Not sure if reading this right, the top part is the question, and 1and2 are possible solutions?
Step one, is to make sure the battery is fully charged and in good shape, if it is old/weak you will get a few good cranks and then nothing.
Two- when checking for spark, I never hold anything, I usually use a vise grip to hold the spark plug to the block ( I hate shocks, even hate the thought of a shock)
other than the usual, checking the condition of the plugs, gap etc. I found with my PH I had a bad ground where the wire came through the casing of the distributor (on a post). I changed, plugs, condenser, coil as I had intermittment and weak spark. Finally I saw that the bakelite insulator had broken off, I used the plastic from a disposal pen to make a small insulated tube, stuck into into the distrubutor and started. Still running today