Having given his instructions, he proceeded to the chamber wherein Marie Colchis lay.
A moment of silence followed, then a crash was heard, and the doctor came staggering into the room with the drooping, lifeless form of Marie Colchis in his arms. Laying her upon a bed, which had been improvised from their wraps, he cried, as he turned away:
“Quick! Strip off the bandages, and tell me when you are ready!”
A moment later, when the girls had performed their work and had called upon him to come, he was by their side, and had adjusted the copper plates; then, pushing down the carbons into the batteries, he seized her hand and placed his finger on her pulse. As the current of electricity passed through her heart, there was a spasmodic contraction of the muscles of the body, a quivering of the flesh, a gasp, and her lovely bosom rose and fell as the air was inhaled and expelled; then the lips parted, and a low, deep sigh escaped, her eyes opened, and she lived.
“What is it?” she asked, in a quiet, weak voice.
“Hush! You must not speak; you are ill,” hastily said the doctor. “Drink this, and you will feel better,” and he put the cup of liquid to her lips.
Mechanically the girl obeyed the order, and drank the warm broth; then, closing her eyes, she became motionless, save a slight rising and falling of the bosom in breathing. Gently throwing aside her clothing, the doctor commenced a brisk rubbing of the legs, arms, and body along the spine. The heat of the fire, together with the friction of the rubbing, soon caused a free circulation of the blood, which had but barely moved through her arteries and veins for years. The color came slowly to her face, her breathing became stronger, she was receiving back the life which had been on the point of leaving her body. Once more the eyes opened, and she spoke, but in a stronger voice:
“Who are you? Where is my father?”
“Marie, dear girl,” cried Mollie, bending over her, while tears of joy fell from her eyes, “we are your friends, your dearest friends. You are ill now; do not speak or ask questions. All will be made known to you soon.”