w that the fullness of time is
come, 'Thus far, and no farther,' is the word. No wild revolutionary has
been endowed with a giant's strength to burst the bonds of the victims
asunder. No, the Creator and Preserver of the world sent his Son to
redeem the poor in spirit, and, above all, the brethren and the sisters
who are weary and heavy laden. The magical word which shall break the
bars of the prisons where the chains of the slaves are heard is
Love. . . . But you, Melissa, can but half comprehend all this," he added,
interrupting the ardent flow of his enthusiastic speech. "You can not
understand it all. For you, too, child, the fullness of time is coming;
for you, too, freeborn though you are, are, I know, one of the heavy
laden who patiently suffer the burden laid upon you. You too--But keep
close to me; we shall find it difficult to get through this throng."

It was, in fact, no easy matter to get across the crowd which was pouring
noisily down the street of Hermes, into which this narrow way led. How
ever, they achieved it, and when Melissa had recovered her breath in a
quiet lane in Rhakotis, she turned to her companion again with the
question, "And when do you suppose that your predictions will be
fulfilled?"

"As soon as the breeze blows which shall shake the overripe fruit from
the tree. It may be tomorrow, or not yet, according to the long-suffering
of the Most High. But the entire collapse of the world in which we have
been living is as certain to come as that you are walking here with me!"

Melissa walked on with a quaking heart, as she heard her friend's tone of
conviction; he, however, was aware that the inmost meaning of his words
was sealed to her. To his inquiry, whether she could not rejoice in the
coming of the glorious time in store for redeemed humanity, she answered,
tremulously:

"All you hope for is glorious, no doubt, but what shall lead to it must
be a terror to all. Were you told of the kingdom of which you speak by an
oracle, or is it only a picture drawn by your imagination, a vision, and
the offspring of your soul's desire?"

"Neither," said Andreas, decidedly; and he went on in a louder voice: "I
know it by revelation. Believe me, child, it is as certainly true as that
the sun will set this night. The gates of the heavenly Jerusalem stand
open, and if you, too, would fain be blessed--But more of this later.
Here we are at our journey's end."

They entered the Christian home, where th