ark outline distinctly visible
by the clear background. Snow-white hair and a black mask made him
unrecognizable to every one.

Extending his arms, as if blessing them, the masked one cried: "My
beloved, the unknown fathers of our Holy Order of Rosicrucians send me
to you, and command me to salute you with the greeting of life. I am
to announce to you that the time of revelation approaches, and that the
sublime mysteries of earth and Nature will soon be revealed to you. As
the rose is unfolded in her glowing red, which has so long slept in her
lap of green leaves, you represent the green leaves, and Nature is the
rose. She will disclose herself to you with all her secrets. In her
calyx you will find the elixir of life and the secret of gold, if you
walk in the path of duty; if you exercise unconditional obedience to the
Invisible Fathers; if you submit yourselves in blind confidence to their
wisdom; if you swear to abstain from every self-inquiry, and to distrust
your own understanding." [Footnote: So run the very words in the laws of
the Rosicrucians.--See "New General German Library," vol. lvi., p. 10.]

"We swear it!" cried solemn voices on all sides.

"Swear, blindly, silent obedience to all that the Invisible Fathers
shall announce to you through their directors, or shall order you under
the holy sign of the Rosicrucians by word or writing."

"We swear it!" again resounded in solemn chorus.

"Shame, disgrace, perdition, and destruction, be your curse," thundered
the priest, "if you deviate in thought even from your oath; if you seek
to ponder and reflect; if you measure by your own limited reason the
dispositions and operations of the sublime fathers, to whom Nature has
revealed herself, and to whom all the secrets of heaven and earth
are disclosed. Eternal destruction, and all the tortures of hell and
purgatory, be the portion of the doubting! Damned and proscribed be
the traitor to the holy order! Listen, ye spirits of the deep, and ye
spirits of darkness, withdraw from here in terror, ere the anger of
the Invisible Fathers fall upon you like destroying lightning! Open, ye
doors, that the wicked may flee, and only the good remain!"

With a wave of the hand the great folding-doors now opened, and a flood
of light from the adjoining apartment revealed the drawingroom to be
filled with the dark forms of men enveloped in black cloaks, hoods drawn
over the heads, and black masks covering the faces--all kneeling c