The door of the sanctuary stood open, but his ordinary faculties were dormant, while his subjective consciousness sought to penetrate the gloom ingulfing Kerœcia. He did not hear approaching footsteps, nor did his wandering senses respond when a light tap sounded on the door, nor did he see the face peering in at him. “He kneels before Orion,” said Alcamayn hurriedly, as Akaza approached. “Thou wilt find him distraught already.” “Hasten back to the Observatory and have the bells tolled to quiet the alarm showing itself among the people,” said Akaza in dismissal. “Soon the dread visitation will be upon us, and it were gentle to forewarn them.” Akaza had been making observations night and day since Yermah’s return from Anokia. He had said little, but his face was set and stern, like one in deep trouble. He made a peculiar rat-tat! on the lentils of the sanctuary with his fingers, which brought Yermah to the doorway. “A sign of great portent is in the heavens,” began Akaza, after a mute salutation. “When the sun is passing from Libra to Capricorn is a season prolific in visitations from outer space. The fiery messengers come near the sun at that time. Dost thou remember the night in the cave?” “Memory serves me well,” answered Yermah, unable to concentrate his attention. “Is the visitant of the usual complexion and order?” “It is a burning coal, red and glowing. Its face is like a double crescent, and it is a formidable rival to the sun in size. It comes retrograde with the constellation Orion rising. Its illuminated hair floats over one half of the zenith, and is not quite on a straight line opposite the sun. It pulsates as though it had been agitated by the wind, and is curved like a threatening saber. “To-day, it will pass through the plane of the earth’s orbit, and when it meets the influence of the new moon, it will be in sore affliction with Venus. In this condition it comes under the influence of Mars. It will then disperse that planet’s cohesive strength and there will be war in the earth’s interior between uncontrolled water and fire. “All the planets in our system afflict and oppose each other so that the waters of the sea and the winds of heaven will be lashed into furious activity.” “What means this sudden clangor of bells?” asked Yermah, now fully aroused to the commotion in the courtyard outside. “It is a solemn convocation to call the affrighted people together to watch and pray, while the sign hangs suspended behind the dying sun,” answered Akaza, hurrying after him. “Many times of late the orb of day has gone to rest in a bed of blood, but to-night the red glow comes from another quarter. The scourge is upon us, Yermah, and the hour of thy trial is at hand.” CHAPTER EIGHTEEN YERMAH BECOMES ONE OF THE WHITE STAR BROTHERHOOD