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heaven； nor hell have any bars through which love cannot burst
its way towards reunion and completeness。 Only there must be
love； manifested in many shapes and at many times； but ever
striving to its end； which is not of the flesh。 Aye； love that
has lost itself； love scorned； love defeated； love that seems
false； love betrayed； love gone astray； love wandering through
the worlds； love asleep and living in its sleep； love awake and
yet sleeping； all love that has in it the germ of life。 It
matters not what form love takes。 If it be true I tell you that
it will win its way； and in the many that it has seemed to
worship； still find the one； though perchance not here。
At her words a numb fear gripped my heart。
〃Not here？ Then where？〃 I said。
〃Ask your dead wife； Humphrey。 Ask the dumb stars。 Ask the God
you worship； for I cannot answer； save in one wordSomewhere！
Man； be not afraid。 Do you think that such as you and I can be
lost in the aching abysms of space？ I know but little； yet I tell
you that we are its rulers。 I tell you that we； too； are gods； if
only we can aspire and believe。 For the doubting and timid there
is naught。 For those who see with the eyes of the soul and
stretch out their hands to grasp there is all。 Even Bastin will
tell you this。〃
〃But；〃 I said； 〃life is short。 Those worlds are far away； and
you are near。〃
She became wonderful； mysterious。
〃Near I am far；〃 she said； 〃and far I am near； if only this
love of yours is strong enough to follow and to clasp。 And；
Humphrey； it needs strength； for here I am afraid that it will
bear little of such fruit as men desire to pluck。〃
Again terror took hold of me； and I looked at her； for
I did not know what to say or ask。
〃Listen；〃 she went on。 〃Already my father has offered me to you
in marriage； has he not； but at a price which you do not
understand？ Believe me； it is one that you should never pay；
since the rule of the world can be too dearly bought by the
slaughter of half the world。 And if you would pay it； I cannot。〃
〃But this is madness！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Your father has no powers
over our earth。〃
〃I would that I could think so； Humphrey。 I tell you that he
has powers and that it is his purpose to use them as he has done
before。 You； too； he would use； and me。〃
〃And； if so； Yva； we are lords of ourselves。 Let us take each
other while we may。 Bastin is a priest。〃
〃Lords of ourselves！ Why； for ought I know； at this very moment
Oro watches us in his thought and laughs。 Only in death；
Humphrey； shall we pass beyond his reach and become lords of
ourselves。〃
〃It is monstrous！〃 I cried。 〃There is the boat； let us fly
away。〃
〃What boat can bear us out of stretch of the arm of the old god
of my people； Fate； whereof Oro is the high priest？ Nay； here we
must wait our doom。〃
〃Doom；〃 I said〃doom？ What then is about to happen？〃
〃A terrible thing； as I think； Humphrey。 Or； rather； it will
not happen。〃
〃Why not； if it must？〃
〃Beloved；〃 she whispered； 〃Bastin has expounded to me a new
faith whereof the master…word is Sacrifice。 The terrible thing
will not happen because of sacrifice！ Ask me no more。〃
She mused a while； seated there in the moonlight upon the
ancient altar of sacrifice； the veil she wore falling about her
face and making her mysterious。 Then she threw it back； showing
her lovely eyes and glittering hair； and laughed。
〃We have still an earthly hour；〃 she said； 〃therefore let us
forget the far； dead past and the eternities to come and be
joyful in that hour。 Now throw your arms about me and I will tell
you strange stories of lost days； and you shall look into my eyes
and learn wisdom； and you shall kiss my lips and taste of bliss
you； who were and are and shall beyou； the beloved of Yva from
the beginning to the end of Time。〃
Chapter XXII
The Command
I think that both Bastin and Bickley； by instinct as it were；
knew what had passed between Yva and myself and that she had
promised herself to me。 They showed this by the way in which they
avoided any mention of her name。 Also they began to talk of their
own plans for the future as matters in which I had no part。 Thus
I heard them discussing the possibility of escape from the island
whereof suddenly they seemed to have grown weary； and whether by
any means two men （two； not three） could manage to sail and steer
the lifeboat that remained upon the wreck。 In short； as in all
such cases； the woman had come between； also the pressure of a
common loss caused them to forget their differences and to draw
closer together。 I who had succeeded where they both had failed；
was； they seemed to think； out of their lives； so much that our
ancient intimacy had ended。
This attitude hurt me； perhaps because in many respects the
situation was awkward。 They had； it is true； taken their failures
extremely well； still the fact remained that both of them had
fallen in love with the wonderful creature； woman and yet more
than woman； who had bound herself to me。 How then could we go on
living together； I in prospective possession of the object that
all had desired； and they without the pale？
Moreover； they were jealous in another and quite a different
fashion because they both loved me in their own ways and were
convinced that I who had hitherto loved them； henceforward should
have no affection left to spare； since surely this Glittering
Lady； this marvel of wisdom and physical perfections would take
it all。 Of course they were in error； since even if I could have
been so base and selfish； this was no conduct that Yva would have
wished or even suffered。 Still that was their thought。
Mastering the situation I reflected a little while and then
spoke straight out to them。
〃My friends；〃 I said； 〃as I see that you have guessed； Yva and
I are affianced to each other and love each other perfectly。〃
〃Yes； Arbuthnot；〃 said Bastin； 〃we saw that in your face； and
in hers as she bade us good night before she went into the cave；
and we congratulate you and wish you every happiness。〃
〃We wish you every happiness； old fellow；〃 chimed in Bickley。
He paused a while； then added； 〃But to be honest； I am not sure
that I congratulate you。〃
〃Why not； Bickley？〃
〃Not for the reason that you may suspect； Arbuthnot； I mean not
because you have won where we have lost； as it was only to be
expected that you would do； but on account of something totally
different。 I told you a while ago and repetition is useless and
painful。 I need only add therefore that since then my conviction
has strengthened and I am sure； sorry as I am to say it； that in
this matter you must prepare for disappointment and calamity。
That woman； if woman she really is； will never be the wife of
mortal man。 Now be angry with me if you like； or laugh as you
have the right to do； seeing that like Bastin and yourself； I