"M Valdemar," , " asleep ? " no answer, but I perceived tremor lips, and was thus induced to repeat the question, again and again At its third repetition, his whole frame was agitated by very slight shivering; the eyelids unclosed themselves display white line ball; the lips moved sluggishly, and from , in barely audible whisper, issued the words:

"Yes; -- asleep now wake me ! -- let me die so ! "

I here felt the limbs and found them as rigid as ever The right arm, as before, obeyed the direction hand I questioned the sleep-waker again:

" still feel pain breast, M Valdemar ? "

The answer now was immediate, but even less audible than before: "No pain -- dying "

think it advisable to disturb him farther just then, and nothing more was said or done until the arrival of Dr F -- , who came little before sunrise, and expressed unbounded astonishment at finding the patient still alive After feeling the pulse and applying mirror lips, he requested me sleep-waker again so, saying:

"M Valdemar, still sleep ? "

As before, some minutes elapsed ere reply ; and during the interval the dying man seemed collecting his energies At my fourth repetition question, very faintly, almost inaudibly:

"Yes; still asleep -- dying "

now the opinion, or rather the wish, physicians, that M Valdemar suffered to remain undisturbed present apparently tranquil condition, until death should supervene -- and this, generally agreed, must now take place within I concluded, however, to him once more, and merely repeated my previous question

While I spoke, there came marked change over the countenance sleep-waker The eyes rolled themselves slowly open, the pupils disappearing upwardly; the skin generally assumed cadaverous hue, resembling not parchment as white paper; circular hectic spots which, hitherto, strongly defined centre of each cheek, went out at once I use this expression, because the suddenness departure put me in mind of nothing extinguishment of candle by puff breath The upper lip, same time, writhed itself away teeth, which it had previously covered completely; while the lower jaw fell with an audible jerk, leaving the mouth widely extended, and disclosing in full view the swollen and blackened tongue I presume that no member party then present unaccustomed to death-bed horrors; but so hideous beyond conception appearance of M Valdemar moment, that general shrinking back region bed

I now feel that reached point narrative at which every reader startled into positive disbelief my business, however, simply

no longer the faintest sign of vitality in M Valdemar; and concluding him dead, we were consigning him charge nurses, when strong vibratory motion was observable tongue This continued for perhaps minute expiration period, there issued distended and motionless jaws voice -- such as it madness in me to attempt describing , indeed, epithets which considered as applicable ; say, for example, sound was harsh, and broken and hollow; but the hideous whole is indescribable, simple reason that no similar sounds have ever jarred ear of humanity There were two particulars, nevertheless, which then, and still think, might fairly be stated as characteristic intonation -- adapted to convey some idea unearthly peculiarity first place, the voice seemed to reach our ears -- mine -- from vast distance, or from some deep cavern earth second place, it impressed me ( , indeed, impossible myself comprehended) as gelatinous or glutinous matters impress the sense of touch

spoken both of "sound" and of "voice " I mean sound was one of distinct -- of even wonderfully, thrillingly distinct -- syllabification M Valdemar spoke -- obviously in reply question I had propounded to him before I had asked him, remembered, if he still slept He now said:

"Yes; -- no; -- sleeping -- and now -- now -- dead

No person present even affected to deny, or attempted to repress, the unutterable, shuddering horror which these few words, thus uttered, were calculated to convey Mr L -- l (the student) swooned The nurses immediately left the chamber, and induced to return My own impressions pretend to render intelligible reader For nearly an hour, we busied ourselves, silently -- without the utterance of word -- in endeavors to revive Mr L -- l When to himself, we addressed ourselves again to an investigation of M Valdemar's condition

It remained in all respects as last described it, exception mirror no longer afforded evidence of respiration An attempt to draw blood arm failed mention, too, limb was no farther subject to my will I endeavored in vain it follow the direction hand The only real indication, indeed, mesmeric influence, was now found vibratory movement tongue, whenever I addressed M Valdemar question making an effort to reply, but had no longer sufficient volition To queries put to him by person than myself utterly insensible -- although I endeavored each member company in mesmeric rapport I believe that now related all necessary to an understanding sleep-waker's state epoch Other nurses were procured; and at ten o'clock I left the house in company two physicians and Mr L -- l

afternoon we all called again the patient His condition remained precisely the same We had now some discussion propriety and feasibility of awakening him; but we had little difficulty in agreeing that no good purpose served by so doing evident that, , death (or usually termed death) arrested mesmeric process It seemed clear all that to awaken M Valdemar merely to insure his instant, or his speedy dissolution

period until the close of last week -- an interval of nearly seven months -- we continued daily calls at M Valdemar's house, accompanied, , by medical and other friends All the sleeper-waker remained exactly as last described him The nurses' attentions were continual

on Friday last that we finally resolved to experiment of awakening or attempting to awaken him; and (perhaps) unfortunate result latter experiment which rise to discussion in private circles -- to of what help thinking unwarranted popular feeling

of relieving M Valdemar mesmeric trance, use customary passes These, for time, were unsuccessful The first indication of revival was afforded by partial descent iris observed, as especially remarkable, lowering pupil was accompanied profuse out-flowing of yellowish ichor (from beneath the lids) of pungent and highly offensive odor

now suggested that attempt to influence the patient's arm, as heretofore the attempt and failed Dr F -- then intimated desire me put question so, as follows:

"M Valdemar, explain your feelings or wishes now ? "

an instant return hectic circles cheeks; the tongue quivered, or rather rolled violently mouth (although the jaws and lips remained rigid as before;) and the same hideous voice which already described, broke forth:

"For God's sake ! -- quick ! -- quick ! -- put me to sleep -- or, quick ! -- waken me ! -- quick ! -- that dead ! "

thoroughly unnerved, and for an instant remained undecided what At first an endeavor to re-compose the patient; but, failing through total abeyance will, I retraced my steps and as earnestly struggled to awaken him attempt I soon saw that successful -- or I soon fancied that my success complete -- and that all room were prepared the patient awaken

For what really occurred, however, quite impossible that any human being prepared

As I rapidly made the mesmeric passes, amid ejaculations of "dead ! dead ! " absolutely bursting tongue and not lips sufferer, his whole frame at once -- space of single minute, or even less, shrunk -- crumbled -- absolutely rotted away beneath my hands bed, whole company, there lay nearly liquid mass of loathsome -- of detestable putridity