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hen the pursuers drove in after them； the waves rushed back and drowned horse； foot； charioteers； and king。 You spoke of revelation； my Gaspar〃
The blue eyes of the Greek sparkled。
〃I had the story from the Jew；〃 he cried。 〃You confirm it； O Balthasar！〃
〃Yes； but through me Egypt speaks； not Mosche。 I interpret the marbles。 The priests of that time wrote in their way what they witnessed； and the revelation has lived。 So I come to the one unrecorded secret。 In my country； brethren； we have； from the day of the unfortunate Pharaoh； always had two religionsone private； the other public； one of many gods； practised by the people； the other of one God； cherished only by the priesthood。 Rejoice with me； O brothers！ All the trampling by the many nations； all the harrowing by kings； all the inventions of enemies； all the changes of time； have been in vain。 Like a seed under the mountains waiting its hour； the glorious Truth has lived； and thisthis is its day！〃
The wasted frame of the Hindoo trembled with delight； and the Greek cried aloud；
〃It seems to me the very desert is singing。〃
From a gurglet of water near…by the Egyptian took a draught； and proceeded：
〃I was born at Alexandria； a prince and a priest； and had the education usual to my class。 But very early I became discontented。 Part of the faith imposed was that after death upon the destruction of the body； the soul at once began its former progression from the lowest up to humanity； the highest and last existence； and that without reference to conduct in the mortal life。 When I heard of the Persian's Realm of Light； his Paradise across the bridge Chinevat； where only the good go； the thought haunted me； insomuch that in the day； as in the night； I brooded over the comparative ideas Eternal Transmigration and Eternal Life in Heaven。 If； as my teacher taught； God was just； why was there no distinction between the good and the bad？ At length it became clear to me； a certainty； a corollary of the law to which I reduced pure religion； that death was only the point of separation at which the wicked are left or lost； and the faithful rise to a higher life； not the nirvana of Buddha； or the negative rest of Brahma； O Melchior； nor the better condition in hell； which is all of Heaven allowed by the Olympic faith； O Gaspar； but lifelife active； joyous； everlastingLIFE WITH GOD！ The discovery led to another inquiry。 Why should the Truth be longer kept a secret for the selfish solace of the priesthood？ The reason for the suppression was gone。 Philosophy had at least brought us toleration。 In Egypt we had Rome instead of Rameses。 One day； in the Brucheium； the most splendid and crowded quarter of Alexandria； I arose and preached。 The East and West contributed to my audience。 Students going to the Library； priests from the Serapeion； idlers from the Museum； patrons of the race…course； countrymen from the Rhacotisa multitudestopped to hear me。 I preached God； the Soul； Right and Wrong； and Heaven； the reward of a virtuous life。 You； O Melchior； were stoned； my auditors first wondered； then laughed。 I tried again； they pelted me with epigrams； covered my God with ridicule； and darkened my Heaven with mockery。 Not to linger needlessly； I fell before them。〃
The Hindoo here drew a long sigh； as he said； 〃The enemy of man is man； my brother。〃
Balthasar lapsed into silence。
〃I gave much thought to finding the cause of my failure； and at last succeeded；〃 he said； upon beginning again。 〃Up the river； a day's journey from the city； there is a village of herdsmen and gardeners。 I took a boat and went there。 In the evening I called the people together； men and women； the poorest of the poor。 I preached to them exactly as I had preached in the Brucheium。 They did not laugh。 Next evening I spoke again； and they believed and rejoiced； and carried the news abroad。 At the third meeting a society was formed for prayer。 I returned to the city then。 Drifting down the river； under the stars； which never seemed so bright and so near； I evolved this lesson： To begin a reform； go not into the places of the great and rich； go rather to those whose cups of happiness are emptyto the poor and humble。 And then I laid a plan and devoted my life。 As a first step； I secured my vast property； so that the income would be certain； and always at call for the relief of the suffering。 From that day； O brethren； I travelled up and down the Nile； in the villages； and to all the tribes； preaching One God； a righteous life； and reward in Heaven。 I have done goodit does not become me to say how much。 I also know that part of the world to be ripe for the reception of Him we go to find。〃
A flush suffused the swarthy cheek of the speaker； but he overcame the feeling； and continued：
〃The years so given； O my brothers； were troubled by one thoughtWhen I was gone； what would become of the cause I had started？ Was it to end with me？ I had dreamed many times of organization as a fitting crown for my work。 To hide nothing from you； I had tried to effect it； and failed。 Brethren； the world is now in the condition that； to restore the old Mizraimic faith； the reformer must have a more than human sanction； he must not merely come in God's name； he must have the proofs subject to his word； he must demonstrate all he says； even God。 So preoccupied is the mind with myths and systems； so much do false deities crowd every placeearth； air； sky； so have they become of everything a part； that return to the first religion can only be along bloody paths； through fields of persecution； that is to say； the converts must be willing to die rather than recant。 And who in this age can carry the faith of men to such a point but God himself？ To redeem the raceI do not mean to destroy itto REDEEM the race； he must make himself once more manifest； HE MUST COME IN PERSON。〃
Intense emotion seized the three。
〃Are we not going to find him？〃 exclaimed the Greek。
〃You understand why I failed in the attempt to organize；〃 said the Egyptian； when the spell was past。 〃I had not the sanction。 To know that my work must be lost made me intolerably wretched。 I believed in prayer； and to make my appeals pure and strong； like you； my brethren； I went out of the beaten ways； I went where man had not been； where only God was。 Above the fifth cataract； above the meeting of rivers in Sennar； up the Bahr el Abiad； into the far unknown of Africa； I went。 There； in the morning； a mountain blue as the sky flings a cooling shadow wide over the western desert； and； with its cascades of melted snow； feeds a broad lake nestling at its base on the east。 The lake is the mother of the great river。 For a year and more the mountain gave me a home。 The fruit of the palm fed my body； prayer my spirit。 One night I walked in the orchard close by the little sea。 'The world is dying。 When wilt thou come？ Why may I not see the redemption； O God？' So I prayed。 The glassy water was sparkling with stars。 One of them seemed to leave its place； and rise to the surface； where it became a brilliancy burning to the eyes。 Then it moved towards me； and stood over my head； apparently in hand's reach。 I fell down and hid my face。 A voice； not of the earth； said； 'Thy good wo