"Never!" declared Alwyn, with a passionate gesture--"I should know
her among a thousand!"

For one instant Heliobas bent upon him a sudden, searching, almost
pitiful glance, then withdrawing his gaze he said gently:

"Well, well! let us hope for the best--God's ways are inscrutable
--and you tell me that now--now after your strange so-called
'vision'--you believe in God?"

"I did say so, certainly..." and Alwyn's face flushed a little..
"but..."

"Ah! ... you hesitate! there is a 'but' in the case!" and Heliobas
turned upon him with a grand reproach in his brilliant eyes..
"Already stepping backward on the road! ... already rushing once
again into the darkness! ..." He paused, then laying one hand on
the young man's shoulder, continued in mild yet impressive
accents: "My friend, remember that the doubter and opposer of God,
is also the doubter and opposer of his own well-being. Let this
unnatural and useless combat of Human Reason, against Divine
Instinct cease within you--you, who as a poet are bound to
EQUALIZE your nature that it may the more harmoniously fulfil its
high commission. You know what one of your modern writers says of
life? ... that it is a 'Dream in which we clutch at shadows as
though they were substances, and sleep deepest when fancying
ourselves most awake.'[Footnote: Carlyle's Sartor Resartus.]
Believe me, YOU have slept long enough--it is time you awoke to
the full realization of your destinies."