strange than any I have ever known--moreover, it was his own
doing, not mine. I had positively refused to exert my influence
upon him, because I felt he was not in my sphere, and that
therefore neither I nor any of those higher intelligences with
which I am in communication could control or guide his wanderings.
He, however, was as positively determined that I SHOULD exert it--
and to this end he suddenly concentrated all the pent up fire of
his nature in one rapid effort of Will, and advanced upon me. ...
I warned him, but in vain! quick as lightning flash meets
lightning flash, the two invisible Immortal Forces within us
sprang into instant opposition,--with this difference, that while
he was ignorant and unconscious of HIS power, I was cognizant and
fully conscious of MINE. Mine was focused, as it were, upon him,--
his was untrained and. scattered,--the result was that mine won
the victory: yet understand me well, Hilarion,--if I could have
held myself in, I would have done so. It was he,--he who DREW my
force out of me as one would draw a sword out of its scabbard--the
sword may be ever so stiffly fixed in its sheath, but the strong
hand will wrench it forth somehow, and use it for battle when
needed."

"Then," said Hilarion wonderingly, "you admit this man possesses a
power greater than your own?"

"Aye, if he knew it!" returned Heliobas, quietly. "But he does not
know. Only an angel could teach him--and in angels he does not
believe."

"He may believe now. ... !"