n.

"Has the angel appeared to you in visible form?"

"Sometimes he appears in human form, but in a blinding light; at other
times I hear a sound as of a silver bell tinkling afar. Then I hear no
words, but the truth sinks upon my soul, and burns itself into my brain,
and I feel that the angel speaks."

"Of what, then, has he spoken?" asked Amzi.

"The time in which the full revelation shall be thrown open to man is
not yet. But it will come ere long. None, heretofore, save my own kin
and friends, have been given aught of the great message; yet to you,
Amzi, may I say that Abraham, Moses, Christ, have all been servants of
the true God, yet for Mohammed has been reserved the honor of casting
out the idolatry with which the worship of our people reeks. For him is
destined the glory of purging our Caaba of its images, and of
reinstating the true religion of our fathers in this fair land. Then
shall men know that Allah is the one God, and Mohammed is his prophet!"

"Think you to place yourself on an equality with the Son of God?" cried
Yusuf, sternly.

Mohammed turned quickly upon him, and his face worked in a frenzy of
excitement.

"I tell you there is but one God,--one invisible, eternal God, Allah
above all in earth and heaven,--and Mohammed is the prophet of God!" he
cried.

Yusuf perceived that he had to deal with a fanatic, a religious
enthusiast, who would not be reasoned with.

"Yes," he continued, "may it be Mohammed's privilege to lead men back to
truth, and to turn them from heathendom; to teach them to be wise as
serpents, harmless as doves, and to show them how to walk with clean
hands and hearts through the earth, living uprightly in the sight of all
men!"

"Yet," ventured Yusuf, "did not Jesus teach something of this?"

"Jesus was great and good," said Mohammed; "he was needed in his day
upon the earth, but men have fallen away again, and Mohammed is the
greatest and last, the prophet of Allah!"

The speaker's eyes were flashing; he was yet under the influence of an
overpowering excitement. The color began to rush to his face, and Yusuf,
fearing a return of the swoon, deemed it wise not to prolong the
argument, but delivered the manuscript left by the peddler, saying:

"Read, O Mohammed, and see him who was able to restore the withered hand
stretched forth in faith. Perceive him, and commit not this sacrilege."

Trusting himself to say no more, Yusuf hastily left the cavern, followed
by Amzi