de l'ester—good morning, madame. we are delighted to find you in such a favorable mental and physical state. yes, dr. merthel, white cloud and your humble servant gave you a treatment last night, and we were somewhat amused at your idea that suddenly your room had grown very warm. hereafter, when you shall perceive white, vaporish clouds drifting or falling over your closed eyelids, you may feel assured that white cloud is paying you a visit fraught with beneficence. yes, when properly administered, invariably magnetization produces in the recipient a sense of warmth and increased vigor. but your son, with our band, awaits us at a point near roûva̤, and we must hasten our departure. george, allow me to assist madame. we regret that we find it necessary to still further change our original programme, which included views of the extreme northern and southern portions of the planet. events are so shaping themselves that until after the culmination of our mission and your recovery from the effects of the ordeal to which presently we must subject you, we must defer this feature of our purposes. be not disturbed; rest assured that we will see to it that you shall not be tried beyond endurance.

gentola—i am not in the least alarmed, but when i think of a cessation of continuous association with my dear lad and you, my dear friends, like a shadow a sense of sad

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ness and loneliness steals over me, and i shrink from the coming——

de l'ester—no more; say no more; your every thought is apparent to us, and this emotion endangers your safety. we, better than you have been able to count the cost of this to you strange and engrossing experience. all along we have known that to a degree it would unfit you for the common avocations of your mortal existence, and for this reason, for the time being, we have induced in your mind a state of forgetfulness, but when the proper time shall arrive you will be made to recall all that has occurred during the pursuance of our mission, and you will recall it without pain or regret, and as the years of your mortal existence shall pass, we will be with you, not as now, but in a manner that will add to your interest in the affairs of your daily life.

ah, our friends have not awaited our arrival, but are coming to meet us. loha̤û; loha̤û; onos isson ē twa̤, ēmanos. (hail, hail; we welcome you, friends.) bernard, you find your mother in a sad mood, and you will comfort her, and you, robert, will improvise a song in which we may join; thus we may restore our disturbed harmony.

robert—

from a faraway shore come the notes of a song,

its music in waves of sweet melody falling,

are drifting, are drifting the bright way along,

from the homes where our dear ones are calling, are calling.

refrain.

we are waiting for you, we are watching for you,

as your boat drifts along toward our fair, shining shore,

and when earth's troubled scenes shall recede from your view,

we will greet you where sorrow shall come nevermore.

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our souls thrill with joy, as the glad notes come swelling

from the lips of our loved ones, so fond and so true,

hear you not the sweet message their voices are telling,

we are waiting, yes, waiting, and watching for you.

refrain.

we are waiting for you, we are watching for you,

as your boat drifts along toward our fair, shining shore,

and when earth's troubled scenes shall recede from your view,

we will greet you where sorrow shall come nevermore.

de l'ester—ah, now you are smiling; the shadows have flown, and you are serene. thus may it ever be until the shadowy veil falling between the seeming and real world shall be lifted and you shall join the loving, joyous band who are ever waiting and watching for you.

now we will journey eastward. in all directions the lands are somewhat broken by low plateaus, the vestiges of mountain ranges or of spurs of mountain ranges, and at intervals we catch views of existing mountains of no great altitude. the lands lying between the plateaus, although not thoroughly irrigated, are more or less fertile, and northward and southward are scantily timbered lands and inconsiderable streams, both of which are rare features of ento's equatorial natural scenery. speaking of irrigation reminds me of something that i have desired to mention. through telescopic observations, one of earth's foremost astronomers is inclined to believe that the entoans (marsians) have resorted to irrigation. to him and to another illumined scientific man, who, i am proud to say, is my countryman, you will convey this message: "gentlemen, to your vision your telescopes convey faint, and generally misleading gleams of what may be facts,

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but in the instance mentioned, i assure you that the surmise is entirely correct, and inevitably a period will arrive when earth, like ento, will require the same treatment." indeed, it is not too much to say that already the inception of the period has arrived, and as the centuries pass it will grow more and more apparent, and were earth's peoples as wise as some time they will be, they would value the ounce of prevention beyond the pound of cure.

flammarion, my countryman, i greet you, not as one greets a stranger, but as one co-worker greets another. ofttimes, son of our beloved france, while you have striven to learn the secrets of our glowing central sun, or to read the hither side of the inscrutable face of earth's shining satellite, or when through the hours of quiet nights you have sought to wrest from illimitable starry spaces the meaning of the universe, i, with others interested in your life work, have been by your side, striving to assist your aspiring soul, and be assured that when you again shall come into the realm of causes, you will find the reward of your loving, patient labor, of your aspiring, exalted endeavor.

and you, son of a land whose deeds of good and of ill have been sung by lips more tuneful than are mine, with kindest thoughts i and those with me greet you. when, with questioning eyes and reverent soul, you too, have gazed into the immeasurable distances, in whose depths countless worlds, peopled and unpeopled, move in stately order toward their allotted destiny, not i alone, or this grand spirit, giordano bruno, whose ashes attested to the steadfastness of his integrity and hallow the soil of italy with the sacredness of martyrdom for truth's sake, but others yet more exalted, have held vigil with you, when you have been alone with the night, with the world invisible to mortal ken, and with the all pervading, infinite

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intelligent energy, known by many names. may success crown your ceaseless endeavors to discern, not to obscure, truth, is the earnest desire of your co-worker, carl de l'ester, and of those with me, who, like yourself, are workers for love's sake.

now, gentola̤, direct your gaze far, far toward the northeast. yes, that is the right direction. do you perceive anything peculiar?

gentola—afar i see a body of water so extensive that my vision does not reach the farther shore. a silvery vapor partly obscures the view, but as we draw nearer i see the water sparkling in the sunlight, and over its slightly disturbed surface vessels great and small are passing in all directions. as we approach still nearer i perceive that from its eastern shore gradually the ground rises to quite an elevated plateau, and through the mist, which really is a gentle shower of rain, upon which the sun is shining, i seem to perceive tints of all the colors of a rainbow. i should have said hints rather than tints, for they are mere suggestions of color. the shower has ceased, and—dear me, a great city covers the slope and extends away across the plateau. what a strangely peculiar scene. is it real, or is it a mirage?

de l'ester—we will go nearer, and you shall decide. a little lower, george. now look and describe the view.

gentola—as before, i see a great expanse of water, which, as far as my vision reaches, is inclosed by a wall so broad that the top of it is a roadway on which people are walking and motor vehicles are passing to and fro. the top of the wall is quite above the level of the water, and on the farther side are massive buildings which appear to be warehouses and manufactories. the first street away from the water is very wide, beautifully paved and appears to be devoted to business purposes. the second street is

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parallel with the first, and from it the city is terraced upward to the level of the plateau. all the streets cross at right angles, and they are so wide, so well paved and kept that it is a pleasure to look at them. on the crest of the plateau illuminating columns, domes, turrets and lofty structures of various kinds are outlined against the now cloudless sky. tramway cars and motor vehicles swiftly climb the ascending streets to the wide, level ways of the city. in all directions air transports, like huge birds, are passing through the quiet air. on the streets are many people, walking or riding in tramway cars or in motor vehicles, and on the outgoing or incoming vessels are many passengers. altogether the scene is very animated. the city itself is indescribably and peculiarly beautiful. from its front upward and throughout its extent there is a sort of diffusion of color resembling the tints of a fading rainbow. now a passing cloud partly obscures the sun, and the tints deepen into positive color. the effect is charming but bewildering, and to me so inexplicable that i shall feel obliged if some one will inform me concerning it.

de l'ester—phoemadon, the body of water bathing the feet of the far famed bendolû iffon, which in your language would mean rainbow hued, is little less extensive than is indoloisa̤. by the entoans it is regarded as an inland sea, but it is so slightly saline as to serve the city for all domestic and other purposes. properly it is a lake, its depth varying with the season, for during the spring, when melting polar and snows of more temperate climes flow over the face of the planet, yonder great seawall scarcely restrains its increased volume. the plateau upon which bendolû-iffon is built is a remnant of a mountain which in a bygone age reared its lofty peaks along the entire length of phoemadon, then curving in a northwesterly direction lost itself very near the north

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pole. zenesta̤, mon ami, in all that relates to your planet you are better informed than am i. will you kindly devote some moments to our enlightenment?

zenesta hao—always your pleasure is mine. bendolû-iffon is one of the oldest cities of ento. through a study of historical works, personal investigation, and an acquaintance with ancient ento spirits, i have learned that its origin dates back to a period anterior to the establishment of the government under one supreme ruler. previous to this period the various countries of ento were ruled by might, each ruler with his people occupying either an offensive or defensive attitude. naturally the results of such a condition were inharmonious, yet strangely enough out of such inharmony bendolû-iffon came into existence. notwithstanding its apparent newness it is not built upon the ruins of an ancient city. not at all. despite its age, it never has been in a ruinous state, its inhabitants ever having considered it a sacred obligation to maintain it at its best. although it is built upon rock, everywhere are towering trees, shrubbery, climbing vines and a wealth of blooming plants. chiefly through extensive excavations, filled with soil, this has been brought about; indeed largely the surface soil of lawns and gardens has been borrowed from elsewhere. from phoemadon the city receives a plenteous water supply, and the climate of this region being all that can be desired, vegetation grows luxuriantly. were we less pressed for time, you, gentola̤, and your son would find much of interest in the really wonderful system of water supply of this rainbow hued city. no, no other city of ento exhibits this peculiar color effect, and the story of its origin may serve to interest you. unlike many historical and legendary narratives the story is absolutely true, the proofs of its integrity being indisputably evident.

