And in the heat and ardor of the moment, forgetful of the unseen barrier that divided her from him, he made a violent effort to spring forward--when lo! a wave of rippling light appeared to break from beneath her feet, . . it rolled toward him, and completely flooded the space between them like a glittering pool,--and in it the flowers of Ardath swayed to and fro as water-lilies on a woodland lake sway to the measured dash of passing oars! Starting back with a cry of terror, he gazed wildly on this miracle,--a voice richer than all music rang silvery clear across the liquid radiance. "Fame!" said the voice ... "Wouldst thou crown Me, Theos, with so perishable a diadem?" Paralyzed and speechless, he lifted his straining, dazzled eyes--was THAT Edris?--that lustrous figure, delicate as a sea-mist with the sun shining through? He stared upon her as a dying man might stare for the last time on the face of his nearest and dearest, ... he saw her soft gray garments change to glistening white, ... the wreath she wore sparkled as with a million dewdrops.. a roseate halo streamed above her and around her,--long streaks of crimson flared down the sky like threads of fire swung from the stars,--and in the deepening glory, her countenance, divinely beautiful, yet intensely sad, expressed the touching hope and fear of one who makes a final farewell appeal. Ah God! ... he knew her now! ... too late, too late he knew her! ... the Angel of his vision stood before him! ... and humbled to the very dust and ashes of despair he loathed himself for his unworthiness and lack of faith! "O doubting and unhappy one!" she went on, in accents sweeter than a chime of golden bells--"Thou art lost in the gloom of the Sorrowful Star where naught is known of life save its shadow! Lost.. and as yet I cannot rescue thee--ah! forlorn Edris that I am, left lonely up in Heaven! But prayers are heard, and God's great patience never tires,--learn therefore 'FROM THE PERILS OF THE PAST, THE PERILS OF THE FUTURE'--and weigh against an immortal destiny of love the worth of fame!" Wider and more dazzling grew the brilliancy surrounding her--raising her eyes, she clasped her hands in an attitude of impassioned supplication ... . "O fair King Christ!" she cried, and her voice seemed to strike a melodious passage through the air.. "THOU canst prevail!" A burst of music answered her, . . music that rushed wind-like downwards and swept in strong vibrating chords over the land,--again the "KYRIE ELEISON! CHRISTE ELEISON! KYRIE ELEISON!" pealed forth in the same full youthful-toned chorus that had before sounded so mysteriously outside Elzear's hermitage--and the separate crimson rays glittering aurora-wise about her radiant figure, suddenly melted all together in the form of a great cross, which, absorbing moon and stars in its fiery redness, blazed from end to end of the eastern horizon!