y vision, and I, the poor wanderer
seeking for truth and rest, was carried onwards as a mighty
rushing wind, accumulating knowledge as I went, until I was
borne into a vale of peace and rested for a while drinking in
the delirious joys of my new-found life.

'Power was given to me, power of which I dare not speak, save
only to those who are initiated into the mysteries of your
veiled goddess Hecate.

'Wisdom and power were bestowed on me, and, with the power I
possessed, I dealt out beneficence in accordance with the
precepts of Diana--Diana Triformis; and thus from stage to
stage my life has moved. But the soul has an eternal longing
for greater knowledge and greater truths, and this was the case
with Saronia, your priestess.

'As a wild gazelle springs from crag to crag, over shadowed
chasms, in search of food, so I moved on, seeking joy and truth
and knowledge, until I in spirit reached a sea-girt shore, and
could no further go. Not that my desire failed, but aid came
not to ferry me over the darkling waters.

'I stood calling on my goddess to point a way to the other
shore, on which stood templed cities with domes and towers
rising high into the pearly sheen of a glorious light. But no
answer came.... From the spiritual city across the sea came a
flowing light like a moving star. It came, and resolved into
beauteous form, until a Spirit, priestly, kingly, clothed with
heaven, stood beside me, and spoke peace to my awakening soul,
saying, "I will guide thee."...

'But it was not a messenger of Diana.'

'Of whom, then?' shouted the priests.

''Twas the Angel of the new faith,' replied the priestess.

'Traitor! traitor!' thundered the people. 'Hear! She defames the great
Diana! Take her away--away quickly, lest she pollute the altar!'

Gazing steadily on the multitude, her dark eyes flashing fire, she
cried:

'No, no! Back! Use not your force. 'Tis needless. I might have fled the
Temple, sought refuge in the mountains, escaped your fury, but she who
has been your High Priestess would not have the seal of cowardice
stamped upon her soul. Saronia will go to her death, trusting in the
Christ of God.'

'Take her away,' shouted the priests, 'lest she speaks again that
accursed name! She is beside herself; the spirit of Saronia has fled,
another has entered, accursed--accursed!