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during a period antecedent to the establishment of the national government, azokēon, king of ra̤ûhû, was at enmity with mēdos, king of tsirma, and out of the angry impulses of the two sovereigns grew bitter strife and warfare. again and again, fierce relentless battles were fought, and in both armies so many were slain that at length both sovereigns grew alarmed lest complete extinction of their subjects might result, or, that what was more to be feared, other rulers perceiving their exhausted state, might take advantage of it to subjugate them, even as they sought to subjugate each other. finally mutual adversity brought about a mutual desire for reconciliation, and that they might amicably adjust their real, or fancied grievances, a conference was agreed upon, and at a specified time the sovereigns with their armies met on the crest of this plateau, across which was the boundary line between their two kingdoms.

the morning of the day set apart for the conference was fine and clear, the radiance from andûmana̤'s abode bathing the home of his children as in a sea of light. with an exchange of courteous greetings the conference was opened, but as it proceeded, each sovereign inclining toward his own interests, demanded more than either one was willing to concede to the other, and ere long their hostile minds threatened the conference with a disastrous conclusion. suddenly ominous clouds swiftly climbed up from the western horizon, and a strange stillness, like that preceding the dread approach of phra (death) hushed all things into frightened silence. over land and sea fell a ghastly shadow, deep as twilight, and in terrified dismay, sovereigns and soldiery gazed into each other's eyes. swiftly the tumultuous, inky clouds rushed across the sky, and fitful gusts of wind stirred all things into motion. blinding lightning set the lurid air ablaze, and thunder

[pg 481]

so terrific, that it shook the foundations of ento, attested to the anger of the incensed deities. then an unprecedented storm, in all its fury, burst upon the two armies, and so fierce was the lightning that many were stricken dead. blinding torrents of rain fell from the dark, angry clouds, and mad gusts of wind swept across the rocky plateau, hurling confused masses of camp equipage and soldiery down the slope and into the surging waves of phoemadon. above the rushing, roaring fury of the tempest, arose the shrieks, groans and prayers of the terror stricken, unsheltered men who were powerless against the terrific onslaught of the elements, and the two sovereigns being equally endangered, were overwhelmed with awe and despair, recognizing that their iniquities had brought upon them and their inoffensive people the just vengeance of andûmana̤ and the deific ones. in their dire extremity they implored the divine messengers to entreat andûmana̤ to stay his wrath lest phra should utterly destroy them and their armies. azokēon, the sovereign of ra̤ûhû, being a man of high courage, fine character and very devout, with hands upraised toward andûmana̤'s obscured abode, cried aloud, "creator and preserver, and at thy will, destroyer of the work of thy hands, sovereign of sovereigns, god of all gods, and father of thy righteous and unrighteous children, i beseech thee to listen to thy humbly repentant son, who in taking vengeance into mine own hands have impiously offended thee. destroy me, oh destroy me utterly, but spare thy unoffending children, who at my command and that of mēdos, have striven to slay each other. for shame, that we have forgotten that we are brothers, we cover our faces and implore thy mercy." then, as in trembling expectancy, he awaited the dread touch of phra's icy fingers, mēdos clasped him about his knees, crying in piteous tones, "andûmana̤, i, too, have grievously sinned

[pg 482]

against thee. destroy me too, if it may please thee, for it is i, not my people, who foolishly have forgotten thy commandments. it is azokēon and i who have forgotten that ento and ento's children are thine, and that all men are our brothers. for him and for myself i implore thy mercy, and thy pardon, and henceforth, as we may do unto others, so do thou unto us;" and azokēon's raû, raû, raû, was as fervent as his own. while they prayed the awful tempest raged, and the face of nature was as a distorted mask, then as suddenly as the tempest had burst upon the assembled armies, so suddenly came a lull in its activities, and presently the fierce turmoil subsided into comparative quiet, and slowly from his shining abode, andûmana̤ drew away the dark cloud drapery, and a glorious effulgence irradiated the woful scene of the prostrate and stricken armies. at the same moment the archway to the entrance of astranola̤ became visible to the eyes of the adoring sovereigns and their soldiery. stooping, azokēon raised mēdos to his feet, and as with extended arms and uplifted faces, they reverently gazed upon the gloriously beautiful archway, azokēon's trembling lips brokenly murmured, "to thee, thou supreme one, who art all seeing, all knowing, and to thy messengers the deific ones, to whom the thoughts and deeds of men are known, we, azokēon and mēdos, vow that as through thy pitying love for thy erring children, thou hast not utterly destroyed us and our people, but hast shown to us the glorious archway, the sign that thy displeasure is turned away from us, we, on this spot, will build cities which shall be a memorial of thy mercy to us, and a perpetual reminder that henceforth we and our people, side by side, shall dwell in peace and unity;" and with fervor mēdos responded, "as azokēon hath said, so may it be, and should

[pg 483]

i fail in the performance of this vow, may the gods visit upon me and mine swift and certain destruction."

thus through the dread visitation of an unparalleled tempest, those two conscience stricken and humbled sovereigns arrived at an amicable adjustment of their several differences, and thereafter they not only sustained toward each other harmonious relations, but remembering their mutual vow to andûmana̤ and his messengers, at once they set about its fulfillment. we now will move to a more central position over the city.

beneath us now is a stupendous column, whose dimensions exceed those of the loftiest light towers of ento, its coloring being quite as peculiar as that of the edifices of the city. from base to capital, the stones of which it is composed represent all the colors of the rainbow, but so delicate are the tones that they are more pearly suggestions of, than positive colors. when at nightfall those two great arches on its apex are aglow with iridescent lights, the effect is enchantingly beautiful. i have mentioned that the conference was held on the boundary line separating the two kingdoms, and on the spot where they had learned their wisdom lesson, azokēon and mēdos reared the memorial column, which to this day is one of the noted objects of ento. do i believe that andûmana̤ inflicted the tempest upon them for the special purpose of affording them much needed lessons of humility and mutual forbearance? certainly not, but i do believe that every mortal experience is fraught with beneficence for those wise enough to comprehend the plainly expressed laws of the infinite one, who is the embodiment of unerring, unchanging law.

the wide avenue in which the column stands was the line of division between the two kingdoms, and peace having been declared, azokēon and mēdos, in fulfillment of their

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vow, began the erection of the two cities which should be so closely adjoined as to present the appearance of one city, and which ever should be known as bendolû-iffon tylûsa̤a̤ (rainbow hued cities).

in this region, as in others of ento, there are quarries of most beautiful marbles and stones, and in numerous caverns there are great deposits of what to the entoans is known as ingloita̤, possessing a range of exquisite colorings. these varied materials were and still are used in the construction of bendolû-iffon. some persons might question the taste of azokēon and mēdos in building iridescent cities, but to them the accomplishment in a marked manner of their vow to andûmana̤ and the gods was the all important matter. in pursuance of this object they issued a joint decree that thenceforth and forever all persons erecting structures in bendolû-iffon tylûsa̤a̤ must build in harmony with the coloring of the memorial column, and thus far the decree has been observed. on the base of the column is inscribed the story of the war, of the storm, of the vow of azokēon and mēdos, of the appearing of the sign of peace, of the reconciliation of the two sovereigns, and of the decree which should perpetually be observed lest andûmana̤ might avenge himself for the infidelity of his children of bendolû-iffon tylûsa̤a̤.

at that time the religion of the entoans included much that was deplorably irrational and superstitious, but you who have come to understand that the spiritual or real man and the natural or animal man sustain toward each other a most complex relation, are aware that superstition is wholly of the lower or physical plane of being. as the dual man creature evolves into finer conditions the ego, the spiritual self, is better able to manifest its higher attributes, thus, though the entoans still observe the superstitious beliefs of their religion, spiritually they have out

[pg 485]

grown them, and at a fitting opportunity gladly they will discard them and quickly they will manifest that despite ancient usages, priestly influences, fear of the deific ones and a lack of knowledge concerning the continuity of existence, they are a spiritualized people. yes, superstitions become involved in the mentality of humans, forming what may be termed hereditary tendencies or traits. fear being a most forceful trait of the entoans, no one has dared, or perhaps cared, to act in opposition to the decree chiselled in yonder majestic column, and not until the new religion shall have dispelled old superstitious beliefs will the entoans venture upon freedom of thought and conduct which we trust will not lead to the effacement of the unique beauty of bendolû-iffon tylûsa̤a̤, which long has been known as bendolû-iffon, for when the government became centralized, kingdoms went out of fashion and the two cities became one.

de l'ester—we are pleased that you and bernard are as charmed as ourselves with this matchlessly lovely iridescent city, and we, too, will hope that a lessening belief in imaginary gods and other superstitions may not lead to a modernizing of its unique features. yes, earth contains marbles and stones presenting the same colorings, but they are not likely to serve architectural purposes, at least not to the extent of building of them an entire city. we cannot now devote further time to bendolû-iffon, but our future is all before us, so we only will say to it au revoir, for ere long we will return and you, gentola̤, and this interested lad will be with us.

now we will journey toward yoitan-dylû (tempest tossed), which lies directly eastward. it is a long, narrow, very salt sea, and it is the most tempestuous water of the planet. once it was a great body of water, but gradually during passing centuries it has so decreased in extent and

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depth as to have become one of ento's smaller salt seas. a little higher, george. now glance backward. is not the scene wonderfully beautiful? over the receding city and over the ruffled surface of phoemadon a luminous, opalescent veil has fallen and the scene is vanishing, vanishing, and now—it is gone.

