Within the Temple of Isis | Page 3

was already
near at hand. For some time now I am haunted by most potent
premonitions of a violent death. Night after night, dark apparitions
hang around my bed, and only last night I awoke to find the Bird of Nu,
the Owl, from out the inner Sanctuary of the Temple, perched upon my
pillow and shaking his head and croaking at me most mournfully."
"What!" exclaimed the Priestess. "The Bird of Nu. Ah! this is indeed
very serious. The matter must be investigated at once. But, my child, if
all these portents prove true, do you fear death? Have all our teachings
been in vain? Have you made so little progress in knowledge and the
philosophy of existence as to be overcome by dark shadows and grow
faint in the presence of the sentiment and show of an external ceremony?
The pageantry, which appeals so overwhelmingly to the emotions of
the outside world, is the necessary means of teaching the people these
awful and stupendous mysteries of life and death. But the Initiate
should be sustained by actual experiences within these hidden realms
and possess a knowledge of their inner nature which places him on a
plane far above the reach of Fear; besides being endowed with that
burning love for wisdom which calmly discerns good in evil, and
immortal life in the shadow, called death. Do not think I am chiding
you, my child. I am only seeking to recall my real Sarthia, who is
incapable of Fear, back to this physical expression called body.
"There, already the bright soul shines again with its usual clear light.
Hold it firmly and do not let it flicker so again, and now I must leave
you to seek an interview with the chief of the Astrologers. The record
and Horoscope of your birth must be carefully looked up, and the
meaning of these portents determined. Good-night, my child."
With a kiss, fond and maternal, the Priestess withdrew. She proceeded
leisurely and thoughtfully toward a distant part of the Temple, having

first dispatched a messenger before her to announce her coming,
seeking an audience, well knowing that at this now early hour of
morning the Astrologer Priests would all be in the midst of their busiest
studies, calculations and most profound observations.
But Sarthia, when left alone, although marvelously calmed and
comforted by the tender presence and lofty words of her idolized
Priestess could not compose herself to sleep. Instead, she soon 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
dissolution," was the reply.

"Ah, now," said Sarthia to herself resolutely, at this point turning away
from the vision, "now I understand it all," and with a feeling of amaze
at her newly-attained clairvoyance she fell into a deep and refreshing
sleep.
CHAPTER II.
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HIEROPHANT.
With the first waking moments a sharp pang recalled to Sarthia the
vision and its revealments of the previous night. But her mind had fully
recovered its philosophic tone and she proceeded about her customary
routine of duties, calm and firm, and, as is often the case, in view of
some inevitable and stupendous catastrophy close at hand, life only
seemed larger, more intensely real. So, when later in the day she
received summons to meet the great Hierophant and High Priest, what,
at any other time, would have seemed a