e is the very type of misguided human
bravery. You were too hard upon him, Zara!"

Zara sighed.

"He spoke against you," she said. "Of course he did," returned her
brother with a smile. "And it was perfectly natural he should do so.
Have I not read his thoughts? Do not I know that he considers me a
false pretender and CHARLATAN? And have I not humoured him? In this he
is no worse than any one of his race. Every great scientific discovery
is voted impossible at the first start. Ivan is not to blame because he
is like the rest of the world. He will be wiser in time."

"He attempted to force his desires," began Zara again, and her cheeks
flushed indignantly.

"I know," answered her brother. "I foresaw how it would be, but was
powerless to prevent it. He was wrong--but bold! Such boldness compels
a certain admiration. This fellow would scale the stars, if he knew how
to do it, by physical force alone."

I grew impatient, and interrupted these remarks.

"Perhaps he is scaling the stars now," I said; "or at any rate he will
do so if death can show him the way."

Heliobas gave me a friendly glance.

"You also are growing courageous when you can speak to your physician
thus abruptly," he observed quietly. "Death has nothing to do with our
friend as yet, I assure you. Zara, you had better leave us. Your face
must not be the first for Ivan's eyes to rest upon. You," nodding to
me, "can stay."

Zara pressed my hand gently as she passed me, and entered her studio,
the door of which closed behind her, and I heard the key turn in the
lock. I became absorbed in the proceedings of Heliobas. Stooping
towards the recumbent form of Prince Ivan, he took the heavy lifeless
hands firmly in his own, and then fixed his eyes fully and steadily on
the pale, set features with an expression of the most forcible calm and
absolutely undeniable authority. Not one word did he utter, but
remained motionless as a statue in the attitude thus assumed--he seemed
scarcely to breathe--not a muscle of his countenance moved. Perhaps
twenty or thirty seconds might have elapsed, when a warm tinge of
colour came back to the apparently dead face--the brows twitched--the
lips quivered and parted in a heavy sigh. The braised appearance of the
eyelids gave place to the natural tint--they opened, disclosing the
eyes, which stared directly into those of the compelling Master who
thus forced their obedience. A strong shudder shook the young man's
frame; his