inspiration, has, as it were, seized Earth like a full goblet of wine, and quaffed its beauties, its pleasures, its loves, its glories all in one burning draught of song! ... when I have stood in thought on the shadowy peaks of time, waiting for other worlds to string like beads on my thread of poesy,—­when wondrous creatures habited in light and wreathed with stars have floated round and round me in rosy circles of fire,—­and once, methought ... ’twas long ago now—­I heard a Voice distinct and sweet that called me upward, onward and away, I know not where,—­save that a hidden Love awaited me!” He broke off with a rapt almost angelic expression in his eyes, then sighing a little he resumed:  “All dreams of course! ... vague phantoms,—­ creations of my own imaginative brain,—­yet fair enough to fill my heart with speechless longings for ethereal raptures unseen, unknown!  Thou hast, methinks, a certain faith in the unsolved mysteries,—­but I have none,—­for sweet as the promise of a future life may seem, there is no proof that it shall ever be.  If one died and rose again from the dead, then might we all believe and hope.. but otherwise ...”

Oh, miserable Theos!—­What would he not have given to utter aloud the burning knowledge that ate into his mind like slow-devouring fire!  Again mute! ... again oppressed by that strange swelling at the heart that threatened to break forth in stormy sobs of penitence and prayer!  Instinctively he drew Sah-luma closer to his side—­his breath came thick and fast.. he struggled with all his might to speak the words ...  “One has died and risen from the dead!”—­but not a syllable could he form of the desired sentence!

“Thou shalt live again, Sah-luma!” was all he could say in low, half-smothered accents—­“Thou hast within thee a flame that cannot perish!”

Again Sah-luma’s eyes dwelt upon him with a curious, appealing tenderness.

“Thy words savor of sweet consolation! ...” he said half gayly, half sadly.  “May they be fulfilled!  And if indeed there is a brighter world than this beyond the skies, I fancy thou and I will know each other, there as here, and be somewhat close companions!  See!”—­and he pointed to a small green hillock that rose up like a shining emerald from the darker foliage of the surrounding trees—­ “Yonder is my point of vantage whence we shall behold the sun go down like a warrior sinking on the red field of battle, the chimes are ringing even now for his departure,—­listen!”

They stood still for a space, while the measured, swinging cadence of bells came pealing through the stillness,—­bells of every tone, that smote the air with soft or loud resonance as the faint wind wafted the sounds toward them,—­and then they began to climb the little hill, Sah-luma walking somewhat in advance, with a tread as light and elastic as that of a young fawn.