Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-10-12
SHE
A History Of Adventure.
IBy H. RIDER HAGGARD. !
(XvII. CONTINUED

4
my best 10 eXpound to her the doctrines of
Christianity, to which, however, with the
single exception of our conception of
heaven and hell, found that she paid but
faint attention, her interest being all di-
rected toward the Man who taught them.
All" she said; | sea new religion.
have known SO many, and doubtless
there have been many more since knew
aught beyond these caves Of Kor. Man
kind asks ever of the skies TO vision out
what lies behind them. IL is terror for the
end, and but subtler form Of selfishness
this it Is that breeds religions Mark.
my Holly, each religion claims the future
for its followers or, at the least the good
thereof The evil is for those benighted
ones who will have none of it, seeing the
light the true believers worship, as the
fishes see the stars, but dimly. The reli-
gions come and the religions pass and
civilizations come and pass, and naught
endures put the world and human nature.
All. if man would but see that hope is
from within and not from without THAI
he himself must work out his own saliva
ton. He is there, and within him is the
breath Of life, and knowledge of good
and evil are to him. < Thereon let him
build and stand erect, and not cast him
self before the image of some unknown
God, modelled like himself, but with
bigger brain to think evil, and longer
arm to do il.
thought to myself-whlch shows how
old such reasoning is, being, indeed, one
of the recurring quantities of theological
discussion-that her argument sounded
very like some | have heard in the nine
teenth century, and in other places than
the caves of Kor, and with which, by the
way personally disagree; but | did not
dare to try and discuss the question with
her. To begin with my mind was too
weary with all the emotions through which
had passed; and in the second place,
knew that | should get the worst of it. 1t
is hard enough TO argue with an ordinary
materialist, who hurls statistics and whole
while you can only buffet him with deduc-
tions and instincts and the snow flakes of
faith, that are, alas. SO apt TO melt in the
bot embers of our troubles. How little
chance, then should | have against one
whose brain was systematically sharpeped
aud who had two thousand years Of ex.
perlence, beside all manner of knowledge
of the secrets of nature at her command?
Feeling that she would be more likely to
convert me than l should be to convert
her, | thought it best to leave the matter
alone, and so sat silent. Many a time
since then have bitterly regretted that
did so, for thereby | lost the only oppor-
tunity can remember having had of as
certaining what Ayesha really believed.
well, my Holly, art thou tired of me
already, that thou dcst sit so silent?" she
said presently. with little yawn. Faith
less man And but half an hour since
thou vast upon thy knees-the posture
does not suit thee, Holly-swearing that
thou didst love me. What shall we do?
l.
youth, the Lion. as the old man Bllali
calls him, who came with thee, and who
is now so sick. The fever must have run
its course by now, and if he is about TO
die will recover him. Fear not, my
Holly, | shall use no magic. Have | not
told thee that there is no such thing as
magic. though there is such thing as I'M
Outstanding and applying the forces which
are in nature? Go now. and presently,
when l have made the drug ready, l will
follow thee. ~
Accordingly went, only to find Job
and Ustane in great state of grief, and
declaring that Leo was in the throes of
death, and that they had been searching
for me everywhere. rushed TO the couch,
and glanced at him: clearly he was dying.
He was senseless, and breathing heavily,
but his lips were quivering. and every now
and again little shudder ran down his
frame | knew enough of doctorng to
see that i'm another hour he would be be-
yond reach of earthly help-perhaps in
another five minutes How ! cursed my
selfshness, and the folly that had kept me
lingering by Ayesha's side while my dear
boy lay dying! Alas and alas how
easily the best of us are lighted down to
evil by the CLEAN of woman's eyes
What wicked wretch was Actually
for the last half hour 1 had scarcely
thought o. Leo, and this, be it remember
ed. of the man who for twenty years had
been my dearest. companion, and the one
interest Of my existence. And now. per.
haps, 1t was to late!
l wrung my hands and glanced round.
Ustane was sitting by the couch, and in
her eyes burned the dull light of despair.
Job was blubbering-I am sorry that can
not call his distress by any more delicate
word-audibly in the corner. Seeing my
eye fixed upon him he went outside to
give way to his grief in the passage. OBJ.