The Secret Power

duck takes to water,-no new discovery or even suggestion of a new discovery missed his instant and close attention. His avidity for learning was insatiable,-his intense and insistent curiosity on al

ated for no higher purpose than those of an insect, jus

ve in, eat as much as we want and more, and breed children to whom we leave all the stuff we have earned, and who either waste it or add to it, whichever suits their selfishness best. Such lives are absolutely useless,-they repeat the same old round, leading nowhere. Occasionally, in the course of centuries a real Brain is born-and at once,

he conceived as this "somet

e been used ages ago, had not dull-witted man refused to find anything better for lighting purposes than an oil-lamp or a tallow candle! If, in past periods, he had been told 'there is something else'-he would have laughed his informant to scorn. So w

e sagacious opinion of those who knew him best, there was a considerable flutter in such limited American circles as call themselves "upper" when the wealthiest young woman in the States, Morgana Royal, suddenly elected to know him and to bring him into prominent notice at her parties as "the most wonderful genius of the time"-"a man whose scientific discoveries might change the very face of the globe"-and other fantastically exaggerated descriptions of her own which he himself strongly repudiated and resented. Gossip ran amok concerning the two, and it was generally agreed that if the "madman" of science were to become the husband of a woman multi-millionaire, he would not

ds forlornly-"And he's poorer than Job! He'll be sel

people were to him tedious and fatiguing, and he decided that nature,-wild nature in a solitary and savage aspect,-would suit his speculative and creative tendencies best. Yet, like all human beings, he had his odd, almost child-like moods, inexplicable even to himself-moods illogical, almost pettish, and wholly incongruous with his own accepted principles of reasoning. For instance, he maintained that women h

d this individua

milk-pail from him gripped him by the dirty cott

said-"You insolent youn

ptor's clutch, and tried t

e"-he gasped-"O Blessed Mary!-my brea

arked Seaton, with a threatening gesture-"

her wriggle-"Miss Soriso-the girl they call Manella.

he handful of s

pulled some money out of his pocket, and fingered a few dirty paper notes-"There, Irish Jake! You'll find that's correct. And when you come here again don't forget your manners! See? Then you may be able to keep that disgraceful shirt of yours on! Otherwise it's likely to be torn off! If you are Irish you should remember that in very ancient days

mouth and eyes open,-then, snatching up the empty milk-pai

him with an air of c

etched his arms out with a long sigh-"And the silly girl is 'too busy' to come! As if I could not see through THAT little game! She'd give her eyes to come!-fine eyes they are, too! She

od sized deal table occupied the centre of the living-room,-and on the table was a clear crystal bowl full of what appeared at a first glance to be plain water, but which on closer observation showed a totally different quality. Unlike water it was never still,-some interior bubbling perpetually moved it to sway and sparkle, throwing out tiny flashes as t

gives no answer! If she were here she would bore me to death. I could do nothing. She would ask me questions-and if I answered them she

nversation, then, when closer acquaintance followed, and he had learned her true position in social circles and the power she wielded owing to her vast wealth, he at once withdrew from her as much as was civilly possible, disliking the suggestion of any sordid motive for his friendship. But she had so sweetly reproached him for this, and had enticed him on-yes!-he swore it within himself,-she had enticed him on in a thousand ways,-most especially by the amazing "grip" she had of scientific problems in which he was interested and which puzzled him, but which she seemed to unravel as easily as she might unravel a skein of wool. Her clear brightness of brain and logical precision of argument first surprised him into unqualified admiration, calling to his mind the assertion of a renowned physiologist that "From the beginning woman had lived in another world than man. Formed of finer vibrations and consequently finer chemical atoms she is in touch with more subtle planes of existence and of sensation and ideation. She holds unchallenged the code of Life." Then admiration yielded to the usual under-sense of masculine resentment against feminine intellectuality, and a kind of smouldering wrath and

, in low uneven tones

to his, half proud

ean it?" she a

rked himself up to a kind of cynical detestation and contempt for her, both as a student of science and a woman of wealth. And yet-and yet-he had almost loved her! And a thing that goaded him to the quick was that so far as scientific knowledge and attainment were concerned she was more than his equal. Irritated by his own quarrelsome set of sentiments which pulled him first this way and then that, he decided that the only thing possible for him was to put a "great divide" of distance between himself and her. This he had done-and to what purpose? Apparently merely to excite her ridicule!-and to prick her humor up to the mischievous prank of finding out where he had fled and following him! And she-even she-who had kept him aloof ever since t

oman would make the best wife-if I wanted one-which I do not; and the best mother, if I desired children,-which I do not. The question is

he seemed to gather his mental forces together with an effort. Turning towards the table where the bowl of

o do with it what I will-to destroy or to re-create! How shall I use it? If I could sweep the planet clean of its greedy, contentiou

ike the modern hideous type of man as he could well be,-and most particularly unlike any specimen of American that could be found on the whole huge continent. In truth he was purely and essentially English of England,-one of the fine old breed of men nurtured among the winds and waves of the north, for whom no labour was too hard, no service too exacting, no death too difficult, provided "the word was the bond." His natural gifts of intellect were very great, and profound study had ripened and rounded them to fruition,-certain discoveries in chemistry which he had tested were brought to the attention of his own country's scientists, who in their usual way of accepting new light on old subjects smiled placidly, shook their heads, pooh-poohed, and finally set aside the matter "for future discussion." But Roger Seaton was not of a nature to sink under a rebuff. If the Wise Men of Gotham in

extraordinary pains with her attire, plain though it was-something dainty and artistic in the manner of its wearing made its simplicity picturesque,-and the red rose at her bosom was effectively supplemented by another in her hair, showing brilliantly against its rich blackness. She stopped when about three pac

claimed-"I thought you

head a little

d-"There was no one else re

and read it. It was very brief-"S

in his pocket. Then he t

g this!" he said-"Why did

the rooms," she answered-"Many

usy'"? he asked, the smile

toss of her head

f undisguised admiration-"White suits you, Manella! You should always

her shoulders

r y

t send word by that Irish monkey that you were 'too busy to come'? And yet you dress yourself in white, wit

d straigh

ou can laugh at me all the time if you like. But-you c

in her eyes-her red lips

friend of yours whom you hate and love at the same time!-she tol

eyes upon

!"-he said, then paused-"De

and laid a hand on his arm. Her ar

her voice was tremulous-"

ouble to resist its spell. Very gently he put an arm round her,-and wi

th me for company! It is like you-except th

thout asking!

smi

kissed her once on the lips as a brother might have kissed her. "And