floated into a state of restful contemplation, drifting from one
topic to another, until suddenly she found herself confronted by a
most intensely vivid and startling vision. "Can it be?" Yes, true
enough, there sat the venerable Astrologer holding in his hand
before him, her chart of birth. Beside him, engaged in completing
the necessary calculations, sat the scribe and youthful Astrologer
Priest, Hermo. There was a strange pallor over his face and a
compression of the lips which betrayed unusual emotion. The
Priestess was partially facing them, composed, yet with a serious
thoughtfulness of mien.

At last, Hermo, looking up, said, "The directions for the present
year of life are made out, and the fatal arc carefully computed,
Venerated Master," and handed his work to the Astrologer who took
it, studied a moment briefly, and turned to the Priestess.

"What is the result, Venerated Father?" she asked gently.

The Astrologer slowly shook his head and replied impressively,
"According to all the laws of our Science, and you know how true
they are, the physical organism of Sarthia can not survive this
present cycle of yonder fair Goddess of the night." And, with a
majestic move, he pushed aside a curtain, revealing the Moon now low
in the west.

"So short a time," said the Priestess. "To-morrow night will be the
full, and must we indeed lose our Sarthia before another new Moon?
What is the nature of these evil influences?"

"The planets, in their configurations, indicate sudden and violent