les; but there are many who waver, some who doubt, and I
find that my movements are watched. I cannot trust the woman in this
house. I think she is a spy set upon me, but I cannot remove her, as
this house, and all which it contains, are not mine, but belong to the
disciples in general. There is another woman, not far off, who is my
rival; she calls me an impostor, and says that she is the true
prophetess, and that I am not one. This will be rather difficult for her
to prove," continued she, with a mocking smile. "Beset as I am, I
require your assistance, for you must be aware that it is rather
discreditable to a prophetess, who has risen from the dead, to be seen
all day at the gin-shop, yet without stimulants now, I could not exist."

"And how can I assist you?"

"By sending me, as medicine, that which I dare no longer procure in any
other way, and keeping the secret which I have imparted."

"I will do both with pleasure; but yet," said I, "is it not a pity, a
thousand pities, that one so young--and if you will allow me to add, so
lovely, should give herself up to ardent spirits? Why," continued I,
taking her small white hand, "why should you carry on the deception;
why sacrifice your health, and I may say your happiness--" What more I
might have said I know not, probably it might have been an offer of
marriage, but she cut me short.

"Why does everybody sacrifice their health, their happiness, their all,
but for ambition and the love of power? It is true, as long as this
little beauty lasts, I might be courted as a woman, but never should I
be worshipped as--I may say--a god.--No, no, there is something too
delightful in that adoration, something too pleasant in witnessing a
crowd of fools stare, and men of three times my age, falling down and
kissing the hem of my garment. This is, indeed, adoration! the delight
arising from it is so great, that all other passions are crushed by
it--it absorbs all other feelings, and has closed my heart even against
love, Japhet. I could not, I would not debase myself, sink so low in my
own estimation, as to allow so paltry a passion to have dominion over
me; and, indeed, now that I am so wedded to stimulants, even if I were
no longer a prophetess, it never could."

"But is not intoxication one of the most debasing of all habits?"

"I grant you, in itself, but with me and in my situation it is
different. I fall to rise again, and higher. I cannot be what I am
without I simulat