pened
my eyes and looked about in astonishment. The strangeness of my position
and surroundings surprised me beyond expression. I was lying upon my
back in a small narrow bed stationed within a large oblong room about
one hundred by fifty feet in dimensions. Long rows of little white beds
extended from one end of the apartment to the other, each containing the
form of a human being. Most of these forms appeared to be soundly
sleeping, some lay awake silently meditating, while others tossed about
nervously from one position to another as if in terrible agony. An
occasional howl of torture rent the air. Moving hither and thither among
the different beds were women attired in white dresses and wearing
little white caps on their heads. They carried in their hands, spoons,
tumblers, trays, and various instruments and vessels of peculiar design.

At the front of my bed stood a man of medium height and build, with a
heavy reddish mustache and pointed beard. At one side, half way between
the head and foot of my bed, was the figure of a woman, apparently about
twenty-one years of age. She was tall, slender, graceful, and
magnificently gowned in street clothes. Her head was shapely and covered
with an abundance of dark brown hair. Her physiognomy was intellectually
strong, and the whole cast of her features showed extraordinary beauty.
Her eyes were clear and bright, and expressed a tender and sympathetic
nature. She was looking straight at me in a half-startled sort of a
manner, and appeared to be backing away from the bed upon which I lay.
As my eyes met her steady gaze I involuntarily exclaimed, "Arletta!"
Then instantly my memory returned, and I remembered all that had taken
place, as explained in the preceding chapters.

Notwithstanding, however, that my mind became clear and well-balanced, I
became extremely puzzled as I looked at this beautiful woman, to note
that she bore a striking resemblance to the sublime being, who had just
passed away among the remnants of Sageland, and I became still further
confounded when she timidly approached me and softly said: "You are John
Convert, are you not?"

"Yes," answered I, "that is my name."

"And do you recognize me?" inquired she.

"I recognize in you a living demonstration and positive realization of
the principle of re-incarnation, as embodied in the Sageman's theory of
Natural Law," answered I, slowly and deliberately. "I recognize in you
the soul of Arletta, of Sageland,