The narrative revolves around Agatha Verrall, a woman with a mysterious ability to influence the well-being of others through her thoughts and intentions. She is entangled in a complex relationship with Rodney Lanyon, a man tormented by his wife Bella's mental instability. Agatha provides him solace during his weekend escapes from his troubled marriage, and their bond deepens as she discovers her power to heal him through her focused thoughts. As the story unfolds, Agatha's gift becomes a source of both strength and conflict. She successfully helps Rodney recover from his ailments, but her powers also draw the attention of Harding Powell, a man suffering from his own mental afflictions. When the Powells, Harding and his wife Milly, arrive in the same area, Agatha's ability to maintain her connection with Rodney becomes strained. The presence of the Powells complicates her relationship with Rodney, as she fears that her gift may falter under the weight of her emotional entanglements. Agatha's struggle intensifies as she grapples with her feelings for Rodney and the implications of her powers. She realizes that her ability to heal is contingent upon her emotional purity and clarity of intention. However, as she becomes more involved with Harding's case, she begins to lose her grip on her own emotional state, leading to a deterioration in her ability to help either man. The climax of the story occurs when Agatha's fear and emotional turmoil manifest in a way that threatens her gift. She becomes aware that her connection to Harding is becoming dangerously intertwined with her bond to Rodney, leading to a potential loss of control over her powers. In a desperate attempt to regain her clarity, she resolves to cut off her connection to Harding, believing that this will restore her ability to help Rodney. Ultimately, Agatha's journey is one of self-discovery and the realization that her powers come with significant responsibilities. The narrative explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of human relationships, culminating in Agatha's understanding that true healing requires not only the purity of intention but also the courage to confront one's own vulnerabilities. The story concludes with Agatha recognizing the flaw in her crystal, symbolizing the delicate balance between her powers and the emotional ties that bind her to those she seeks to help.
By May Sinclair · First published 1921 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Modernist Fiction · 13 chapters