“To bind the sweet influence of the Pleiades is the opposite of loosing the belt of Orion,” answered Akaza. “It has not been granted me to know the significance of either,” responded Yermah, humbly. “Alcyone, the central sun around which the spiral galaxy of the firmament encompassed in the Milky Way, and all the stars, suns and planets included in that circle, are revolving in the only one of the seven sisters whose love is mortal. From out that center issues evermore a ray of the divine creative spirit, coalescing into the life of animate nature here. “The adept gathers the component parts of that incomprehensible being—man—to his divine center,” Akaza continued. “He wills them into the being of another, and that other becomes the mother of a son, given from the depths of space. Such a son art thou, Yermah.” “And thou art in very truth my father?” asked Yermah, wonderingly. “Yes. For this cause am I in the flesh, and for this, also, must I remain in the body, until thou art restored to the Brotherhood. I am the hierophant, the second in power in our order. So it was granted to me to create an entity which should rule the future as Atlantis rules the present.” “Tell me all of my beginning. How and why this should be. Thou wert an old man when I was born; and thou art a vowed celibate?” “Swear by Him who made us that thou wilt not reveal what I am about to unfold.” He held up a six-pointed diamond star which blazed on his bosom for the Dorado to kiss, as they stood facing each other. As Yermah’s lips touched the center, he turned to the east, and, with both hands clasped over his head, said solemnly: “I swear.” “A priest of our order, under the same tutelage as Orondo, was thy literal father, while thy mother was a vestal selected from the Temple of Venus. Thy great-grandfather, grandfather and father were of the priesthood, and their wives were selected vestals. To the prophet, hierophant and high-priest was the divine self confided, and we were pledged to produce a ruler for this generation. We willed the conditions which gave thee birth and I must share thy joys and sorrows until such time as the Brotherhood releases me.” “Then I am not of royal lineage—am not the son of Poseidon, Servitor of Atlantis?” There was pain and disappointment in Yermah’s voice. “Thou art royal in the highest and best sense. Thou art immaculately conceived, as is the sun by the cosmic virgin, when he has been standing still in Capricornus. It is said everywhere that a dewdrop fell on thy virgin mother’s bosom, as she lay asleep in a sacred grove. Such was thy beginning.” “Then he to whom I have rendered obedience is not in any sense my father?” “No. Thou art a veritable sun-god, destined to be thrice born in this life.” “Oh! Akaza, why speakest thou in riddles? Thrice born, indeed! How is it possible without death and rebirth?” Akaza smiled at his impatience.