Pagina 23 di 134

At this period, either as a reaction from the light thrown, or

lighter thought upon her overwrought nature, or possibly from

some subtle, potent influence emanating from the censer burning

near her, Sarthia lapsed into sudden and most profound

unconsciousness.

A few moments later--it seemed to Sarthia as if ages had

intervened--she began a fierce struggle to awake. "Why, how is

this?" she thought. She seemed enveloped in a dead wall of some

kind. The brain, the heart, the infinite ramification of nerves

in no way responded to her will and her utmost effort. Almost

worn out with the unequal battle it began to dawn upon her that

she was really endeavoring to animate the other body. "Am I

becoming Nu-nah?" Yes, in the excitement of the moment she raised

herself upon her couch and, resting upon her elbow, gazed upon

the rigid form of what a moment before had been herself.