The water level inside the bell jar rises before the candle goes out.
Heating calx produced mercury and a gas that made a candle burn brighter.
When the mercury was heated, calx formed on its surface, and some air had disappeared from the bell jar, causing the liquid level to rise. A candle wouldn't burn in the air that remained.
Heating the calx produced a small amount of mercury, and the volume of air inside the bell jar increased. A candle burned brighter when placed in this air.
"Living Belief" grows, spiraling upward through the Faith Cycle.
"Even if that needle is angled just the slightest degree into the Belief half of the gauge, the Faith Cycle is activated."
However, an inclination towards doubt—skepticism—breaks the connection between evidence and belief."