(γ) In the classes of ectoplasms already enumerated, there has been at least an apparent continuous connection with the body of the sensitive; - although, in the last-mentioned case especially, that connection is of a very shadowy kind.

We now come to ectoplasms without apparent connection with the organism from which we still must suppose them to be in some way derived. Two incomplete forms of such isolated ectoplasm first present themselves; the one manifesting, so to say, definition without visibility; the other, visibility without definition.

As examples of a certain amount of definition without visibility, I take touches and imprints. Slight but unmistakable touches are often observed even when the ectoplastic process never gets any further, nor is identified with any one spirit. Imprints are more rarely recorded.

(δ) A commoner way in which the detached ectoplasm begins its development is with an appearance of cloud, or light, or luminous mist, surrounding some object which is presently moved, - the stem of a flower broken, or a bell carried about the room. Such appearances, already mentioned under the heading of vital photogeny, are frequently recorded both with D. D. Home and with Mr. Moses. Their connection with ectoplasms is shown by the fact that sometimes some of those present have perceived a hand, while others have seen only a cloud or a light; and sometimes all present have seen the cloud or light change into a hand. The hand seems to oscillate about the limits of definite visibility, like vapour which in a changing temperature condenses and re-expands.

Two short passages (quoted from Mr. Moses' note-books) will illustrate this semi-materialisation.

Q. The beads that came in the light seemed to be projected from behind me; in the dark they seemed to fall.

A. "It is necessary to use the force or power emanating from your body more carefully in light. It is far more difficult to regulate it. The objects were thrown near you gently. At other times they were allowed to fall as might chance".

Q. One seemed to come out of the letter I was handing to Mrs. G.

A. "No, but the movement of your hand threw off force, as in darkness you may see luminous vapour proceeding from the fingers. The force is given off at the fingers and head most, hence objects are brought or moved more readily near your head or hands. Hence the movement of objects over your head and the production of the scent. Hence, too, rubbing the hands is useful, and placing the fingers on the table charges the wood. So when you moved your hand it gave the opportunity which was used".

Q. That scent from my head is very curious. Is it put on, or drawn out?

A. "Drawn out, but I cannot tell you of that".

Monday, March 23rd, 1874.

Q. Can I have any information about that extraordinary writing?

(We held a seance last night at which some very minute direct writing was given by Doctor and Prudens).

A. "It was done with great pains and care as an experiment. We can do more than that".

Q. It is the most curious piece I ever saw. Who wrote it?

A. "The spirits who signed, aided by many others. We were assisted last night by a powerful band who were able to overcome unfavourable conditions. We have said before that no such manifestation is ever done by us alone, but by many assistants".

Q. The writing is so minute and clear.

A. "We could do more minute writing and will endeavour so to do. Much power was used in endeavouring to complete the manifestation with care. To that reason is due the physical contortion which attends the manifestation. It is more difficult to write with minute care. We will show you what we can do one day".

Q. Doctor and Prudens were the actual amanuenses?

A. "Yes, they actually wrote, as you would see from the character of the writing. It is always so".

Q. I thought Prudens' writing was not his, but an imitation.

A. "That would not be allowed".

Q. Was the pencil actually used?

A. "Oh, yes".

Q. Was a hand materialised?

A. "Not as you understand it, but sufficiently so to use the instrument. It would not have been visible to the natural eye".

Q. The pencil would have seemed to move alone.

A. "Yes, to the natural eye".

(ε) In describing these imperfectly aggregated ectoplasms we have already touched on the next class, that of quasi-organic detached ectoplasms. These are especially hands, sometimes with wrists or arms attached, but now with no mere shadowy or duplicated drapery, but a drapery which is their own, and for the time being is as tangible as themselves. Such hands are reported in the cases of D. D. Home and Mr. Moses.

These ectoplasms, moreover, when developed, may be recognisable; they may serve as indications of identity. With D. D. Home this seems frequently to have been the case; and the special shape and character of hands seen formed one of the most generally impressive points in his phenomena. In Mr. Moses' case the hands (except once in a photograph) were not claimed as belonging to personal friends; but the lean brown hand and wrist which usually appeared (Mr. Moses' own hand being thick, plump, and white) seemed appropriate to the Arabian philosopher to whom it was asserted to belong.

Amongst these detached ectoplasms must be reckoned the phenomenon of "the direct voice." Utterance may be referable to an ectoplastic throat as distinctly as grip to ectoplastic fingers; - and may form of course an even higher manifestation, - capable of manifesting more intelligence and of giving more convincing indications of identity. But this phenomenon (which I believe myself to have observed elsewhere) has been only imperfectly shown in the cases on which this present survey is based.

(ζ) Nor is it desirable here to dwell at length upon the most advanced type of ectoplasy; - when an apparently complete form seems to live for the time an independent life. This never occurred through Mr. Moses. Something like it occurred through D. D. Home several times; though the solidity of the form was not tested. No more, therefore, need here be said than that this completer development of the isolated or independent ectoplasm differs in no fundamental way from the types which we have already discussed. On the frequent fraudulent simulations of this phenomenon, there is no need here to dwell. But for those who admit that a hand can be temporarily thrown off in this strange kind of asexual gemmation, it would be illogical to deny the possibility of a whole apparent human form thus originated, and thus re-absorbed or disappearing.

At whatever point, indeed, among the phenomena of ectoplasy we may draw our evidential line, it seems to me probable that we have here got at the root of most of the physical phenomena assignable to external control. It is this power of using the vital force of men which brings unembodied beings into relation with the material world. It is this power, too, which links the physical with the mental phenomena of spirit-control; - enabling the unseen guide to use the machinery of thought as well as of motion, in ways which the unaided organism could never have devised. To some of these intellectual phenomena we must now turn.