a coward, but I

cannot but fear those who may at any moment cause this form, these
limbs, my physical state and life, to vanish like a candle-flame blown
out."
My sympathies were now strongly aroused in behalf of the subject of
these most extraordinary conditions. "That which you fear must not be
allowed," I said. "No man has the right to take away the life of another,
no matter what plan or method he may use. I will see the spiritualists,
and make it plain to them that what they threaten they cannot be
allowed to do."
The man arose. "Sir," he said, "I feel that I have truly found a friend.
Whatever may happen to me, I shall never forget your kindness to a
very stranger." He held out his hand, and I stood up by him and took it.
It was as much a flesh and blood hand as my own.
"What is your name?" I asked. "You have not yet told me that."
"I am Amos Kilbright, of Bixbury," he answered.
"You have not revisited your native place?" I said.
"No," he replied, "I much desire to do so, but I have no money for a
journey, even on foot, and I doubt me much if those men would suffer
me to go to Bixbury."
"And have you spoken to your grandson, old Mr. Scott?" I said. "It is
but right that you should make yourself known to him."
"So have I thought," he answered, "and I have felt an earnest drawing
toward my daughter's child. I have seen him thrice, but have not had
the heart to speak to him and declare myself the progenitor of that
mother whose memory I know he cherishes."
"You shall make yourself known to him," I said. "I will prepare the
way."
He shook me again by the hand and took his leave without a word. He
was deeply affected.
I reseated myself by my table, one thought after another rushing
through my mind. Had ever man heard a story such as this! What were
all the experiences of the members of the Society for Psychical
Research, their stories of apparitions, their instances of occult
influences, their best authenticated incidents of supernaturalism
compared to this experience of mine! Should I hasten and tell it all to
my wife? I hesitated. If what I had heard should not be true--and this,
my first doubt or suspicion impressed upon me how impossible to me

had been doubt or suspicion during the presence of my visitor--it would
be wrong to uselessly excite her mind. On the other hand, if