urs by making Islam your
faith. Before these messengers there were others, for God has never
left the world in desolation. I have seen you surrounded by Light, a
light which comes from one of God's messengers, who is never far from
you. As I see him, always in the midst of a great light, like the
light of the sun, he resembles no mortal I have ever seen on this
earth, or any king I have been shown in my dreams. He has greatly
suffered for mankind, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, as
was the Prophet Christ."

Michael was greatly disturbed. The old man's eyes were far from him.
His words had their meaning for Michael more than for himself. The
great sunlight was the rays of Aton. The treasure of which he had
spoken--was it the treasure of which the vision in the valley had
spoken to Margaret?

"Some day I may have more counsel to offer you, my son. To-day I have
but strange visions, strange messages. This treasure you are to seek
lies in the desert; it is a treasure of great value. I see much gold,
but also, my son, much tribulation. This gold . . . it has been lost
to the world . . . for many centuries. . . ."

"It is all very strange, my father. Your words are full of meaning.
In Egypt there was a King, before the days of Moses, who sacrificed his
kingdom to give his people God. His was the religion of the true God
and His everlasting mercy."

The old man recited another _sura_ from the Koran. "Go and pray, my
son, open your heart to prayer, for prayer is better than strife;
prayer is greater than miracles. Perseverance in prayer is Islam."

"Can you tell me nothing more?" Michael said. "Is it not folly to
start out on a journey which has no definite ending, no practical
purpose?"

"I cannot tell you more, my son, nor can I tell you why these visions
have been revealed to me. All I know is that I cannot doubt their
source."

"Do you, my father, then absolutely believe in visions?" Michael said.
"I am only a seeker after truth. I am convinced of so little."

"My son, believe in visions. Is their meaning not written on the leaf
of a water-melon?" (A thing well-known.)

"We read of them in the Bible."

"Did I not tell you that I knew of your coming? It was revealed to me
in a vision. I saw you groping and losing your way. I saw you in
thick darkness. I saw you struggling for the Light. Is all that not
true? Have you never lost the Light? Has your path been straight and
ea