De L'Ester desires me to relate something I once read in an ancient record now stored in the Library of this Galarēs[a:]. It states that immediately succeeding the Establishment of the national religion certain fanatics held peculiar beliefs. They asserted that Andûman[a:] had spoken to them, assuring them that they were possessed of an Essence, or Principle, which was the life of the body, and that this Essence, or life Principle, after death of the body continued a conscious, happy existence in a world unseeable by physical eyes. They also asserted that Andûman[a:] revealed to them Laws which commanded them to refrain from all evil conduct. To love one another. To act justly, and to be merciful to all living things. Other Laws relate to the duties of parents, of children, of those in authority, and so on. Certainly they were of a character indicating a Law Giver of a high order of intelligence. The record further states that this fanatical sect for a time increased prodigiously, but persecution and other causes finally led to its extinction. Another historian relates that during the third century of the Established Religion one Mēro Kalmon invented an instrument through which he daringly and impiously gazed toward Astranol[a:]. He not only declared that Astranol[a:] did not exist, but that there were other worlds than Ento. He went so far as to declare that these worlds moved through space, and he even made drawings and calculations relating to these fanciful Worlds, which misled many into a belief in his reprehensible teachings. Not content with filling the minds of people with these vain imaginings he also hinted that these newly discovered worlds might be peopled as was Ento. So eager is humanity to indulge in new fancies that ere long he made many converts, and the Sacred Faith was seriously menaced. Word of Mēro Kalmon's proceedings was brought to the Supreme Ruler Mostēnû Stoiv[a:], who directed that he be admonished to cease teaching fancies so pernicious, so sacrilegious, so devoid of intelligence. He was admonished, but being either very perverse or very much in earnest, he continued to teach his senseless ideas. Gentle admonitions failing to correct his heterodox opinions, severer measures were exercised, but still he held to what he pretended to, or did believe, and it became necessary to offer him as a Sacrifice to appease the righteous wrath of Andûman[a:]. The historian also relates that as he was about to be Sacrificed, suddenly the sky became overcast with threatening clouds, and partial darkness reigned, but that at the moment that the priestly knife reached the heart of the blasphemous Mēro Kalmon, Andûman[a:] smiled, and Diafon Evoih[a:]'s golden beams gladdened the hearts of the assembled multitude. And thus, adds the historian, was demonstrated the truth of our Holy Religion. At this time _Mēro Kalmon is a re-embodied spirit_, and amid the galaxy of your