"Well, Mr. Kestern, I do not know that there is much to explain. After all, prayer and fasting have a prominent place in all forms of Christian thought, have they not? And by prayer and fasting these men so subdue the body that the spirit in them can live almost independently of bodily aids, and even of itself affect material things."
"Prayer to a false god never did that for a man," retorted Leather.
"We should probably differ in our definition of false," returned Childers courteously.
"But look here,"—the missionary leant over the table—"do you mean you've ever seen them do anything that was not a clever conjuring trick?"
"Most certainly," said Childers.
Leather threw himself back. "You can do the same yourself, I suppose," he sneered.
"A little," said Childers, "though I am really a mere novice."
The other completely lost his temper. "Show us then," he said curtly.
"Oh yes, do," cried Paul, but in a wholly different tone.
The elder man glanced from one to the other, and then back again to Paul. He hesitated. "I would rather not," he said. "One ought not to play tricks."