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e would have any value save predictions of unlikely happenings； clearly defined and outside the sphere of the person interested。 As Dr。 Osty says：
〃The ideal prognostication would obviously be that of an event so rare； so sudden and unexpected； implying such a change in one's mode of life that the theory of coincidence could not decently be put forward。 But； as everybody is not； in the peaceful course of his threatened by such an absolutely convincing event； the clairvoyant cannot always reveal to the person experimentingand reveal it for a more or less approximate dateone of those incidents whose accomplishment would carry irresistible conviction。〃
In any case； the question of psychometric prognostications calls for further enquiry； although it is easy even at the present day to forsee the results。
10
Let us now return to our spontaneous premonitions； in which the future comes to seek us of its own accord and； so to speak； to challenge us at home。 I know from personal experience that； when we embark upon these disconcerting matters； the first impression is scarcely favourable。 We are very much inclined to laugh； to treat as wearisome tales； as hysterical hallucinations； as ingenious or interested fictions most or those incidents which give too violent a shock to the narrow and limited idea which we have of our human life。 To smile； to reject everything beforehand and to pass by with averted head； as was done； I remember； in the time of Galvani； and in the early days of hypnotism； is much more easy and seems more respectable and prudent than to stop； admit and examine。 Nevertheless we must not forget that it is to some who did not smile so lightly that we owe the best part of the marvels from whose heights we are preparing to smile in our turn。 For the rest； I grant that； thus presented； hastily and summarily； without the details that throw light upon them and the proofs that support them； the incidents in question do not show to advantage and； inasmuch as they are isolated and sparingly chosen； lose all the weight and authority derived from the compact and imposing mass whence they are arbitrarily detached。 As I said above； nearly a thousand cases have been collected； representing probably not the tenth part of those which a more active and general search might bring together。 The number is evidently of importance and denotes the enormous pressure of the mystery； but； if there were only half a dozen genuine casesand Dr。 Maxwell's； Professor Flournoy's； Mrs。 Verrall's； the Marmontel； Jones and Hamilton cases and some others are undoubtedly genuinethey would be enough to show that； under the erroneous idea which we form of the past and the present； a new verity is living and moving； eager to come to light。
The efforts of that verity； I need hardly say； display a very different sort of force after we have actually and attentively read those hundreds of extraordinary stories which； without appearing to do so； strike to the very roots of history。 We soon lose all inclination to doubt。 We penetrate into another world and come to a stop all out of countenance。 We no longer know where we stand； before and after overlap and mingle。 We no longer distinguish the insidious and factitious but indispensable line which separates the years that have gone by from the years that are to come。 We clutch at the hours and days of the past and present to reassure ourselves； to fasten on to some certainty； to convince ourselves that we are still in our right place in this life where that which is not yet seems as substantial； as real； as positive； as powerful as that which is no more。 We discover with uneasiness that time； on which we based our whole existence； itself no longer exists。 It is no longer the swiftest of our gods； known to us only by its flight across all things： it alters its position no more than space； of which it is doubtless but the incomprehensible reflex。 It reigns in the centre of every event； and every event is fixed in its centre； and all that comes and all that goes passes from end to end of our little life without moving by a hair's breadth around its motionless pivot。 It is entitled to but one of the thousand names which we have been wont to lavish upon its power； a power that seemed to us manifold and innumerable： yesterday； recently； formerly； erewhile； after； before； tomorrow； soon； never； later fall like childish masks； whereas to…day and always completely cover with their united shadows the idea which we form in the end of a duration which has no subdivisions； no breaks and no stages； which is pulseless； motionless and boundless。
11
Many are the theories which men have imagined in their attempts to explain the working of the strange phenomenon； and many others might be imagined。
As we have seen； self…suggestion and telepathy explain certain cases which concern events already in existence； but still latent and perceived before the knowledge of them can reach us by the normal process of the senses or the intelligence。 But； even by extending these two theories to their uttermost point and positively abusing their accommodating elasticity； we do not succeed in illumining by their aid more than a rather restricted portion of the vast undiscovered land。 We must therefore look for something else。
The first theory which suggests itself and which on the surface seems rather attractive is that of spiritualism； which may be extended until it is scarcely distinguishable from the theosophical theory and other religious suppositions。 It assumes the revival of spirits； the existence of discarnate or other superior and more mysterious entities which surround us； interest themselves in our fate； guide our thoughts and our actions and； above all； know the future。 It is； as we recognized when speaking of ghosts and hanted houses； a very acceptable theory； and any one to whom it appears can adopt it without doing violence to his intelligence。 But we must confess that it seems less necessary and perhaps even less clearly proved in this region than in that。 It starts by begging the question： without the intervention of discarnate beings； the spiritualists say； it is impossible to explain the majority of the premonitory phenomena； therefore we must admit the existence of these discarnate beings。 Let us grant it for the moment； for to beg the question； which is merely an indefensible trick of the superficial logic of our brain； does not necessarily condemn a theory and neither takes away from nor adds to the reality of things。 Besides； as we shall insist later； the intervention or non…intervention of the spirits is not the point at issue； and the crux of the mystery does not lie there。 What most interest us is far less the paths or intermediaries by which prophetic warnings reach us than the actual existence of the future in the present。 It is trueto do complete justice to neospiritualismthat its position offers certain advantages from the point of view of the almost inconceivable problem of the preexistence of the future。 It can evade or divert some of the consequences of that problem。 The spirits； it declares； do not necessarily see the future as a whole； as a total past or present； motionless and immovable； but they