in a certain locality on the northern shore of yoitan-dylû we will find our friend sylvian, who will inform us of affairs at da̤o. yes, we were there this morning and perceived that the hour of valloa̤'s departure is very nigh. why do not we go there at once? for the reason that it would not be well to subject you to the powerful influences concentrating there. were you physically strong we might venture to do so; as it is, your vitality must be conserved for a special occasion.

inland about four english miles from yoitan-dylû are the noted ruins of an ancient city whose principal features are several immense statues. very ancient ento spirits say that the now arid regions surrounding the ruins of a great city were in their time sufficiently productive for the sustenance of a large agricultural population, but for many centuries they have not been inhabitable. the name of the city was tena̤va̤h, and once the waves of yoitan-dylû tumultuously rushed to its very feet, and to it at stated times, from all over the planet, came multitudes of people to offer and to witness sacrifices to andûmana̤ and the lesser deities. when we shall have reached the ruins zenesta̤ will tell us something concerning them. yes, the underlying lands present the same desolate appearance as others that we have traversed. here and there springs of pure water well up, supplemented by deep borings which furnish a limited water supply, rendering somewhat productive small areas of land, which afford a precarious subsistence for small communities of frugal and industrious

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people, but were it not that the general government keeps over these isolated peoples a paternal supervision they would not be able to sustain themselves. a special air transport service holds them in touch with other portions of the planet, bearing to them such commodities as they require, in turn carrying away the surplusage of their several industries. as it is the fixed policy of the general government to carry the irrigating and waterways system around the planet, in time these fertile localities will become a part of the system. no, it will not be very long before this will occur, for by far the heaviest portion of the stupendous work already is accomplished. owing to the many rocky formations existing between camarissa̤ and etzoina̤ loisa̤ the undertaking thus far has been very arduous, the remaining work will be far easier of accomplishment. indoloisa̤, etzoina̤, phoemadon, yoitan-dylû and other bodies of water lying within the area of the system will obviate the necessity of excavations for the waterways. through hydraulic and mechanical engineering all bodies of salt water are kept within their own bounds, only fresh water being permitted to flow in the waterways and irrigating canals.

slowly, george, and we will descend a little. gentola̤, what do you now see?

gentola—upon an immense oblong platform, which is quite elevated above the level of the sandy plain, i see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven enormously large statues. on the raised centre of the platform is a statue very much larger than the others. its proportions are indeed gigantic, and its form and features are so finely modelled, so majestically beautiful that it seems incredible that mortals could have fashioned it. above the forehead of this colossal statue is a golden sun, its rays set close with jewels which gleam and scintillate as though endued with life.

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in its extended right hand is a great cluster of golden rodels, and in the less extended, partly closed left hand is what appears to be a large golden egg. the other statues are very beautiful; three are male and three are female figures, at whose feet are altars in the form of great oblong basins. why is it that the platform, the altars and the statues are so perfectly preserved and only fragmentary ruins of the great city remain?

zenesta—before replying to your question allow me to say that the founding of this ruined city antedated the establishment of the national government and religion, and that aside from what has been learned through the inscriptions on the base of the platform and on the altars to the entoans of to-day, its history is little more than legendary. on our side of life we possess its authentic history. that you and bernard may obtain a clearer view of the statues we will descend.

now you perceive that though the foundation of the platform is of stone its upper portion upon which the statues stand is of a non-corrosive metal known as sauva̤. the central figure represents andûmana̤, the supreme one. the three female figures on his right, and the three male figures on his left hand, are deific ones of astranola̤. yes, the coloring of the statues is very fine. enamelling is an art in which the entoans excel. observe that the statues are composed of sections so nicely adjusted as to be nearly imperceptible. de l'ester says that the metal is very like what you term bronze.

as briefly as possible i will relate somewhat of the history of the ruined city and of the temple of which this great altar and these wonderfully fine statues were features. yes, this that you have thought a platform is an altar.

at a period when the equatorial regions were yet to a degree fertile kēhoivas edda, the sovereign of the most

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powerful nation of ento, resolved to build on this spot a magnificent temple and altar of sacrifice to the supreme one and his chiefest messengers, and in pursuance of this resolve he issued a proclamation, requesting all other sovereigns to join him in this pious undertaking. at this time, between the various races of ento, wars were of frequent occurrence, and kēhoivas edda proposed that during the building of the temple, and thereafter at stated periods, all wars and animosities of whatever nature for a certain number of days should cease, that thus all of andûmana̤'s children might pass to and from the temple to their own places without fear of molestation. calling upon andûmana̤ and his messengers to bear witness to his sincerity he declared that for all time the temple, which should be known as infadoihan-lûvētas (place of sacrifice), should belong to the several nations of ento. kēhoivas edda, being the most powerful sovereign of ento, and his purpose a most pious one, his proposal received universal acceptance, and very soon from all parts of ento came a multitude of artisans and laborers to assist in the building of the temple. each nation contributing according to its means, quickly vast treasure and material for the undertaking accumulated and within two ento years the great temple reared its majestic beauty above the loftiest structures of the wide spreading city.

during the building of the temple, and for many succeeding years, almost universal peace prevailed, and through many centuries the fires of those great altars consumed many, many victims of the dread superstitions of perverted religious ideas. could these mute statues relate the story of the tragedies enacted upon their altars, we would turn away in horror from their recitals of scenes upon which loving, pitiful spirits once gazed and wept. you perceive that each statue has its own altar upon which special

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sacrifices were offered. on the altar of the statue representing andûmana̤ the supreme one, the fairest and dearest of ento's youths and maidens were sacrificed. on the altars of his six servitors animals set apart for the sacred purpose were burned. other altars, no longer in existence, scarcely sufficed to contain the profusion of precious things and of grains, fruits and flowers offered for the purpose of securing the kind offices of the gods and goddesses of astranola̤. happily all this is of a bygone day, and even the ruins of the grandest temple of that ancient time have nearly disappeared. the massive walls, the towering dome, the many huge columns, the great interior, enriched by all that treasure could command or art could produce, all, all, long since have been scattered abroad or buried beneath the shifting sands of this desert waste. only these indestructible statues, the great altar supporting them, with here and there a broken column or a fragment of sculpture hints of the vanished glories of infa̤doiha̤n lûvēta̤s and of the great city tena̤va̤h.

previous to the building of the temple, and for centuries afterward, the entoans scarcely realized the increasing aridity of the soil of the equatorial countries. thus while they gloried in and bore to the altars of their great and beautiful temple their most valued possessions, the already greatly lowered mountains were growing less majestic, elevations imperceptibly were becoming levelled, valleys were being filled to the level of the plains, and flowing streams were being lost or diverted from their courses. the changes of centuries are as the long, long thoughts of the infinite mind. they go forward, perhaps almost imperceptibly, but they go forward.

thus in time the region about tena̤va̤h grew infertile, and gradually the population drew away to more favorable lands. the multitudes who, during many centuries, had

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journeyed to the temple to worship and to offer sacrifices, gradually ceased their attendance. the altar fires which, during centuries, had glowed incessantly, burned fitfully, then died away and the temple fell into disuse, then into decay, its treasures serving for the enrichment of other shrines. with disuse of the temple, tena̤va̤h became entirely deserted, and for centuries past its ruins have found sepulture beneath the shifting sands, which, ere long, through the influence of the beneficent system, will yield up many buried pages of its history.

now i will reply to your question. these statues are regarded with such reverential awe that ever the priesthood have protested against their removal elsewhere, and the government sees to it that at stated times competent persons are dispatched to this lonely spot to clear away drifting sands and to keep them and the altars in perfect repair.

from entoans who recently have come into our spirit realms, we learn that when the system shall have reached this locality, on this spot the government will erect another temple. is it too much to hope for, too much to expect, that it will be dedicated to the one whose chiefest attribute is love?

de l'ester—we will hope that it may be so. this we know, that no more on these altars will the crime of human sacrifice be perpetrated. these survivals of a tragic past do well to observe perpetual silence, for if they might even whisper the story of the atrocities committed in their names, the more enlightened, gentler entoans of to-day would shrink from it in horror.

now we must be up and away. gentola̤, of all the scenes you have observed, none, i think, have appeared so utterly lonely, so pathetically forsaken as this verdureless plain

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and those sombre, gigantic statues standing like silent sentinels over the buried city and temple.

we now will follow northward the western shore of yoitan-dylû, and shortly we will arrive at some irrigated lands and an inconsiderable and rather modern city named crysta̤ fûyon, the name of its founder, and it is the capital city of this province, a-shinoh. yes, those green, luxuriant growths are in strong contrast to the adjoining desert lands. no, they are not irrigated by the water of yoitan-dylû. you forget that it is a salt sea. to procure water for irrigation and for the service of the city, crysta̤ fûyon instituted a system of artesian wells, which was not difficult of accomplishment, as at no great depth, even under desert lands, there is an abundance of water.

george, for a few moments we will pause here. yes, it is an attractive scene. in the near distance is yoitan-dylû, on whose foam capped waves vessels of various kinds are tossing on their ways, and on its hither shore is white crysta̤ fûyon, with its beautiful snowy temple and many fine structures. on its landward side the city and its pretty suburban homes are surrounded by the luxuriant greenery of grains, grasses, fruit-bearing and other trees, and a wealth of blooming shrubs, vines and plants. certainly crysta̤ fûyon, the founder of the city and of the irrigating system which has reclaimed many miles of arid lands, deserves high praise for his efforts. oh, yes, for over half an ento century he has been on the spirit side, yet his interest in the city and its fortunes is unabated. ah, sylvian and inidora̤ are coming to meet us.

inidora—lohaû, lohaû, ēmanos.

de l'ester—hail, and a loving welcome for you, dear friends.

sylvian—and for you all our hearts speak a fond greeting. no, we have not long awaited your coming, but long

