hung upon him like a disguise, his eyes
burning even upon that faded picture with the fire of his spirit. For
James Warlock was a mystic, a visionary, a prophet. He walked and
talked with God; in no jesting spirit it was said that he knew God's
plans and could turn the world into a blazing coal so soon as he
pleased. It was because he knew with certainty that God would, in
person, soon, descend upon the earth that he separated from the main
body and led his little band down into Wiltshire. Here on the broad
gleaming Plain they prepared for God's coming. Named now the Kingscote
Brethren after their new abode, they built a Chapel, sat down and
waited. Then in 1840 the prophet declared that the Coming was not yet,
that it would be in the next generation, but that their preparations
must not be relaxed. He himself prepared by taking to himself a wife, a
calm untroubled countrywoman of the place, that she might give him a
son whom he might prepare, in due course, for his great destiny. John,
father of Martin, was born, a large-limbed, smiling infant, with the
tranquillity of his mother as well as something of the mysticism of his
father.

Upon him, as upon his ancestors, this consciousness of God had most
absolutely descended. Never for a moment did he question the facts that
his father told to him. He grew into a giant of health and strength,
and those who, in those old days, saw them tell that it was a strange
picture to watch the little wizened man, walking with odd emotional
gestures, with little hops and leaps and swinging of the arms beside
the firm long stride of the young man towering above him.

When young John was twenty-three years of age his father was found dead
under a tree upon a summer's evening. His expression was of a man
challenging some new and startling discovery; he had found perhaps new
visions to confront his gaze. They buried him in Kingscote and his son
reigned in his stead.

But they were approaching new and modern times. These old days, of
simple faith and superstition were passing never to return. There were
new elements in the Kingscote company of souls and these elements
demanded freer play both of thought and action. They argued that, as to
them alone out of all the world the time and manner of God's coming was
known, they should influence with their activities some wider sphere
than this Wiltshire village.

John Warlock clung with all his strength to the old world that he knew,
the world