nd hate shall lose and win, and
die to arise again. But not yet is the struggle ended that began in
other worlds than this, and shall endure till evil is lost in good, and
darkness swallowed up in light. Bethink thee, Meriamun, of that vision
of thy bridal night, and read its riddle. Lo! I will answer it with my
last breath as the Gods have given me wisdom. When we three are once
more twain, then shall our sin be purged and peace be won, and the
veil be drawn from the face of Truth. Oh, Helen, fare thee well! I have
sinned against thee, I have sworn by the Snake who should have sworn by
the Star, and therefore I have lost thee."

"Thou hast but lost to find again beyond the Gateways of the West," she
answered low.

Then she bent down, and taking him in her arms, kissed him, whispering
in his ear, and the blood of men that fell ever from the Star upon her
breast, dropped like dew upon his brow, and vanished as it dropped.

And as she whispered of joy to be, and things too holy to be written,
the face of the Wanderer grew bright, like the face of a God.

Then suddenly his head fell back, and he was dead, dead upon the heart
of the World's Desire. For thus was fulfilled the oath of Idalian
Aphrodite, and thus at the last did Odysseus lie in the arms of the
Golden Helen.

Now Meriamun clasped her breast, and her lips turned white with pain.
But Helen rose, and standing at the Wanderer's head looked on Meriamun,
who stood at his feet.

"My sister," said Helen to the Queen; "see now the end of all. He whom
we loved is lost to us, and what hast thou gained? Nay, look not so
fiercely on me. I may not be harmed of thee, as thou hast seen, and thou
mayest not be harmed of me, who would harm none, though ever thou wilt
hate me who hate thee not, and till thou learnest to love me, Sin shall
be thy portion and Bitterness thy comfort."

But Meriamun spoke no word.

Then Helen beckoned to Rei and spake to him, and Rei went weeping to do
her bidding.

Presently he returned again, and with him were soldiers bearing torches.
The soldiers lifted up the body of the Wanderer, and bore it to a mighty
pyre that was built up of the wealth of the barbarians, of chariots,
spears, and the oars of ships, of wondrous fabrics, and costly
furniture. And they laid the Wanderer on the pyre, and on his breast
they laid the black bow of Eurytus.

Then Helen spoke to Rei once more, and Rei took a torch and fired the
pyre so that smoke and