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enough for inidora̤ to relate to my willing ears the story of his unlooked for finding of his other self and his attempts to establish a mutual rapport, in which, happily, to a degree, he has succeeded. what word do i bring you from da̤o? it is that for the present your journeyings must cease. valloa̤ is about to pass into our spirit realms, and in anticipation of the event which can no longer be delayed, a vast number of our friends of many planetary spirit realms have assembled to witness and to aid in the anticipated successful culmination of our mission. that it will be successful we no longer doubt. valloa̤ and dano now fully realize that life does not end with death of the body, and in a measure this assurance assuages the sorrow of their approaching brief separation. for omanos fûnha̤ there is but one step to be taken, when gladly he, too, will embrace the faith that will assure him of the existence of another world, where he will find his dear ones. unconsciously he and many others are shrinking away from the old dread beliefs, and light from spirit realms is penetrating their consciousness and inspiring them with the hope that at last andûmana̤ has heard their importunate cries and is about to grant them continuous existence.

valloa̤ now scarcely animates her physical body, and like an imprisoned bird she struggles for freedom, yet even as she tries to escape, her beautiful eyes, full of love and pity, turn to her despairing father, then upon her grief stricken lover, dano andûlēsa̤, who kneels by her couch murmuring words of tenderness and covering her cold hands with tears and kisses. his spirit vision has grown very clear and as in bewilderment he gazes upon the partially freed valloa̤, then upon the wasted form he so long has adored, in piteous tones he cries, "valloa̤, valloa̤, whither goest thou? i see thee, and thou art escaping from thy body, and thou art not dead. oh, thou dread mystery death, take me,

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oh take me too, for wheresoever my love may go, i, too, would go." then again he cries, "woman, woman of another world, come to me, come to me. thou didst promise that in the supreme hour of trial thou wouldst come to me. oh, come and teach to me the meaning of death." and thus the pitiful scene repeats itself, and the change is very near.

gentola̤, the time has arrived for our departure for da̤o, and soon in the presence of omanos fûnha̤ and those about him, you, through the departing valloa̤ and her affianced, prince dano, will proclaim the glad tidings that death of the physical body affords release of the immortal spirit. that life is unending, and that in a world unseen of mortal eyes all surely will find their loved ones whom they had mourned as having gone into eternal silence.

among those about the couch of valloa̤ is ozynas dûlsa̤, the most high priest of the temple zim, which you may know is the most sacred of ento's temples. through purity of life and most ascetic habits this most high priest has to an unusual degree developed the senses of clairvoyance and clairaudience, and when he shall come to understand their real meaning he will become a powerful force in the introduction of the new religion. perhaps you are aware that all humans possess these senses, and that under favorable conditions all may exercise them. no, the case of this priest is not exceptional. all high priests are chosen for the position because of their supposed ability to hold converse with the deific ones. that they hold converse with discarnated spirits is true, and naturally you may wonder why they and the peoples have not learned of the continuity of existence. the reason is obvious. since ancient times a harsh, unyielding religious creed has held in bondage both priests and peoples, and lest the gods might call them to a fearful account for their impiety, none have dared to assail it. such spirit communications as from time to time the

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priests have received, if opposed to the creed, have been dismissed as mere hallucinations, but when in harmony with the creed they have been regarded as of divine origin. without such intervention as our mission proposes this unhappy condition must indefinitely continue, but when, through such evidence as the mission will offer, omanos fûnha̤ and those nearest him shall have accepted the new faith, the way will be made clear for priests and peoples to follow the light which shall lead them into ways of greater happiness than ever they have dreamed of.

ozynas dûlsa̤, who is nearing the threshold of truth, is a courageous, eloquent and very spiritual man. through recent experiences of valloa̤ and dano he is so nearly convinced of the continuity of existence that he is ready to battle against the old faith and for the reception of the new religion, whose heralds noiselessly but determinedly are approaching the sorrowful peoples, resolved to dissipate the darkness which ever has enshrouded their lives.

now look straight ahead and in a moment you will perceive the dim outlines of the lofty domes and loftier light and signal towers of ento's capital city. to the left of the loftiest signal tower which overlooks the city is the residence of the supreme rulers of ento, and where now spirit hosts are concentrating their forces, and where very soon you will be the central figure of what to you and this dear youth will be a strange drama. i much regret my inability to converse with you directly, but i trust that our mutual friend has made my meaning clear to you.

de l'ester—i believe that i have correctly translated all that you have said, and now that the momentous hour has arrived for a brief time our sensitive must return to her home so that she may arrange for an unusually prolonged absence from her physical body. within a half hour we will meet you near or in the palace.

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info oovistû.

gentola̤, george and i will swiftly bear you to your home, where i shall have something of moment to say to you. you will close your eyes, for we shall traverse the space between ento and earth with utmost speed. ah, ah. that is well. now unclose your eyes, for you are safe within your quiet, darkened room, and no one but the faithful vena is in the house, and she is preparing to leave it, but you will request her to remain at home, for you must not be left unattended. now listen attentively to what i shall say. as you have learned, but do not now clearly remember, valloa̤, daughter of omanos fûnha̤, osy hûn, is about to pass into ento's spirit realms, and that success may attend the mission of love in which you and we are engaged, we must ask you to unreservedly submit yourself to our requirements. rest assured that we will guard you carefully, and by all that is divine we pledge ourselves that you shall not be tried beyond your strength. to prevent possible injury, we desire that you shall charge vena to, on no account, permit any one to enter the house during your submergement, and that will occupy six, probably seven, hours. say to her that she must not attend the door bell or open the door of your room, and do so at once, for we must hasten our return to ento.

gentola—i have instructed vena to remain in the house, to allow no one to enter it, and to leave me undisturbed until five o'clock, which will be seven hours hence.

de l'ester—we have heard your conversation with the girl, who is in a state of nervous alarm lest some evil may befall you. ask her to lower the window shade in the adjoining room. some rays of light are penetrating the desired darkness of this one, and it may be well to further reassure her, so that she may not feel impelled to disturb you. that is well, and all things being arranged to our

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satisfaction we at once will depart. close your eyes and render yourself passive. you are not afraid?

gentola—not afraid, but a little nervous. as i ever have found you true to your word, i will trust you to the end.

de l'ester—that you safely may do, for aside from all other considerations we greatly desire that you shall yet a while remain on the earth plane, that with your approval we may make further use of your peculiar phase of mediumship. we have not labored all these years to fit you for a definite purpose to now willfully permit injury of our instrument. you may believe, too, that in our demands upon your time and strength for the furtherance of our mission, we are not actuated by selfish motives, and in time you will understand that if you have suffered and practiced much self-denial, we, too, have sacrificed much that we might aid in the accomplishment of what you and we regard as a sacred duty. now you are tranquil and we are ready for our flight to ento.

you now may unclose your eyes for we are nearing da̤o, and you may perceive its many stately structures, whose domes and towers are in relief against a background of cloudless azure sky. we now will approach the palace, which you will observe is enveloped in a shining, mistlike aural cloud, within which a host of exalted spirits are aiding in the spiritual unfoldment of omanos fûnha̤ and others who, ere long, will proclaim to the peoples of ento the glorious truth that the spirit, the real self, survives the change called death. when presently we shall enter within the aural cloud you will clearly see what you never—but i must not anticipate, and you will strive to regain your usual tranquillity.

one seldom sees a more artistic structure than this massive, stately, harmoniously designed residence of the

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supreme rulers of ento, its lovely surroundings affording an admirable setting for such a gem of architecture. indeed the entire city is an architectural dream. it strictly is a residence city, though of necessity in it are bazaars and marts containing all that is finest and best pertaining to art, manufactured wares and natural products. no, it is not an extensive city, the population not exceeding a half million, but it is the richest city of ento, and one of the oldest.

now you are quieted and we will join our band within the aural cloud.

gentola—de l'ester, friends, wait a moment; i believe i am frightened. oh, who are those wonderfully beautiful beings? are they angels or are they spirits? oh, i am overwhelmed by the amazing spectacle.

de l'ester—tranquillize yourself, i pray you, tranquillize yourself; none but loving friends are here. those radiant beings are exalted spirits from many spirit worlds, and conditions are such that for the first time during our mission you see spirits as they really are. you are aware that the physical body is composed of grosser elements of substance, and the spirit body of elements more refined, the elemental quality of the spirit body depending upon the manner of existence of the mortal, so you readily may conclude that those spirits are of an exalted plane, else they would not present such a glorified appearance, neither would they be able to serve the purpose for which they have assembled. adonēon, the leader of a band, desires to address you.

adoneon—trembling one from the earth-world, the sorrowful star, upon which i, too, once dwelt, i pray you to accept our gentlest, our most loving greeting. once we all existed in mortal forms, but having been freed from physical expression we present to your unaccustomed gaze

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an appearance which startles and occasions you some trepidation. will it calm your disquietude if i say that could you see yourself as we see you, you would be as greatly amazed at your real appearance as you are at our own. then be at peace, for as we are, you some time will be, and then, as now, gladly you will serve the lowliest of the human brotherhood. gentola̤, you are rightly named, for only one of kindliest nature would risk the severance of the ties of your present embodiment, that thus you may aid this mission of loving endeavor. you desire to learn somewhat of my earthly history. as you will, but it must be as the merest fragment of the whole.

