" Great Anniversary Spell.

strained his eyes intently in the direction in which it had vanished , but could see nothing . He felt he was getting unnerved by what was merely an illusion , and braced himself up for the ordeal . What a thrill the unexpected sound of the church bell gave him as it commenced to strike twelve ! HOAV the awful sounds vibrated and seemed to descend deep into tho earth , and tell the spirits

to prepare ! One after another they fell on his ear like a knell , and he wondered Avhen they Avould cease . And when the last iron sound had ceased it seemed to develop into a silence that could be felt , and out of which there was no escape . His first movement startled him , ancl he found the time fast approaching . He made a new combination of stops , and he counted the minutes , the seconds , ancl , at the calculated moment , commenced the hymn .

His heart was beating violently , and he earnestly wished the next twenty seconds had passed . He fixed his eyes on the spot Avhere his mother had died , and the pale moon threw a cold , unearthly glimmer across the church that appeared to rarity the atmosphere . The familiar sounds seemed to speak to him in different voices , one saying , " It's no use , you ' ve tried it before , " and another saying , "Take care , take care ! " These gradually increased in

intensity , but he kept his eyes steadil y on the same place , and Avas beginning to think that his last trial Avas over as the objects dimmed before his eyes . Accustomed as he was to playing the hymn , he nevertheless made a slight mistake , which resulted in a peculiar discord , and immediately his mother ' s place seemed to be filled ! A white sepulchral form sat there ! A thrill of horror ran through his frame ' . Could it be real ? Yesit would not vanish

, , but remained there and assumed the solidity of flesh and blood ! He perceived a slight movement , and a cold shudder passed over him , his teeth chattered , and a fit of trembling seized him , while his hair seemed to shrink into his head . Was that really his mother ? Had she come there specially to reveal some dread secret to him ? Had he indeed struck the right chord ? Yes ,

there was no doubt about it ; he had hit upon the peculiar discord which had been made by accident fifteen years ago , accompanying his mother ' s death , and his mother was there now in answer to it ! " All the past years of thought and study flitted through his brain like a momentary pageant , and he saw a reality in the strange plans fixed for the supernatural . He marvelled that . he could have disbeliei'ecl them . Ages seemed to pass away , and the terrible chord was still ringing onhis fingers being convulsively clasped to the notes .

, He could not lift them . He felt that something must be done , ancl tried to speak , but his tongue cloA'e to the roof of his mouth . He could hear the ticking of his watch above the sound of the organ , and the beating of his heart emulated it . Years seemed to have passed since he came into the church , and he counted the seconds laboriously . If he were able to leave the organ the spell would be broken that had conjured up the vision . He could bear it no

longer , and was about to dash away ancl sieze the spectre , when , ivith along , draAvn out sound that seemed to extend for hours , the chord finished for want of wind iu a weird , awful , discordant shriek , like a long last-drawn breath , and his blood curdled in terror , as he dreaded lest the figure should now disappear . He could sustain the sound no longer , ancl felt that his last hope had diedwhen he found the spectre still there as everalthough the organ had

, , stopped . Was he alone with one from the grave—the unknown world ? Now he wished it had departed with that fearful sound , when a new feeling came over him , and he clumsily walked towards it . His steps echoed aud reechoed in empty space ! The ghost moved—yes , he saw it move , and his eyes dilated , while the cold drops of perspiration stood on his brow . Still he . walked onand the church seemed to move ancl heave as though an

earth-, quake was lifting it . He took neiv courage at his progress , ancl , continning to advance , tried to make out the features , determined to know the worst . He clenched his teeth to keep them from chattering , and grasped his coat in both hands . Heavens ! the figure rises ancl approaches him ! He stands rooted