“The law of rhythm, which drives the soul into and out of gross matter, as it drives the tides of the ocean into flood and ebb, and the consciousness of man into sleeping and waking.” “And it was you who awakened me? Are you, then, this law of rhythm?” The Teacher smiled. “I am not the law,” he said, “but I am bound by it, even as you, save as I am temporarily able to transcend it by my will--again, even as you.” I caught my breath at the profundity of this simple answer, but the man seemed not to observe its significance. Even as he! Why, this man by his misdirected will had been able temporarily to transcend the law of immortality, even as the Teacher by his wisely directed will transcended the mortal in himself! My soul sang within me at this glimpse of the godlike possibilities of the human mind. “How long have I been asleep?” demanded the man. “In what year did you die?” the Teacher asked. “In the year 1817.” “And the present year is known, according to the Christian calendar, as the year 1912. You have lain in a death-like sleep for ninety-five years.” “And was it really you who awakened me?” “Yes.” “Why did you do it?” “Because it suited my good pleasure,” was the Teacher’s rather stern reply. “It was not because you deserved to be awakened.” “And how long would I have slept if you had not aroused me?” “I cannot say. Probably until those who had started even with you had left you far behind on the road of evolving life. Perhaps for centuries, perhaps for ages.” “You have taken a responsibility upon yourself,” said the man. “You do not need to remind me of that,” replied the Teacher. “I weighed in my own mind the full responsibility and decided to assume it for a purpose of my own. For will is free.” “Yet you overpowered my will.” “I did; but by my own more potent will, more potent because wisely directed and backed by a greater energy.” “And what are you going to do with me?” “I am going to assume the responsibility of your training.” “My training?” “Yes.” “And you will make things easy for me?” “On the contrary, I shall make things very hard for you; but you cannot escape my teaching.” “Shall you instruct me personally?” “Personally in the sense that I shall place you under the instruction of an advanced pupil of my own.” “Who? This man here?” He pointed to me. “No. He is better occupied. I will take you to your teacher presently.” “And what will he show me?” “The panorama of immortality. And when you have learned the lesson so that you can never forget nor escape it, you will have to go back to the earth and teach it to others; you will have to convert as many men to the truth of immortality as you have in the past deluded and misled by your false doctrines of materialism and death.” “And what if I refuse? You have said that will is free.” “_Do_ you refuse?” “No, but what if I had?”