rome was my birthplace, and i was the only child of persons of distinction. from my earliest youth i revolted against the gross licentiousness and debauchery, not only of the masses, but of those in highest places, whose criminally bestial orgies were beyond description, vile and demoralizing. my parents, too, shrank in horror and disgust from a condition of society which words cannot express. so did others, but those who dare oppose themselves against the example of the conscienceless emperor nero, and his equally conscienceless courtiers, did so at the peril of life and estate. through his intolerable tyranny i, with other youths of the best blood of rome, were driven to plot rebellion against his misrule, and when our hopes of success were at the highest, a treacherous youth betrayed us and we were arrested and sentenced to death in the arena. my beloved father was shorn of his rank and possessions, and with my gentle mother, was driven into exile, which they did not long survive. but nero, the insane, brutal tyrant, the ferocious, drunken beast, and the curse of his unhappy time; nero, who made human agony his pastime, still lived to gleefully laugh while naked, empty handed victims were cast into the arena to be torn limb from limb by crea

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tures no more savage, no more relentless than the insensate wretch who gloated over the horrible scene. earth has not harbored a more ignoble mortal than he who styled himself, and indeed regarded himself, as the "divine cæsar."

when the hour of my agony arrived, i, with many others, one a fair girl scarcely beyond childhood, were driven to our doom. some, through terror, swooned into merciful oblivion, others shrieked wildly and pitifully, frantically strove to escape from the great beasts who tore them into fragments, and still others instinctively fought for life, or coweringly shrank from their hideous fate. but not i, not i. as an enormous lion rushed like an avalanche from the opened door of his cage, the young girl clung to me for protection. one glance at her wide open eyes and terror stricken, lovely face, round which her golden hair fell in curling profusion, inspired me with courage born of pity and despair. putting her behind me, i strode toward the lion, my burning, unwavering gaze meeting the glowing eyes of the famished and enraged beast, and for a moment the crouching creature hesitated, and nero shouted and clapped his jewelled hands. the next instant the lion launched himself against my naked form and in another moment i was freed and beyond the reach of the cruelest of all creatures—the human animal.

after the lapse of half a thousand of your years, at my own desire, and for a purpose, the angels of the visitation found me a birthplace on the glorious planet jupiter. your astronomers would question this statement. they do not take into account the fact that necessarily they possess but a limited knowledge of the constitution and conditions of the planets of our solar system, or of the beings who may inhabit them, and they do not recognize the more important fact that spirit, the life principle, is indestructible, and that it possesses the ability of adjusting

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itself to other environments than those of earth. from jupiter's spirit realms i, and these my comrades have come to aid in this attempt to bring spiritual enlightenment to the sorrowful children of ento. our band of nine spirits will endeavor to come into harmonious relations with omanos fûnha̤. to other bands of spirits from other planetary spheres have been assigned special duties. upon de l'ester and his band will rest the responsibility of controlling and directing you. as far as possible our plans have been perfected, and the supreme moment having arrived, may the divine, intelligent, all potent one direct and aid us in our endeavor to fulfill the law of love.

de l'ester—gentola̤, now that you have grown tranquil, we will enter the apartment of the passing valloa̤. be attentive while i inform you as to who some of the assembled personages are, then you will describe the surroundings of this pitiful scene. later, your deeper submergence will oblige me to continue a narration of what may occur. do you understand?

gentola—i do, and shall try to meet your wishes. i find myself standing at the foot of valloa̤'s couch, which is near the centre of the very spacious apartment, whose walls and ceiling are marvels of beauty. upon their ivory white surfaces are sprays of exquisite blossoms so true to nature that it seems as though one might gather them from their delicate foliage. rich tapestries of palest blue, combined with snowy laces, drape the lofty windows, and fluted panels of the same tapestry separate the flower designs on walls and ceiling, the effect being very refined and beautiful. on opposing sides of the apartment great mirrors are let into the walls, their frames and the woodwork of doors and windows being in white and gold and the floor is such an exquisitely dainty mosaic that it seems a profanation to step on it. there are some very beautiful di

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vans and chairs and a large, handsome table which, with the exception of the lovely couch on which valloa̤ lies, completes the furnishing of the apartment.

through a window from which the drapery is drawn aside the light falls upon a young girl whose angelically lovely face is framed in a mass of curling, golden hair. it is the face of the young girl you once showed me in a picture, but it is more mature, more expressive, more spirituelle, than the pictured face. the soft, fleecy, white couch clothing outlines a tall, slender form, somewhat emaciated, but modelled most beautifully, and as she lifts her hands to push away from her low, wide forehead her shining hair, i see that they are as white as lilies and exceedingly shapely. on one side of the couch sits omanos fûnha̤, a majestic, very handsome, dark skinned man of about middle age. on the other side of the couch kneels dano, his mournful gaze fixed upon the face of the dying girl, whose expression is serene but very pathetic. in dano's clasp is her left hand, which he holds against his tremulous lips. with her right hand she fondly but feebly caresses her father's stately head, bowed near her own, and her large, beautiful azure hued eyes look into his despairing face, then turn toward the sorrowful face of her affianced, and she murmurs low, broken words of endearment for both. dano's father, basto andûlēsa̤, who, with bowed head and folded arms, stands near the head of the couch, is a picture of woe. by dano's side stands his mother, a very tall, olive skinned, strikingly handsome woman, whom her son closely resembles. on her face is an expression of great tenderness, as she whispers fondly pitiful words to the dying girl, who gently touches her face and smiles up at her. suddenly, with a quivering moan and a look of terror in her dark eyes, she draws away, but quickly recovers herself, and again she stoops to mur

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mur loving words to valloa̤ and to dano, upon whose dark, flowing hair her tears fall like rain. near omanos fûnha̤ stands the most high priest ozynas dûlsa̤, and what a singularly grand looking man he is. he is taller than any entoan i have seen; taller even than omanos fûnha̤ whom i think he resembles. as he stands erect, silent and motionless, he looks like a draped bronze statue. there is a peculiar expression on his quiet face, a sort of introspective expression which suggests the thought that he is questioning himself as to the mystery of death, whose dread shadow is stealing over the beautiful face of valloa̤.

of the host of spirit men and women thronging this apartment, the entire residence and the aura inclosed space about it, what can i, what shall i say? to my unfolded vision the walls oppose no barrier, and with inexpressible awe and wonder i gaze upon these luminous ones, whose faces and forms possess a beauty and majesty indescribable. i can think of no other word than godlike that will convey my idea of their appearance, but i—but language fails me—i—can say—no—more.

de l'ester—before narrating what occurred after gentola̤ ceased speaking i will say that the organization controlling this mission consists of seven bands of advanced spirits of various planetary spirit spheres, and that our mission is not an isolated one. on all planets inhabited by spiritualized humans, spirit missions for the accomplishment of various purposes, constantly are being carried forward. on earth, at this time, more than one mission is in progress. some will elevate humanity; others, under control of spirits not of bad intentions, but of a low plane of evolvement, hence ignorant as to results, will debase and retard progress. i make mention of this matter so that if perchance some may read this story of our mission they will understand that it is but one of many.

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having become submerged to a degree that rendered her incapable of further speech, and the moment of valloa̤'s departure being close at hand, it became imperative that our instrument should be illumined to her highest capacity, so that she might deliver our message to omanos fûnha̤, to dano, to the most high priest, and to others surrounding the passing girl.

at the moment of midday gentola̤ was made to call softly but distinctly, "dano! dano!" all heard the voice, and a look of startled inquiry was on each face. raising his head for a moment dano intently listened, then breathlessly he questioned, "who calls me? who calls me?" but for a little there was no reply, and only the faint, fitful breathing of the dying girl broke the profound stillness. then the seven bands of spirits formed in circles, and their combined forces were brought to hear upon omanos fûnha̤, dano, ozynas dûlsa̤, and upon valloa̤, whose vital energy for the moment was augmented. instantaneously dano's spirit senses were so quickened that he perceived not only gentola̤, but in a less perfect manner our entire band, upon whom he gazed curiously, evidently doubting our reality. his interest being centered in gentola̤, quickly he turned toward her, his face irradiated with surprise and joy. inclining his head near valloa̤'s in low, trembling tones he exclaimed, "she has come, as she promised; she has come, valloa̤. valloa̤, my dearest one, see you not a strange being by the side of your father?" the yet conscious girl smiled and murmured, "yes—yes." looking about him the greatly disturbed omanos fûnha̤ exclaimed, "i see no one, i see no one. oh, my children, our mutual sorrow confuses our senses, and we imagine unrealities. dano, dano, i pray you compose yourself lest we disquiet our dearest one." as omanos fûnha̤ uttered these words an expression of

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intense surprise and bewilderment stole over his face, and over the face of ozynas dûlsa̤, for at that moment their spirit senses were so unfolded that in awed and terrified silence they saw and heard.

then, at my dictation, in a voice low but audible to all, gentola̤ delivered our message. "dano, dano," she said, "as i promised so have i in your hour of deepest sorrow come to you. you perceive that valloa̤, the real spiritual valloa̤, is well nigh freed from the frail, beautiful form you all love so well. in a few moments she will be released; then her golden haired mother and her aunt sylvian, whom you also perceive hovering above the couch, will bear your love to her home in the glorious spirit world, where you and all her dear ones ere long will rejoin her. in this hour of your greatest sorrow i bear you a message that henceforth will fill your life and the lives of ento's children with immeasurable peace and joy. omanos fûnha̤, and you, ozynas dûlsa̤, priest of a hopeless religion, listen that you, too, may receive knowledge of the grandest truth that can be revealed to man. through purity of life, and a noble ambition to serve rather than to rule, and recently through keenest anguish of soul, you, omanos fûnha̤, have so unfolded your spiritual self that you are prepared to accept this truth, and you, ozynas dûlsa̤, through lofty aspiration and exceptional ability to perceive that which hitherto you have not understood, will proclaim the revelation that the physical body is but the casket in which the priceless jewel, the immortal self, which is the deathless expression of the infinite spirit whom you name andûmana̤, is enshrined. hitherto, because of the positiveness and materialism of your religious beliefs, so dense has been the aural atmosphere about you, that light from ento's and other spirit worlds has not penetrated your spiritual consciousness. during past centuries the immortals of many

