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no other。 He thanks her； saying that as it is with her； so it is
with him； and that because of his love he fears nothing。 She
swoons。 The Lord Oro motions with his hand to the guard。 They
lift their death…rods。 Fire leaps from them。 The Prince and his
companions； all save those who were afraid and would have sworn
the oath； twist and writhe。 They turn black； they die。 The Lord
Oro commands those who are left to enter their flying ships and
bear to the Nations of the Earth tidings of what befalls those
who dare to defy and insult him； to warn them also to eat and
drink and be merry while they may； since for their wickedness
they are about to perish。〃
The scene faded and there followed another which really I
cannot describe。 It represented some vast underground place and
what appeared to be a huge mountain of iron clothed in light；
literally a thing like an alp； rocking and spinning down a
declivity； which farther on separated into two branches because
of a huge razor…edge precipice that rose between。 There in the
middle of this vast space with the dazzling mountain whirling
towards him； stood Oro encased in some transparent armour； as
though to keep off heat； and with him his daughter who under his
direction was handling something in the rock behind her。 Then
there was a blinding flash and everything vanished。 All of this
picture passed so swiftly that we could not grasp its details；
only a general impression remained。
〃The Lord Oro； using the strength that is in the world whereof
he alone has the secret； changes the world's balance causing that
which was land to become sea and that which was sea to become
land；〃 said Yva in her chanting； unnatural voice。
Another scene of stupendous and changing awfulness。 Countries
were sinking； cities crashing down； volcanoes were spouting fire；
the end of the earth seemed to be at hand。 We could see human
beings running to and fro in thousands like ants。 Then in huge
waves hundreds and hundreds of feet high； the ocean flowed in and
all was troubled； yeasty sea。
〃Oro carries out his threat to destroy the Nations who had
rebelled against him；〃 said Yva。 〃Much of the world sinks beneath
the waves； but in place of it other lands arise above the waves；
to be inhabited by the seed of those who remain living in those
portions of the Earth that the deluge spared。〃
This horrible vision passed and was succeeded by one more； that
of Oro standing in the sepulchre of the cave by the side of the
crystal coffin which contained what appeared to be the body of
his daughter。 He gazed at her； then drank some potion and laid
himself down in the companion coffin； that in which we had found
him。
All vanished away and Yva； appearing to wake from some kind of
trance； smiled； and in her natural voice asked if we had seen
enough。
〃Quite；〃 I answered in a tone that caused her to say：
〃I wonder what you have seen； Humphrey。 Myself I do not know；
since it is through me that you see at all and when you see I am
in you who see。〃
〃Indeed；〃 I replied。 〃Well； I will tell you about it later。〃
〃Thank you so much；〃 exclaimed Bastin； recovering suddenly from
his amazement。 〃I have heard a great deal of these moving…picture
shows which are becoming so popular； but have always avoided
attending them because their influence on the young is supposed
to be doubtful； and a priest must set a good example to his
congregation。 Now I see that they can have a distinct educational
value； even if it is presented in the form of romance。〃
〃How is it done？〃 asked Bickley； almost fiercely。
〃I do not altogether know；〃 she answered。 〃This I do know；
however； that everything which has happened on this world can be
seen from moment to moment at some point in the depths of space；
for thither the sun's light takes it。 There； too； it can be
caught and thence in an instant returned to earth again； to be
reflected in the mirror of the present by those who know how that
mirror should be held。 Ask me no more； one so wise as you； O
Bickley； can solve such problems for himself。〃
〃If you don't mind； Lady Yva；〃 said Bastin； 〃I think I should
like to get out of this place； interesting as it is。 I have food
to cook up above and lots of things to attend to； especially as I
understand I am to come back here tomorrow。 Would you mind
showing me the way to that lift or moving staircase？〃
〃Come；〃 she said； smiling。
So we went past the image of Fate； out of the temple； down the
vast and lonely streets so unnaturally illuminated； to the place
where we had first found ourselves on arrival in the depths。
There we stood。
A moment later and we were whirling up as we had whirled down。
I suppose that Yva came with us though I never saw her do so； and
the odd thing was that when we arrived in the sepulchre； she
seemed already to be standing there waiting to direct us。
〃Really；〃 remarked Bastin； 〃this is exactly like Maskelyne and
Cook。 Did you ever see their performance； Bickley？ If so； it must
have given you lots to explain for quite a long while。〃
〃Jugglery never appealed to me； whether in London or in
Orofena；〃 replied Bickley in a sour voice as he extracted from
his pocket an end of candle to which he set light。
〃What is jugglery？〃 asked Bastin； and they departed arguing；
leaving me alone with Yva in the sepulchre。
〃What have I seen？〃 I asked her。
〃I do not know； Humphrey。 Everyone sees different things； but
perhaps something of the truth。〃
〃I hope not； Yva； for amongst other things I seemed to see you
swear yourself to a man for ever。〃
〃Yes； and this I did。 What of it？〃
〃Only that it might be hard for another man。〃
〃Yes； for another man it might be hard。 You were once married；
were you not； Humphrey； to a wife who died？〃
〃Yes； I was married。〃
〃And did you not swear to that wife that you would never look
in love upon another woman？〃
〃I did；〃 I answered in a shamed voice。 〃But how do you know？ I
never told you so。〃
〃Oh！ I know you and therefore guessed。〃
〃Well； what of it； Yva？〃
〃Nothing； except that you must find your wife before you love
again； and before I love again I must find him whom I wish to be
my husband。〃
〃How can that happen；〃 I asked； 〃when both are dead？〃
〃How did all that you have seen to…day in Nyo happen？〃 she
replied； laughing softly。 〃Perhaps you are very blind； Humphrey；
or perhaps we both are blind。 If so； mayhap light will come to
us。 Meanwhile do not be sad。 Tomorrow I will meet you and you
shall teach meyour English tongue； Humphrey； and other things。〃
〃Then let it be in the sunlight； Yva。 I do not love those
darksome halls of Nyo that glow like something dead。〃
〃It is fitting； for are they not dead？〃 she answered； with a
little laugh。 〃So be it。 Bastin shall teach my father down below；
since sun and shade are the same to him who only thinks of his
re