ll 'conventional'--that faith which has never been understood by the
world's majority! That faith which teaches of the God-in-Man, done to
death by the Man WITHOUT God in him!--and who, nevertheless, by the
spiritual strength of a resurrection from the grave, proves that there
is no death but only continuous renewal of life! This is no mere
'convention' of faith,--no imaginary or traditional tale--it is pure
scientific fact. The virginal conception of divinity in woman, and the
transfiguration of manhood, these things are true--and the advance of
scientific discovery will prove them so beyond all denial. We have held
the faith, AS IT SHOULD BE HELD, for centuries,--and it has led us, and
continues to lead us, to all we know."

"We?" queried Morgana, softly--"WE--of the Church?--or of the Brazen
City?"

He looked at her for some moments without speaking. His tall fine
figure seemed more than ever stately and imposing--and his features
expressed a calm assurance and dignity of thought which gave them
additional charm.

"Your question is bold!" he said--"Your enterprising spirit stops at
nothing! You have learned much--you are resolved to learn more!
Well,--I cannot prevent you,--nor do I see any reason why I should try!
You are a resolved student,--you are also a woman:--a woman different
to ordinary women and set apart from ordinary womanhood. So I say to
you 'We of the Brazen City'--if you will! For more than three thousand
years 'we' have existed--'we' have studied, 'we' have discovered--'we'
have known. 'We,' the selected offspring of all the race that ever were
born,--'we,' the pure blood of the earth,--'we,' the progenitors of the
world TO BE,--'we' have lived, watching temporary civilisations rise
and fall,--seeing generations born and die, because, like weeds, they
have grown without any root of purpose save to smother their neighbours
and destroy. 'We' remain as commanded, waiting for the full declaration
and culmination of those forces which are already advancing to the
end,--when the 'Kingdom' comes!"

Morgana moved close to him, and looked up at his grave, dark face
beseechingly.

"Then why are you here?" she asked--"If you know,--if you were ever in
the 'Brazen City' how did it happen that you left it? How could it
happen?"

He smiled down into the jewel-blue of her clear eyes.

"Little child!" he said--"Brilliant soul, that rejoiced in the
perception that gave you what you called 'the inside of a
s