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spirit worlds have striven to communicate with the children of ento, that thus they might bring hope to despairing ones who have lived, loved and sorrowed, even as you who love this, your dearest one, now sorrow. striving, watching, waiting, loving, pitiful spirits, who once were mortals like yourselves, at last have found their opportunity and have hastened to bring light into darkness, joy for sorrow and hope for despair. they, with glad hearts, have come to proclaim to you that life and spirit are one and indestructible. that, though unseen by mortal eyes, the animating principle, the real self, is immortal, and in realms indescribable by human language, those who have passed from ento and other worlds, live, love and enjoy, or sorrow, in accordance with the purity or impurity of their mortal existence. they also have come to proclaim to you that there is but one god, who is the infinite spirit, who permeates all things. the infinitely intelligent spirit, who knows all things. the infinite energy, who is the source of all things. the dual, unseeable, unknowable one, whose manifestations alone declare the infinity of their origin. they have come to proclaim to you that ento is but one of myriads of worlds, comprising an illimitable universe, whose every atom is vitalized and permeated by this infinite spirit, who no more lives in the shining orb which sheds its radiant beams over the lands and seas of ento and over other greater worlds far away in space than in the petals of the rodel, or in the atoms floating in the atmosphere. when the great flaming star you ignorantly have thought the abode of andûmana̤, the supreme one, has for a time disappeared from your view, and the darkness of night has fallen over this portion of your ento world, reverently you have gazed toward the shining points in space, aye, so far away in space, that you can form no conception of the immensity of their distances from ento,

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and you have believed them the lamps of the realm of astranola̤. learn, oh children of our common father, mother god, that they are worlds, some of them of such vast proportions that, compared with them, ento and the earth world, where i dwell, are dwarfed into insignificance. some of these worlds are peopled by very advanced and exalted humans, others by mortals in various stages of evolvement, and all are the children of the infinite one. i cannot now speak more fully of these matters, but, concerning them, later on you shall receive further instruction.

"dano, dear youth, let the words of our message sink deeply into your heart, for you are the chosen herald, who first shall proclaim the new faith to the children of ento. be courageous, be faithful, and in accordance with the measure of your courage and your faithfulness shall be your consciousness that ever by your side will walk your spirit bride, your other self, valloa̤. dano, dano, are you strong enough, are you courageous enough to give to your sorrowful people the message of the new faith?"

for a little dano hesitated, and valloa̤, over whose fair face the whiteness of death was stealing, reached toward him a tremulous hand and faintly murmured: "dano—my beloved—you will—you—will—give—this truth—to—our—despairing—people, and—and—your valloa̤ will—walk—with you—until—your glorious—work—shall—be—ended."

in her dimming, azure hued eyes was an expression of immeasurable entreaty, and, overwhelmed with emotion, gently, tenderly, dano pressed her cold hand to his lips, and in low, fervent tones said: "i believe in one supreme being, who is beyond my finite comprehension. i believe that beyond this sorrowful life there is another state of existence, where all will find their beloved dead, with whom

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they will live and love forever, and i promise you, oh, my dearest, that for as long as i may live in my mortal body, i will proclaim to our peoples the amazing, the glorious truth that has been revealed to us. that it is a truth i well know, for even as i gaze upon your beloved mortal form, rising above your head i see your real self, radiant and lovely beyond all beauty of mortal woman. i see, too, your mother, your wondrously beautiful golden haired mother, and sylvian, the lovely and gracious woman whom in my childhood i revered as i revered the goddesses of astranola̤. they support you in their arms, my dearest, and they are about to bear you away from my sight. valloa̤—valloa̤—oh, my beloved, open your beautiful eyes—oh, speak to one once more. do you hear me, valloa̤? do you hear me? answer me if but with a word, or a smile, so that i may know that you have heard my vow." as though in answer to his piteous appeal valloa̤'s eyelids quivered and slowly her blue eyes unclosed and gazed into dano's, and a faint smile played about her parted lips. then, with a supreme effort, her gaze turned upon her father, who bent his head near her to catch her whispered words, the last he would hear from the mortal lips of his idolized child. "father, father," she sighed, rather than said, "it is true—promise—me—your—child—to—give—this—truth—to our—people. fath—er, prom—ise——" the blue eyes closed, a smile wreathed itself about the sweet mouth, and—all was still.

we, who have observed the release of many spirits, seldom have witnessed a scene so pathetic, so profoundly touching. about the spacious chamber were grouped the seven spirit circles, deeply sympathizing with the bereft ones, who for a time remained in voiceless apathy, their overwhelming grief finding no utterance in word or outcry. cradled in the arms of her spirit mother and of her

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aunt sylvian, the spirit valloa̤ laid like a smiling, sleeping infant. by the side of the couch knelt dano, holding in his warm clasp the cold, lifeless hands of his love, and gazing upon her pallid face in speechless agony. bending over him his mother by her silent sympathy sought to console him, her fast falling tears evincing the depth of her own sorrow. still by the side of omanos fûnha̤ stood gentola̤, and though intently listening to our message, not once had he looked at her, but now impelled by our concentrated desire, slowly, timidly he turned his gaze upon her, and for the first time fully realized the presence of a spirit. she alone of the assembled spirits being perceptible to his but partially unfolded clairvoyant and clairaudient senses, awe stricken and trembling he sank to his knees, and in broken accents questioned: "who art thou? what art thou?" at my dictation she replied:

gentola—by some spirit friends i have been named gentola̤, and am not of your people, but am of a world afar in space, which by its peoples is known as earth. in a manner which i now cannot explain i can leave my living physical body, and by some wise and strong spirits who understand spiritual laws, i have been borne from earth to your world, that through me they might reveal to you and to your people that the spirit, the real self of humans survives death of the physical body. for the reason that i am less etherealized than wholly freed spirits, you, dano, and you, ozynas dûlsa̤, perceive me, and were your superior senses more fully unfolded, you would behold sēlona̤, the purple eyed, golden haired wife of your youth, and her sister, sylvian, too, who will assist in bearing to her beautiful home in your spirit world your angel daughter valloa̤. sēlona̤ and sylvian implore you to remember valloa̤'s last words, and if in your consciousness the new faith may find a steadfast abiding place you will

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gladden the hearts of your beloved and loving ones by openly declaring it. remember that though you are not conscious of their presence, often they are near you, reading your every thought, and that your joy is their joy, and that in their hearts your griefs find quick response. ever your gentle, loving wife guards and guides you in your ways. ever, as you walk to and fro, silently her foot-falls keep pace with yours, and when the hour of your release from your mortal body shall arrive she and valloa̤ will be with you, and in a world whose skies are ever radiant with a light unknown to mortals, over whose brightest days shadows ever are falling, you will be reunited with those whom you have mourned as having gone into perpetual silence. in this spirit world the flowers are fadeless, the balmy air is vibrant with divinest harmonies and joys such as mortals cannot conceive of await all whose exalted lives have prepared them for lofty states of being. the guiding spirits who have brought me here say that ere long i shall come again to offer to you a fuller knowledge of the truth we are striving to reveal to you, a truth which shall dispel your fear of death, which is but a transition to a higher state of existence, and shall bring to you and to your people consolation and peace inexpressible.

de l'ester—ere gentola̤ ceased speaking, through grief and amazement omanos fûnha̤ was so overwhelmed that had not ozynas dûlsa̤'s strong arms sustained him he would have fallen prone. swaying like a drunken man, he extended his trembling hands toward gentola̤, crying: "thou sayest thou art from another world, a world afar in space. thou sayest that my child valloa̤ still lives, and that her mother and sylvian are here to bear her away to a world invisible to me. where is this invisible world of living ones, and do my dear ones indeed dwell there? and when the breath of my life shall cease shall i, too, surely

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continue to exist, and with them abide forever? and truly are there in space other worlds, where men and women live, love and die as do we of ento? the thought is too stupendous. i cannot realize it. speak, i entreat you, ere my senses totter to their destruction."

quickly our forces combined to quiet his somewhat frenzied state, and again gentola̤ was made to address him and those about him.

gentola—i, who am but the instrument for spirits more exalted than myself, can only say that which they dictate to me. when daylight has merged into twilight, and twilight has deepened into darkness, myriads of shining points dot the vast expanse of the night sky, and you have been taught that these shining points are the lamps illumining the abode of your gods and goddesses, whom you have regarded as the messengers of andûmana̤ the supreme one. among those shining points is one gleaming with a soft, silvery radiance, which your priests have named inglos ēvecto fryda̤, which, i am told, would in my language mean fryda̤'s lamp or light. truly this silvery point is the earth world where i dwell. like all the worlds in space it is spherical in form and nearly twice the size of ento, which it closely resembles, and, like your world, its surface is composed of divisions of land and water, and its products of all kinds are very similar to those of ento. our learned ones believe that it is a younger world than this, as much of its land surface is quite rugged, and there are mountains so lofty that their peaks pierce the clouds. its hills, too, are still elevated, and its valleys deeply depressed, whereas time has nearly levelled the surface of ento, necessitating your vast system of irrigation, which on the earth world only in isolated instances is required. we consider your civilization more advanced

