United States or Christmas Island ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Only those who live in the atmosphere of mystery can think rightly about what lies in the mind and heart of the true magician. "As I before hinted, 'Ilfra the Understanding One' had found out the secret; her soul had outsoared that of her father and of all the sages for many miles around, and she would have revealed her knowledge both to her father and to me, but for one thing.
Then, when the earth in its revolution spelt out that hour, we entered the room of the maiden whose soul had departed. "The Egyptians have lost much of the knowledge of the ancients, especially in the art of embalming. Often the sons of Egypt moan over that departed wisdom; still the art is not altogether gone. The body of Ilfra lay embalmed before us as we entered.
"This wonderful man had a daughter born to him in his old age, born, too, with the same love for truth, the same thirst for a knowledge of things unseen to the ordinary eye. So much was this so, that she was called 'Ilfra the Understanding One. As the years went on she outstripped her father, and obtained a knowledge of that for which her father had unsuccessfully studied all his life.
Thus it was, while we eagerly sought for the mysterious power I have mentioned, we were buoyed up by the hope that, though we might not be successful, Ilfra would reveal to us what we desired to know." "And thus the time passed on until we reached Ilfra's twenty-first birthday, with the exception of seven days.
"'I see a paradise, I replied, 'but I cannot describe it. The beauties are incomparable. Ilfra is there; she mingles with those who are most obeyed. "'See you anything by which the mystery can be learned? "'I can see nothing. "I heard a sigh. I had returned to my normal condition again, and had told nothing. "'I expected this, he said, 'but I will try Helfa.
Ah! pardon me, ladies and gentlemen, but I cannot stand by and hear the greatest of all sciences maligned, and still be quiet. I cannot be silent when that which is dearer to me than life itself is submitted to the cool test of bigoted ignorance. You may not believe it true, but I would give much to know what Ilfra the Understanding One knew.
My overtaxed nerves could bear no more; the living dead was too terrible for me, and I fell senseless to the ground. "When I awoke to consciousness, I found only Abou and Helfa there. The body of Ilfra had been removed, where, I know not, for I never saw it again; but Helfa was like unto that which he had been before.
Through Helfa, Abou had seen many wonderful things, and now he was going to use him again. "'Howajja Herod, he said to me, 'I am first going to use one of our old means of getting knowledge. It has failed me in the past, but it will be, perchance, more potent in the presence of Ilfra the Understanding One. "With that he took some ink, and poured it in Helfa's hand.
He uttered some strange words, the meaning of which was unknown to me, and then I knew some mighty forces were being exerted in that old sheik's hut. My brain began to whirl, while a terrible power gripped me; but still I looked, and still I remembered. "'Spirit of Ilfra, said Abou, 'are you here? "No voice spoke that I could hear, and yet I realized that Abou had received his answer.
As it was, however, the same kind of serpent that had laid the beautiful Cleopatra low, likewise set at liberty the soul of Ilfra. Do not think Abou grieved because of her death. Death was not death to him his eyes pierced that dark barrier; he suffered because the glorious knowledge he longed for was rudely snatched from him."
Word Of The Day