was named the Guardian, and the "northern snows," he declared that he knew not what was meant by them, but doubtless these things would be made clear in their season.

So he spoke somewhat lightly, like one who humours a frightened child, as though he would make me think that I had but dreamed a dream. This indeed I came to believe, as is the fashion of mankind concerning things that they cannot see or handle, however real those things may appear in the hour of their experience. For these in the end always we write down as dreams, such as haunt us by the thousand in our sleep.

Yet now that two thousand years have gone by, I know that this dream was true. For is there not a city called Kôr and was I not there doomed to find the Door of Life whereof Noot was guardian? And did I not sin there and from generation to generation wash the shed blood from off my hands with tears of bitterest repentance, and afterward expiate that sin in loss and shame and agony? And lastly do I not reap that harvest of tears upon the mountain tops amidst the northern snows whither the spirit bore me, still holding in those hands the embers of the worship of that regnant Good who to us of the ancient world was known as the Universal Mother to whom I swore myself in Philæ's temples?But enough of these things now; let them be spoken of in their season.
 CHAPTER IV
 The Kiss of FateThere came a man to Philæ. Watching from a pylon top whither I had
gone to pray alone, I saw him land upon the island and from far off
noted that he was a godlike man, clad in armour such as the Grecians
used, over which was thrown a common cloak, hooded as though to
disguise him; one who had the air of a warrior. At a distance from the
temple gate he halted and looked upward as though something drew his
glance to me standing high above him upon the pylon top. I could not
see his face because of the shadow thrown by the great walls behind
which the sun was sinking, but doubtless he could see me well enough,
whose shape was outlined against the veil of golden light that must
have touched me with its glory, though, as that light was behind me,
my face also would be hidden from him. At least he stood a little
while as though amazed, staring upward steadily, then bowed his head
and passed into the temple, followed by men bearing burdens.Some pilgrim to the shrine, I thought to myself, then turned my mind
to other matters, remembering that with men I had no more to do. Thus
for the first time here in the body, all unknowing, I looked upon
Kallikrates and he looked on me, but often afterward I have thought
that there was a veiled 

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