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than is ours, which indicates your greater maturity, and in the arts and most of the sciences your attainments equal or surpass those of our people, who generally aspire to acquire wisdom and a knowledge of all that may advance their best interests. like the entoans we have trials and sorrows for our loved ones also pass to the world of spirits, and we miss their presence, as you will miss valloa̤'s, but our knowledge of continuous existence enables us to endure what cannot be avoided, and we well know that when we too shall pass to our spirit world we will find all our dear ones who have preceded us.

among our learned ones are those who have constructed instruments very like those through which from the summits of your great watch towers you gaze across the surface of ento. through these instruments, known as telescopes, men and women versed in the science of astronomy are enabled to observe and study the worlds in space just as the learned ones of ento may do when an acceptance of the new faith shall free them from their superstitious fears of the gods and goddesses who do not exist, the only god being the supreme one, who is a god of love, and not a vengeful destroyer of his children.

like ento, our earth world also has divisions of day and night, which in their duration very nearly correspond with your own, and the sun, the same glorious orb that blesses ento with light and heat, shines on our world as well. during a certain period of our year, which is a little more than half the length of yours, when darkness falls and the sky is unclouded, afar we behold a beautiful ruddy star, known to us as the planet mars, and of all the worlds in space none so attracts our attention as this star, which truly is this, your ento world. those who have brought me here desire me to say that certain instruction they now would gladly offer for your consideration must

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for the present be withheld, but that when a more propitious hour shall arrive, through me they will reveal to you much that will add to the happiness and well being of yourself and peoples.

to your question relating to the locality of the world of living ones i must reply briefly. about all worlds sufficiently matured to afford sustenance and habitation for various life forms and for the children of the incomprehensible, infinite intelligent energy you name andûmana̤, there are a series of spirit realms which envelop material worlds as the husk of the plûyma̤ envelops its crimson fruit. these realms are suited to the requirements of their inhabitants, who are spirits, who through death of the physical body have been released, and as men, women and children live a more real life than do mortals. in these realms all progress toward higher attainments and greater perfection, and when fitted for the change they pass from lower to higher realms and greater joys. in ento's spirit realms your real self will find all whom you have loved but not lost, for they live and love you, and in the grandly beautiful home prepared for you they await your coming. be patient, then, and from time to time all that is for your good will be revealed to you. now, as never before, spirits of the higher realms can penetrate the aura surrounding the peoples of ento, and to you three illumined ones will be revealed that which will inspire and unfold your inner consciousness, so that with clearer vision you will perceive the immortals who ever are about you and all who yet abide in the mortal form. at this moment this apartment is thronged with immortals, who are here to assist in your unfoldment and that of dano and ozynas dûlsa̤, who better than yourself comprehends this, to you, strange occurrence. gladly these exalted spirits will aid you in your search after truth, which is wholly divine and

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which alone can assist humanity in its ever onward progress. there, omanos fûnha̤, lies the inanimate form of your beloved daughter, and dano's affianced wife, the form which for a brief time was the dwelling place of the spirit valloa̤, who now in the arms of her mother and sylvian is about to be borne to their and her home in your spirit world. what message shall they convey to other dear ones who await their coming?

de l'ester—while gentola̤ was speaking, omanos fûnha̤, dano, ozyras dûlsa̤ and dano's parents, who heard her quite audible voice, stood like so many statues, every sense absorbed in the intense desire to catch her every word, and when silence followed speech they looked into each others' faces with an expression of awed inquiry, but no one uttered a sound. some moments elapsed, then omanos fûnha̤ slowly turned toward the couch and silently gazed upon the pallid face framed in a wealth of golden, curling tresses, then within his trembling palms he folded valloa̤'s small, cold, stiffening hands, covering them with kisses and wetting them with his tears, then tenderly he laid them over her bosom and turned away from the couch. standing erect, with uplifted eyes and hands, and with an expression of deep emotion on his dark, handsome face, in impassioned tones his voice broke the stillness.

omanos funha—oh thou infinite and supreme one, whose ignorant but adoring children we are, as our fathers and mothers have worshipped so have thy children of a later time worshipped thee. when light and heat have brooded over ento, causing all living things to fructify and yield sustenance to thy children and the creatures of thy creation, we have said, "praise be unto andûmana̤, the supreme one, who, from his shining abode, smiles upon us his children, and with such offerings as we have conceived acceptable we have sought to manifest our gratitude for

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thy beneficence. yet ever as we have rendered homage unto thee our hearts have been heavy through fear and despair. ever the noiseless, dusky wings of the dread messenger phra have so overshadowed our lives that now that thou callest to us we are too blind to see our way to thee, too deaf to clearly hear thy voice, but since it is thy will that now we shall receive the light of the grandest, most priceless truth that thou canst vouchsafe to us, thou wilt lift the shadows from our eyes and humbly, adoringly, we will strive to find our ways to thy glorious presence. the brightest, most precious jewel of the crown of my life this day hath gone from me, and i am desolate, but it is thy will and i murmur not, for through this thy messenger thou sayest that after the body ceases to live, in an invisible but fairer world than ento the real selves of thy children consciously continue to exist, and after what thou hast made us to see and to hear, i, omanos fûnha̤, doubt it not. then praise be unto thee, that through thy love for thine own, after the breath of our lives shall cease we shall find our beloved ones, and with them ceaselessly adore thee for this thy most precious gift to thy undeserving but loving children. raû, raû, raû."

de l'ester—all in attendance, spirits and mortals, fervently responded, "raû, raû, raû." after a brief pause he turned to the most high priest and said: "your sacredness, ozynas dûlsa̤, long hast thou administered the rites of the old faith; what sayest thou of this new revelation from andûmana̤, the supreme one to whom be adoration forever, that he hath heard our fervent petitions and hath granted to us and to our sorrowful peoples a knowledge that though our bodies shall die we shall continue to exist. so long hast thou been my close friend that thou wilt bear with my rapture, which alas is tinged with deep

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est sorrow," and he stooped and kissed valloa̤'s smiling lips and folded hands. silently, attentively, ozynas dûlsa̤ listened to omanos fûnha̤'s words, then with a certain tenderness of manner he replied: "thou art the supreme ruler of ento, and thou art a wise, just, loving and learned man, and even as the chalices of the snowy rodel turn their perfumed hearts toward diafon ēvoiha̤ (the sun) so do the hearts of the people turn toward thee for counsel and sympathy. thou knowest why the people sorrow, and thou knowest that even at their feasts joy is a rare guest. it hath pleased andûmana̤ to withhold from his children of past times this wondrous revelation that life is continuous and that in realms invisible to mortal vision the children of his love shall abide forever. it is not for us to question his will or his wisdom. it is for us to listen and to obey, so i pray that thou wilt not withhold from the children of ento the glad revelation which hath been vouchsafed to us in this the hour of our deepest sorrow.

"it may greatly surprise thee to learn that many priests and priestesses of the temples see and hear as thou now seest and hearest, but the meaning of it hath not been understood, and fear of andûmana̤ and the deific ones hath caused them to keep silent and to cling to old traditions. so convinced am i that the truth is being revealed to us that with thy approval i, ozynas dûlsa̤, gladly will aid in proclaiming the glorious, the wondrous words of andûmana̤'s revelation to his children."

while ozynas dûlsa̤ spoke, dano knelt by the side of the couch, steadfastly gazing upon the lovely face which soon would be naught but ashes, but toward the close of ozynas dûlsa̤'s speech he arose and in deep entrancement stood motionless. aided by our combined forces, zenesta̤ ha̤o was enabled to control his senses and through him to address omanos fûnha̤, dano's parents and ozynas dûlsa̤.

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zenesta hao—i, who through the lips of this entranced youth will attempt to address you, may be remembered as zenesta̤ ha̤o, long a professor of languages in the renowned galarēsa̤ of camarissa̤. during my mortal existence i, like all the peoples of ento, was ignorant of the fact that death of the mortal body releases the immortal spirit, which is the real self of man, or, to state the fact more clearly, when the real self, the immortal spirit, finds the mortal body no longer suited to its requirements, it releases itself and under the higher, better conditions of the spirit world, continues its progress onward, onward forever. not until i was released from my worn and aged body did i learn the glorious truth that i was immortal. in the sorrowful belief that death was the end of all, i fell asleep. i awakened to find about me my dearest ones who had come to bear me to their and my home in the world of the immortals. oh, the joy that filled my enraptured being when i became fully conscious that continuous existence, progress and happiness inexpressible was the reward of a life devoted to virtuous conduct and loving service for others, and that for those who had not lived in accordance with their highest ideals there was endless time and opportunity for the amending of the mistakes and wrongs of mortal life, and for progress as endless as eternity.

dear friends, were your spirit vision fully unfolded, in this chamber you would behold forms and faces of spirits who are revered and famous in the history of ento. here are genessano allis immo rû, and his little less famous spouse, the lady camarissa̤, and their two sons inidora̤ and genessano, who offer to you all their kindliest greetings and an assurance of their immeasurable joy that at last the light of a great truth is about to irradiate the sorrowful lives of the peoples of their ever beloved ento. here, too, is ha̤-moûfi adassi whose name ever is on the

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lips of all students of nature. he also greets you all and joins with all the invisibles present in expressions of love and sympathy for you in this your hour of mingled joy and sadness.

omanos fûnha̤, thou art favored beyond all men who ever have lived on ento, for even in the hour of thy deepest anguish a joy hath come to thee, which henceforth shall fill thy days with blessedness and peace. then hasten, oh, hasten to crown the days of the children of ento with unlooked for gladness. give to them the assurance that the old, hopeless faith is no more. that andûmana̤, the supreme one, hath revealed to his ever sorrowful children the highest expression of his love for them, and that henceforth death shall be known as the angel who guards the portal between mortal and immortal life.

