."

The Kosekin smiled joyously.

"Oh, almighty and wondrous power of Love!" he exclaimed, "how thou
hast transformed this foreigner! Oh, Atam-or! you will soon be one of
us altogether. For see, how is it now? You pretend to love riches and
life, and yet you are ready to give up everything for Almah."

"Gladly, gladly!" I exclaimed.

"Yes," he said, "all that you have--you would gladly lavish on her,
and would rejoice to make yourself a pauper for her sweet sake. You
also would rejoice equally to give up life for her. Is it not so?"

"It is," said I.

"Then I see by this that Almah has awakened within you your true human
nature. Thus far it has lain dormant; it has been concealed under a
thousand false and unnatural habits, arising from your strange native
customs. You have been brought up under some frightful system, where
nature is violated. Here among us your true humanity is unfolded, and
with Almah you are like the Kosekin. Soon you will learn new lessons,
and will find out that there is a new and a final self-abnegation in
perfect love; and your love will never rest till you have separated
yourself from Almah, so that love can have its perfect work."

The sea now opened wide before us, rising up high as if half-way to
the zenith, giving the impression of a vast ascent to endless
distances. Around the shores spread themselves, with the shadowy
outlines of the mountains; above was the sky, all clear, with faint
aurora-flashes and gleaming stars. Hand-in-hand with Almah I stood and
pointed out the constellations as we marked them while she told me of
the different divisions known among the Kosekin as well as her own
people. There, high in the zenith, was the southern polar-star, not
exactly at the pole, nor yet of very great brightness, but still
sufficiently noticeable.

Looking back, we saw, low down, parts of the Phoenix and the Crane;
higher up, the Toucan, Hydrus, and Pavo. On our right, low down, was
the beautiful Altar; higher up, the Triangle; while on the left were
the Sword-fish and the Flying-fish. Turning to look forward, we beheld
a more splendid display. Then, over the bow of the vessel, between
the Centaur, which lay low, and Musca Indica, which rose high, there
blazed the bright stars of the Southern Cross--a constellation, if not
the brightest, at least the most conspicuous and attractive in all the
heavens. All around there burned other stars, separated widely. Then,
over the stern, gleame