Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

heard
"POSSESSION" AND ALLIED STATES 117
"Oh, but you must see this one; it is so remarkable.
The man is quite able to go about, and has
come over to London to be cured.
"I cannot spare the time."
"Well, come to the Holborn Restaurant and dine
with us there."
The
Arab Gentleman
He was so earnest about it that I consented, and
found myself a few nights later sitting with the
doctor opposite to an Arab gentleman, evidently of
high breeding. He briefly explained his distressing
case. He was of the highest rank in Arabia, but had
moved for some years to India, and, being very
well off, soon got mixed up with some of the idle
rich who dabbled in Spiritism. He commenced with
table-turning and planchette writing, but soon
began to hear "raps." These pursued him to his
bedroom, and his sleep became disturbed with the
noises and trying to decipher them. Then he heard
voices at the window, and at last one day, he told
me with deep earnestness, he
.
suddenly the
same voice from within; and from then he has lived
a life of torment. He was deeply convinced of the
evil nature of this "unknown (and unwelcome)
guest," for it was ever speaking to him the most
impure thoughts in the purest Arabic (not Hindustance,
though it entered him in India), and suggesting
horrible crimes and debaucheries.* He said he
was only now partially master of himself, and he
could no longer drag on such a life, but must
*
He particularly pointed out it was a dialect only spoken by
the highest classes in Arabia.