basto andûlēsa̤, i salute thee and thy gracious spouse, and it is my pleasant duty to convey to her beloved parents a most tender and most loving greeting from one who in her early youth passed to the world of spirits. i speak for thy ceaselessly mourned daughter onta̤, who joins her entreaties with ours that you earnestly shall assist in the introduction and acceptance of the new faith, which for you and ento's peoples shall change the face of all things, and she entreats you and her mother to encourage her brother dano, whose clear seeing vision and understanding of spiritual things, fits him for a teacher who shall proclaim to the peoples the glorious truth which is being revealed to you chosen ones. since entering our spirit world i have learned that during the passing centuries advanced spirits with but slight success, persistently have endeavored to penetrate the consciousness of ento's peoples, but ever the gross materialism of their religion, which is founded upon the legends and crude conceptions of undeveloped, ignorant, primitive peoples, has opposed

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an impenetrable barrier to their approach. baffled and wearied through perpetual failures, finally bands of strong, determined spirits of our and other spirit worlds resolved to attempt to fit this earth woman, whom we have named gentola̤, to serve as a means of communication between spirits and certain sensitives of ento. being yet embodied in flesh she is less spiritualized than ourselves, whose spirit bodies like that of valloa̤, are of such inconceivably refined substances as to be imperceptible to most mortals. to omanos fûnha̤, to ozynas dûlsa̤, and to thy son dano, whose spiritual senses to a degree are unfolded, she is perceptible, and later on they and thee and thy spouse ellita̤ will unfold the ability to perceive wholly released spirits.

of necessity this revelation from the world of spirits is so fragmentary as to be confusing to minds accustomed to other beliefs, but from time to time omanos fûnha̤, ozynas dûlsa̤ and this thy son dano shall receive distinct instruction pertaining not only to the new faith, but to other affairs of moment. when dano shall have awakened we desire that he shall be informed as to what i have said, then, through gentola̤, will be given to you all some parting words, and may the spirit of all spirits, the infinite one, whom entoans name andûmana̤, ever be present in your thoughts, for from this divine and inexhaustible source cometh all that is beneficent. and now, dear friends, i must say info oovistû.

de l'ester—during zenesta̤ ha̤o's address omanos fûnha̤ and ozynas dûlsa̤ gazed upon dano in amazement and alarm, and his parents who stood near the apparently sleeping youth in awed silence listened to the strange speech issuing from his lips, but no one ventured to speak to him or to touch him. when zenesta̤ ha̤o spoke of genessano allis immo and his wife and sons and of ha

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moûfi adassi and onta̤ andûlēsa̤, surprise tinged with terror sat on every face, and in speechless, questioning wonder they looked into each others' eyes.

when he delivered onta̤'s greeting and message, a great trembling seized basto andûlēsa, who scarcely could sustain his own form and that of his weeping wife, who, through violent emotion, swooned into unconsciousness. gentola̤, in her now partially conscious state, realized what was occurring, and to our momentary dismay, her sympathies became so active that only through our instantly united efforts were we enabled to prevent her release from her greatly devitalized physical body. restoratives quickly revived dano's mother, who was gently entreated to withdraw from the chamber, but she refused to do so, and sat sobbing and murmuring: "she lives—she—lives, our—onta̤, our precious—onta̤, our—roina blossom lives, and some—time we shall find—her. oh, the joy—of it, the joy—and wonder—of it. andûmana̤, we adore thee that thou hast taken—pity upon thy sorrowful—children; that thou hast shown us—that we shall—find our beloved child, our—onta̤." and thus as a loving mother would she, between smiles and tears continued her gentle, loving crooning. now there was a quivering of the eyelids, a slight start, and dano, in a bewildered manner looked about him and in a hushed tone eagerly questioned: "what has occurred? have i been asleep and dreaming? have i said aught to disturb you, that you regard me so strangely?" at our desire gentola̤ drew near him and at my dictation again spoke to him audibly.

gentola—dano, dear youth, even as the dew silently falls into the perfumed hearts of night's snowy blooms so early into your heart entered valloa̤. in the flower of her beautiful womanhood she has gone from you and from those dear to her, but she has not gone into silence and nothing

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ness, but into a higher state of existence, where, after your work shall be done, you, too, will go and with her forever will glorify the infinite spirit of all that is. that i may comfort you i will reveal to you the wondrous fact that all existences in their nature are dual, the male and female principles constituting the duality, and truly valloa̤ is your other self, and for all time you two are one and inseparable. until you shall release yourself from your physical body, as your guiding star ever she will be near you, and when you shall fall into your last slumber ere long you will awaken to meet the enraptured gaze of valloa̤'s azure eyes.

dano, our mission to ento is only in its inception, but now i must return to earth, where other duties await my attention, but you will not be left unaided, for now that the way has been made plain, valloa̤, her mother, sylvian, your sister onta̤ and other spirits will be able to communicate with you three illumined ones, and very soon other sensitives will become unfolded, through whom spirits can convey instruction to the people, and i am informed that when you may need me i shall be brought to you, so be courageous, be faithful to the duties our mission has imposed upon you, and all will be well with you and with the children of ento, before whom you will stand as a priest of the new religion.

the moment has arrived in which, for the present, we must say info oovistû, and may a sense of the joys awaiting you all in the glorified existence of ento's spirit realms illumine your lives and console and sustain your sorely grieved hearts until in the hour of your release from your physical bodies you shall hear the glad cry, "loha̤û, loha̤û, vraimēon mēnoisa̤." (hail, hail, dearly beloved.)

de l'ester—at this moment a ray of the setting sun stole through the slightly parted window drapery, falling

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upon dano, who, with uplifted face and outreaching hands, entreatingly whispered: "you will come again, oh, you will come again?" and gentola̤ was made to reply: "i will, i surely will," and dano sank to his knees beside the couch. it stole athwart the white, calm, lovely face of valloa̤, and for a little it lingered in the silken mesh of her golden hair, glorifying the majesty and mystery of the change called death. it crowned dano's flowing blue black hair as with a halo and it stole across the stilled form of the dead girl and rested upon two faces one would not be likely to forget—the faces of the stately supreme ruler of ento, omanos fûnha̤, and that of the most high priest of the most sacred temple zim, ozynas dûlsa̤, than whom no handsomer or gracious gentlemen exist on ento. as, side by side they stood, the fading sun ray revealed in the face of the bereaved father an expression of infinite sadness, a little lighted by the dawning of a priceless hope. in the eyes of ozynas dûlsa̤ was the expression of one whose inner vision has penetrated the veil falling between the hither and the thither sides of existence. a moment longer and the sun ray disappeared, a passing cloud obscured its afterglow, and in the spacious apartment were shadows and silence. then, through the activity of forces ever at our command, slowly with a soft, silvery radiance we so illumined the chamber that the strange glory of it overwhelmed omanos fûnha̤, dano, and his parents, but ozynas dûlsa̤, who, in the inner sanctuary of the most sacred temple zim, had beheld spirit illumination, murmured: "tymonas, tymonas, thou hast said to me that thou art not a god, but a man, like other men, and i understood thee not, but now with an humble and grateful heart i recognize that thou art an exalted spirit man, and that thou hast been infinitely patient with me as with other priests who have served in the temple zim, and now i vow that hence

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forth i will be as faithful to the new revelation as ever in my ignorance i have been faithful to the superstitions which soon will be of a dead past," and through the stillness an audible whisper ran: "well done, thou good and faithful servant; though thou hast not understood, sincerely thou hast worshipped the most high," and tremblingly ozynas dûlsa̤ recognized that tymonas, the spirit of the inner sanctuary, had spoken.

at the height of the radiance musical notes, soft as zephyrs whispering to flowers, filled the chamber with vibrant melody, and the minds and hearts of those about the couch with emotions indescribable. gradually the melodious tones died into silence, and the silvery glow faded into the gray of deepest twilight, whose shadows, like dark hued drapery, fell over the snowy couch and stilled form of the dead girl and over the awed but enraptured faces of the living. then the tremulous, hushed, adoring tones of omanos fûnha̤'s voice broke the stillness.

omanos funha—supreme, all wise, loving and most merciful one, whom in our blindness we have not rightly perceived, in thine own time and way thou hast more clearly revealed thyself and the marvel of thy glory to us, thy humbly adoring children. so dulled by erroneous beliefs are our senses that as little children we reach our hands toward thee, and i doubt not that thou wilt guide our ways. since to us hath been revealed the amazing, the glorious truth that the real self of man does not die, and that our dear ones who have gone from our sight can, in some not yet understood manner, hold converse with us, and that they will instruct us as to how we may attain greater knowledge concerning this life and the life to come, we cannot find words to express our gratitude to thee or to those of thy spirit children whose love hath prompted them to serve us, who are so unworthy of thy pity, or their immeas

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urable goodness to us. we know not how to repay thy infinite beneficence or their goodness, but i, omanos fûnha̤, am inexpressibly grateful to thee and to thy messengers, and with all the ability with which thou hast endowed me, henceforth i will proclaim to the children of ento that life is continuous, that endless progression is a law of the infinitely supreme one, and that there is one god, and none other.

de l'ester—through the silence and the shadows fervently the lips of immortals and mortals responded, "raû, raû, raû," and then the living were left with the beautiful dead body, whose released inmate swiftly was borne to her celestial home, and through the measureless spaces from joyous spirit bands rang out the glad pæan, "glory to the infinite spirit in whom we live and move and have our being. glory be to thee through whom success has crowned our mission to ento. glory and highest praise be unto our father and mother god, forever and forever."

september 16th, 1894.