“Ah, thank you; thank you, kind and good Father,” exclaimed Sarthia, casting herself at the feet of the Hierophant and, with tears streaming from her eyes, kissing the hem of his robe.

“But, truly life is sweet, especially to the young, is it not, my child?” said the Priest, gently raising Sarthia to his side and holding her trembling form in a firm clasp.  “Happily, there is an alternative which we have to offer for your most careful consideration and decision.

“Listen now, and give me your closest attention.  Know you the young Princess Nu-nah?” Sarthia bowed assent.

“For now these many weeks she lies in a semi-conscious condition, the soul hovering about its earthly temple uncertain whether to go or stay.  In some respects her condition corresponds with your own, only that with you, as dissolution approaches, your soul grows brighter and more active, while hers becomes more and more latent; this result being largely the difference of environment—­a contrast of the soul unfoldment possible in Temple life and that amid the distractions of the outside world.

“To-night, the night of the full Moon, the Princess Nu-nah will be brought to the Temple and the Rites performed initiatory to the soul’s great change.  You, also, my child, must bear her company.  The same journey lies before you both and you can go hand in hand through the dark valley of the shadow of death.

“And now, right here is a point where all will depend upon your decision.  It is possible for us, by aid of the arts of Magic known to us, to bring your two souls in such magnetic rapport that at a certain point the vibrations of the two will, for a single instant of time, be in unison.  At that momentous instant the polarity of the two souls can be interchanged so that the subsequent vibrations of your soul will draw you toward Nu-nah’s body, while Nu-nah’s soul will be drawn toward your organism, and thus will be accomplished the first great step in the drama.

“This great change will hasten the physical crisis in each organism.  But your soul, while connected with Nu-nah’s body, can easily overcome the malefic planetary influences which would destroy it if she were there; while her soul in your body renders nil, by its very non-resistance, the influences which would be absolutely fatal were you still there when the evil descends.  And thus do you evade the blind forces of Nature.  Two lives are spared for the duties and experiences of this world.  This will be the second part of the drama, and now comes the third and last point to consider, the Result.

“In just the proportion as this is a most stupendous change in your soul life, so indeed, perhaps, even appalling to your present comprehension, will be the effect.

“After your soul has once entered its new temple it will be obliged to remain there polarized by the new forces set in operation while passing the crisis.  Then, Sarthia, our bright and well-beloved Vestal, will henceforth be known as Princess Nu-nah, and will be obliged for a time to live the life and perform the duties of the Princess.