Oman looked at Bhavani thoughtfully, and wondered. For many months he had preached his creed to men, in the market-place, and it had seemed good to him, and high, and true. Yet now he was confronted by a ruler of men:—a King, one who exercised over him a peculiar fascination. Perhaps he felt a desire to open himself entirely to this melodious-voiced Rajah; and yet, on the other hand, a new sense urged him to prudence, to silence, to secrecy in that which intimately concerned himself. After a little he asked, almost humbly: “Tell me then, noble One, why thou seekest of me my—faith?” “For many years it has been my delight and my desire to learn all that I can of the many forms of Truth that live in the minds of the thoughtful. I have also a son, nearing manhood, for whom I have founded a school here in my palace, which has been taught by very learned men. This school I overlook myself; and I have been accustomed to search among every class of men for new thought that can be laid before the noble youths of my kingdom. For them, and for myself, I ask thee to expound to me thy creed.” “And likewise for Zenaide, the woman of red gold?” demanded Oman, with a flash in his eye. But Bhavani did not wince. “For her also, who is my sacred charge.” “Hear, then, O Rajah, the Dharma that came to me in the wilderness: “In space are, and from the beginning have been, two elements: one, that which we call spirit; the other, matter. And spirit, which lives and feels and does not change, struggles constantly after knowledge. In the beginning, Spirit entered matter and ruled it, and out of chaos brought form, and conceived and organized the laws of Nature. But, having entered matter, Spirit found itself encumbered and bound about by the inert substance that is foreign to it; and it learned also that its great Unity had been broken into various particles, each of which was now enclosed in a form. And thereupon perceiving itself caught by the encumbering mass, it set itself to dominate matter, and so to rule it that in time the fetters should disappear. But this was, and still is, difficult. Matter is subject to change and to decay. Moreover, it is the exact opposite of that which has taken possession of it. And the spirit in the clay finds itself ever and again freed and ever and again seized anew and enclosed in another form, until, after infinite experience, certain units of spirit found themselves actually dominant over the evil element, and free to pursue their natural vocation of perfect power and stainless happiness. And these, uniting together to give what aid they might to their still unconquering brethren, are the only God: that which we should all pray to for strength.