Then, too, I saw wild eddies of matter taking shape, of a subtlety that is as far beyond any known earthly conditions of matter as steam is above frozen stone.  Great tornadoes whirled and poised; globes of spinning fire flew off on distant errands of their own, as when the heavens were made; and I saw, too, the crash of world with world, when satellites that had lost their impetus drooped inwards upon some central sun, and merged themselves at last with a titanic leap.  All this enacted itself before me, while life itself flew like a pulse from system to system, never diminished, never increased, withdrawn from one to settle on another.  All this I saw and knew.

III

I thought I could never be satiated by this infinite procession of wonders.  But at last there rose in my mind, like a rising star, the need to be alone no longer.  I was passing through a kind of heavenly infancy; and just as a day comes when a child puts out a hand with a conscious intention, not merely a blind groping, but with a need to clasp and caress, or answers a smile by a smile, a word by a purposeful cry, so in a moment I was aware of some one with me and near me, with a heart and a nature that leaned to mine and had need of me, as I of him.  I knew him to be one who had lived as I had lived, on the earth that was ours,—­lived many lives, indeed; and it was then first that I became aware that I had myself lived many lives too.  My human life, which I had last left, was the fullest and clearest of all my existences; but they had been many and various, though always progressive.  I must not now tell of the strange life histories that had enfolded me—­they had risen in dignity and worth from a life far back, unimaginably elementary and instinctive; but I felt in a moment that my new friend’s life had been far richer and more perfect than my own, though I saw that there were still experiences ahead of both of us; but not yet.  I may describe his presence in human similitudes, a presence perfectly defined, though apprehended with no human sight.  He bore a name which described something clear, strong, full of force, and yet gentle of access, like water.  It was just that; a thing perfectly pure and pervading, which could be stained and troubled, and yet could retain no defilement or agitation; which a child could scatter and divide, and yet was absolutely powerful and insuperable.  I will call him Amroth.  Him, I say, because though there was no thought of sex left in my consciousness, his was a courageous, inventive, masterful spirit, which gave rather than received, and was withal of a perfect kindness and directness, love undefiled and strong.  The moment I became aware of his presence, I felt him to be like one of those wonderful, pure youths of an Italian picture, whose whole mind is set on manful things, untroubled by the love of woman, and yet finding all the world intensely gracious and beautiful, full of