The doctor informed me that he was an unidentified
charity patient suffering with typhoid fever and was evidently insane.
He told me that the man imagined he had been in a trance for over four
thousand years, and could only be brought out of it by a kiss from one
he called Arletta. My heart seemed to melt with pity and sorrow, and my
dislike changed into love for the man upon hearing these words, and
without hesitation I kissed him, at the same time hoping most sincerely
that the act would have a salutary effect. Strange as it may seem, the
whole expression of his countenance changed instantly as if by some
magic force; his eyes lighted up radiantly, and looking at me in great
astonishment he uttered my name-Arletta. But while I was quite elated
over my strange success, I was also much surprised and puzzled at his
following utterances, whereby he claimed that I was the re-incarnated
soul of Arletta of Sageland, who, according to his story, had died on
the same day I was born, over twenty-one years before, and from which
time he could form no recollection of events whatever.
"'Subsequently, I was informed by an eminent brain specialist, who
examined him, that he was mentally sound, but that owing to a severe
fracture of the skull received some time previously his brain had become
divided into two distinct parts, causing two personalities to exist and
enabling him to recollect events only as they were separately recorded
on either side of the brain. By this explanation I readily understood
the reason why he did not recognize me and also for the wonderful change
which took place, both in his character and my feelings toward him.
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