none such forms to inhabit, or in a good and pure being if
there are no such beings extant. But, on the contrary, if in the future
none but good and beautiful lives exist on earth, my soul cannot
possibly occupy anything else. Thus, Natural Law plainly teaches that,
as you prepare earthly conditions in one form of life, so must you
tolerate them in the next. In fact, our own future safety and happiness
depend upon all living things reaching a high state of perfection and
equality. And now," said Arletta, arising and exhibiting considerable
emotion, "having briefly instructed you in Natural Law as deeply as your
limited mental capacity will permit, the time has arrived that we must
part, for I feel that I am growing weak and cannot live much longer. In
fact, it has been through the power of my will alone that I have been
kept alive until now. So prepare yourself to go."

"Go!" ejaculated I, jumping to my feet with an awful feeling of anguish
as I realized the full meaning of her words. "Me, go? Never! I shall
remain here and we shall die together. I could never live without you.
There would be left no object in life worth living for." And then,
advancing forward, I took her shapely hand in mine, and, looking
directly into her lovely eyes with much earnestness, said: "I fully
understand that in comparison to the Sage-man, I am a hideous and
degraded creature. And I also know that the love that filled the heal is
of your contemporaries for one another was sublime, having for a few
moments during that musical spell been moved by the same emotions that
once impelled the exalted being of which I am the re-incarnation, but
believe me when I say that my love for you now is ten thousand times
stronger than it was then. I worship you. I shall die for and with you.
Aye, even nature itself cannot keep me alive after you have gone. I may
not be the equal of the Sageman in other ways, but I shall prove that my
love for you is equally as great."

During this outburst of my thoughts, Arletta stood in a motionless
attitude, holding my outstretched hand and returning my excited gaze
with a look of mingled pity and sorrow. "Is it possible," said she,
"that there is not one Apeman in the world today with sufficient
strength of character to relinquish his own selfish desires for the good
of his species? Can it be that not one Apeman exists whom nature can
rely upon for the great work of uplifting humanity, who is brave enough
to resist th