 " Per Manum " is the thirteenth episode of the eighth season of the American science fiction television series The X @-@ Files . It premiered on the Fox network on February 18 , 2001 . Written by Frank Spotnitz and series creator Chris Carter , and directed by Kim Manners , the episode helps to explore the series ' overarching mythology . " Per Manum " received a Nielsen rating of 9 @.@ 4 and was watched by 9 @.@ 61 million households . Overall , the episode received mostly positive reviews from critics . 
